Cherry Blossom Days in Japan

Feb 20, 2020

Cherry Blossom Days in Japan

Hanami, which means “flower viewing,” refers to heading to a park or other place where you’ll be surrounded by cherry trees (sakura) in bloom. Hanami is a popular activity to enjoy with friends and family during the springtime. It feels like the entire country is collectively casting off the winter in a sudden rush of energy.

A longtime tradition in Japan, modern hanami is enjoyed with copious amounts of food and drink. The practice is so widespread that finding and securing a good spot in a popular park at peak season may require arriving the day before and essentially camping out.

Where to Go for Hanami Around Japan

Hanami will be different depending on where you go and who you go with. Although the cherry blossoms begin around the last week of March and continue until around the first week of April, the exact dates differ according to each city. Have a look at these hanami options in your area!

Tokyo

In 2025, the blossoms are expected to open on March 24 and be in full bloom by March 31 in Tokyo. Check out these top Hanami sites around Tokyo for ideas of where to go.

Nagoya

Nagoya sees the cherry blossoms bloom around the same time as in Tokyo. In 2025, they are expected to open just one day later (on March 25), but they won’t reach full bloom until April 3. Consider visiting one of the top five hanami sites near Nagoya.

Kobe

If you’re in Kobe for hanami, you’ll have to wait a few more days for the cherry blossoms. Estimates for 2025 have the flowers opening on March 28 and reaching full bloom on April 4. Top hanami sites near Kobe range from parks within the city to Himeji Castle in western Hyogo.

Hiroshima

Cherry blossom season is a little longer in Hiroshima than some other cities. The flowers are estimated to open on March 25 in 2025 but won’t reach full bloom until April 4. You have several top hanami sites near Hiroshima to choose from.

What to Eat at a Hanami Picnic

Having a picnic during hanami is the perfect way to engage all your senses and give yourself an excuse to spend more time outdoors under the cherry trees. Unsure what to eat? Plenty of Japanese food is perfect for a celebratory picnic! Try:

• A bento box — Convenience stores and supermarkets even sell special hanami bento at this time of year
• Onigiri — Easy to pack for a picnic, onigiri are another option that has a special cherry blossom version, although this is made with actual pickled sakura
• Miso soup — If you’ll be viewing the cherry blossoms in the evening, bring along a thermos of miso soup
• Sakuramochi — A twist on regular mochi, sakuramochi is pink and wrapped in a pickled sakura leaf (which is edible)

Hanami Etiquette

It’s important to be respectful when participating in Japanese traditions like hanami. The good news is hanami etiquette is quite simple.

• Familiarize yourself with the rules of the park. There may be specific open hours and rules around what food you’re allowed to bring in, such as no barbecues or no alcoholic drinks.
• Avoid contact with the trees. You should never pull the branches, pick the flowers, climb trees, or stand on the roots.
• Clean up after your picnic. Many parks have no garbage cans, meaning you’ll need to take your trash back with you.

Above all, enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms!

Photo by Cjbvii (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons