In spring, one of the best ways to spend a relaxing weekend is to prepare huge amounts of alcohol (and i mean HUGE), tons of snacks, a mantle to sit on, and head straight to a place where there are cherry blossoms. This was mentioned to me by a number of Japanese and non Japanese people. I heard, that "Hanami"is a great festivity in Japan that you wouldn't want to miss. 
But why? Why go through all the trouble for hanami, even though you know that all the places you'd go will be infested with people doing the same thing? Imagine, being in a park, and youre practically squeezing yourself to find a place to sit. Once you found a mouse hole of a spot to lay your mantle, you find yourself being surrounded by other people who are either drunk or making fun of those people who are drunk. (I'm currently imagining hanami at Ueno or Yoyogi park) Isn't sakura like any other blooming flower? I mean, what's the big deal? And isnt it that the essence of hanami is to admire the blooming of the sakura and not just drinking and eating your way through your packed lunch?
Everything came to me after experiencing hanami first hand. Sakura or cherry blossom is indeed like any other flower that blooms in spring. However, once you see it huge bundles, blooming and dancing with the wind, it simple takes your breath away. It was magnificent. As I sat down and drinking down a can of malt beer, and taking a bite at some grilled beef, the atmosphere created by the sakura made the food and drinks more appetizing and savoury (and apparently, I helped myself with more food and beer).
At this time, cherry blossoms has reached time, however their beauty still continues as they descend from their tree. The fall of sakura petals forms an amazing image similar to falling snow. Absolutely marvelous. As the sakura season comes to an end, we await for another year for it to bloom, and drink 'till you drop.
But why? Why go through all the trouble for hanami, even though you know that all the places you'd go will be infested with people doing the same thing? Imagine, being in a park, and youre practically squeezing yourself to find a place to sit. Once you found a mouse hole of a spot to lay your mantle, you find yourself being surrounded by other people who are either drunk or making fun of those people who are drunk. (I'm currently imagining hanami at Ueno or Yoyogi park) Isn't sakura like any other blooming flower? I mean, what's the big deal? And isnt it that the essence of hanami is to admire the blooming of the sakura and not just drinking and eating your way through your packed lunch?
Everything came to me after experiencing hanami first hand. Sakura or cherry blossom is indeed like any other flower that blooms in spring. However, once you see it huge bundles, blooming and dancing with the wind, it simple takes your breath away. It was magnificent. As I sat down and drinking down a can of malt beer, and taking a bite at some grilled beef, the atmosphere created by the sakura made the food and drinks more appetizing and savoury (and apparently, I helped myself with more food and beer).
At this time, cherry blossoms has reached time, however their beauty still continues as they descend from their tree. The fall of sakura petals forms an amazing image similar to falling snow. Absolutely marvelous. As the sakura season comes to an end, we await for another year for it to bloom, and drink 'till you drop.
