5 Things To Try For A Better Hanami Experience

This is what Hanami is all about (Photo credit)

When spring is around the corner, Japanese people have this custom of enjoying/viewing the flowers or what they call Hanami (花見 or "flower viewing"). In most cases, Hanami refers to viewing cherry blossoms ("sakura") which usually bloom at the end of March until late April. Families, couples or friends having picnics under sakura trees then become a normal sight. I also like watching cherry blossoms, especially under the bright sun. Biking to school along sakura covered pavements is my morning candy. Oh perfection and happiness!!This year is my first taste of spring ergo my first Hanami experience. We had hanami for our laboratory, hanami with friends and another hanami for my Filipino community and all of them were so delightful. And along all these firsts,  I noted down 5 things that makes/can make Hanami an even more enjoyable treat. Here goes.


1.Eating and Sharing Good Food (and good drinks??? ^_^)
Whether it is home-cooked, fast food, straight from the supermarket or from the food stalls/booths, good food can lighten up everyone's mood. Conversations over good food are always as hearty as the meal itself, and even "heartier" over a bottle of beer or better yet Japanese sake.

Food stalls around the park (yum yum)

Yummy Hanami barbecue (Photo credit)

Enjoying sake under the falling blossoms  (Photo credit)

and other drinks too!

2. Sakura Pictorials and all those photo shoots   
Who does not love pictures, either taking them or being in them????(I prefer the second actually). Enjoying hanami comes with taking hundreds of pictures or just a few beautiful ones, spiced up with a little bit of creativity and excitement.

Jumpshots will always be best for all seasons (Photo by Rafael Cabredo)

Mothers taking pictures of their babies side by side (kawaii!!) (Photo by Rafael Cabredo)

3. Playing games or sports
I saw many people playing games or sports too. I saw father and son playing badminton, and kids playing catch or soccer. Hearing a lot of laughter all around you is just so wonderful - as beautiful as sakura flowers themselves.

Cute kids playing badminton (Photo credit)

4. Wait for the Illumination The beauty of sakura extends until evening as they are accented with lights during illumination. 

Toshimaen, Tokyo Sakura Illumination  (Photo credit)

But ultimately, simply..
5.  Share it with friends and loved onesAny moment spent with loved ones will always be a sweet memory...(and suddenly I am missing...^_^)

"Two things fell for you that day, the cherry blossoms and my heart" (made this "cheesy-ness" up, sorry)

I love you Sakura tree! (Photo and model from Rafael Cabredo)
P.S. I am selling Danboards (the cute little entity hugging the tree)..Just send me a message anytime.