HANAMI
‘Hanami’ is a word that sets Japanese hearts astir – literally meaning ‘fower viewing’, it conjures up images of cherry trees turning pink with the arrival of spring, and locals shaking off winter melancholy with parties, picnics and karaoke performances beneath blossoming canopies. The activity has been popular since the 8th century – writers have composed hanami poems, seeing the bloom as a metaphor for the ephemerality of life, while emperors saw it as an excuse to host elaborate banquets welcoming the return of warmer days.
WHEN TO SEE IT
Individual cherry trees are only in full bloom for a few days, so picking your hanami week means rolling dice with the weather. Displays start in January in the southern islands of Okinawa, and end in May in northern Hokkaido, but 25 March–5 April is the best bet for Tokyo and Kyoto. There’s a calendar forecasting the arrival of the blossoms across the country at jnto.go.jp/sakura.
COMPILED BY OLIVER SMITH. PHOTOGRAPH: DAN HERRICK/GETTY IMAGES