Hey guys. So my first cultral blog about Japan is on (you guessed it) cherry blossoms. I arrived just as the cherry trees were reaching full bloom. I greatly enjoyed walking around and viewing these beautiful flowers and even took some great pictures (^o^). I talk a bit about this but I mainly wanted to share what I learned about cherry blossoms in Japanese culture, so here it goes:
In Japan, springtime is the time for new beginnings. It marks the start of the new school year as well as the fiscal year. Many also begin new jobs at this time. Spring is also the time of cherry blossoms (aka sakura「桜」). These flowers are the symbol change and new beginnings in the country, and are a major part of Japanese culture.
For centuries, Japanese people have enjoyed viewing cherry blossoms. This custom is called Hanami (花見), and originated during the Nara period (710-784 A.D). It was initially enjoyed by the imperial court and people of very high social status.However, this tradition eventually shifted to a custom enjoyed by everyone during the Edo period (1603-1868), and is a major part of the culture today. This custom is so valued, special news reports regarding the "cherry blossom forecast" are watched closely by everyone to determine the best time to hanami. People usually celebrate this season by having a picnic with family and friends, but you can also just take a walk and admire the flowers as well. There are a few online guides on how to properly hanami. A nice one to look at is the step by step guide on japanican's website.
In Japan, springtime is the time for new beginnings. It marks the start of the new school year as well as the fiscal year. Many also begin new jobs at this time. Spring is also the time of cherry blossoms (aka sakura「桜」). These flowers are the symbol change and new beginnings in the country, and are a major part of Japanese culture.
For centuries, Japanese people have enjoyed viewing cherry blossoms. This custom is called Hanami (花見), and originated during the Nara period (710-784 A.D). It was initially enjoyed by the imperial court and people of very high social status.However, this tradition eventually shifted to a custom enjoyed by everyone during the Edo period (1603-1868), and is a major part of the culture today. This custom is so valued, special news reports regarding the "cherry blossom forecast" are watched closely by everyone to determine the best time to hanami. People usually celebrate this season by having a picnic with family and friends, but you can also just take a walk and admire the flowers as well. There are a few online guides on how to properly hanami. A nice one to look at is the step by step guide on japanican's website.
My Hanami Excursion
As luck would have it, I arrived at the perfect time to experience hanami. So naturally I was very excited to partake in this activity. I spent a few days researching hanami picnics and even planned a trip to Himeji castle with my friend. I was super excited but unfortunately, our plans got canceled and we never ended up going :/
I was told by my teacher Matsuda sensei on the 5th of April, that we were going to have terrible weather over the weekend and "today is actually the best day to see the cherry blossoms."However I didn't have my camera on me, so I decided to go out Saturday morning and explore the park down the street and look for some cherry blossoms. While exploring, I found a neighborhood with loads of beautiful cherry blossom trees. I was able to get a bunch of great pictures (above) before it got really stormy. :)
I was told by my teacher Matsuda sensei on the 5th of April, that we were going to have terrible weather over the weekend and "today is actually the best day to see the cherry blossoms."However I didn't have my camera on me, so I decided to go out Saturday morning and explore the park down the street and look for some cherry blossoms. While exploring, I found a neighborhood with loads of beautiful cherry blossom trees. I was able to get a bunch of great pictures (above) before it got really stormy. :)
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