Hanami
"Hanami" [花見[はなみ]] is the Japanese word meaning "flower viewing" and is also the term used to describe the traditional custom of viewing cherry blossoms (sakura) which bloom at the end of March/early April.
Hanami season means that most Japanese folk make a point of going out to see the cherry blossoms. There are posters all over the place encouraging people to get out and visit places like Kyoto which also has a scenic spots for hanami.
This year we decided to go to a place in Kanagawa called Mitsuike Park. Its a long walk from the station but its worth it. Folks who are interested in going can look up directions here.
Figma Haruhi joins in on the hanami shenanigans.
We lay out a blanket on the grass and laze in the sun while munching on snacks and reading for a few hours.
And other folks do the same too. Most are prepared with large outdoor mats.
They have a small Korean type village set up in the park.
Very nice to get away from Tokyo once in a while. But I start to itch and whip out the iPod Touch to look for a WiFi connection from time to time ^^;
Just about everybody is there with their camera.
T'was a lovely day indeed.
If you was in Japan during hanami season, would it be on your list of things to do?
I hear form other folks who went hanami that places like Shinjuku and Ueno were packed and that one had to queue just to get into the parks.
A pro hanami snapper.
While most hanami passes peacefully, some of the folk get rowdy from drinking too much and cause trouble for other hanami spectators - usually happens at night though.
Many places set up lights to illuminate the cherry blossoms at night.
Members Xenohawk, Neil Duckett and Ninja Mari have some nice pics of their hanami sessions.
Didnt see any cherry blossoms in my 27 years in London but was suprised to see that Seattle had a load of them everywhere. Do you have cherry blossoms in your region too?
And this is for those of you who nearly fell asleep by looking at all the cherry blossoms - she's Risa Shimamoto and you can see more pics of her that I snapped a while ago in this article.
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anime/cosplay events organizer
http://www.cosplay.ph
Hanami is definitely one of the things that i want to do when i visit japan ^___^
those sakura trees are simply beautiful and gorgeous and i want to experience their beauty first hand ^_____^
btw Danny, you made a typo on your topic title ^^
University Student.
http://www.hirito.blogspot.com/
Beautiful... I would definitely have a Hanami session with friends, drink lots of sake and enjoy, but of course trying not to disturb others too.
Did you go early to camp for a spot?
Dirty Gentleman
http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/
Was at a park on the way to Shanghai with loads of cherry blossom trees. They weren't in full bloom yet, and I don't recall the name of the park.
Too cold here for cherry blossoms. They'd just cry out in agony and die.
Lurker
We have cherry blossoms here ,but not as many as in Japan.Too bad people prefer sitting on computers all day long instead of going out to relax. :(
Student
Would really love to see hanami if I ever go visit. Hopefully will have time this summer to swing by after HK =P
http://www.marvinryan.com
those images you took sure look breathtaking. wish I went there a bit later than I did. I'll be sure to try to go there during the months you mentioned.
btw about your question. I remember cherry blossoms grew in Vancouver. but not in Manila, too hot. ^^;
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
It is always good to rest a bit and admire the beauty of nature while traveling, so yes, I'd do it without a doubt.
Even more so because it only last for a few days of each year...
Ah, sake and cherry-blossoms...
I've been wondering what is behind the idea of the fetish basically describing drunken office ladies shamelessly removing their kimono in front of her colleagues and bystanders (meaning getting completely nude), to get "more comfortable". Oh well. *shrugs*
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Umm, not kimono but their office uniform.
Got things mixed up.
I'd definitely go every year and watch the Sakura tree blossom if I were there. It'd be nice to just go sit under one of them and just relax.
You took gorgeous shots too, btw! :)
Student
http://bakaaaa.wordpress.com
and thats the reason why i wanna visit Japan. Sakura Blossoms =D
Dancing Monkey
http://caitlinomara.com
I like sakura but I don't know if I'll go see them this year at any famous location. It's kind of hard to enjoy them when you're crowded in a park like sardines.
Programmer
http://benohki.blogspot.com
"in case" we fell asleep? Danny, you know us too well! :)
There was a cherry tree in the courtyard of my university. It was beautiful but also stuck out like a sore thumb... I would love to visit Japan in the spring time. I'm sure it would be very different from taking a look at a single tree in that courtyard....
Student and full-time otaku
I'd love to go see the blossoms if I ever get to Japan. Until then, I just have to make do with the one sakura in our garden, which has yet to sprout a single flower this year.
IT-Architect, SysAdmin, WebDesign and Coding, Virtualization (VMware + NetApp)
http://www.milkdrop.de/
Yea Hanami is one of the few things left for me to do/see in Japan, covered pretty much every other festival type on my other trips there.
Sadly i won't know of a place in germany that has a setup of so many cherry trees lines up that it would like like in Japan, you spot a tree here and there single, maybe two... but didn't find more - also they tend to be rather small compared to the ones in the pictures i have seen from Japan.
Nice pictures there Danny.
Japanese Student
http://japanqna.wordpress.com
Great pictures, Danny!
I also went on the weekend. Got a few more places I want to visit to take pictures of, too!
Yuri eroge artist. Well, sort of.
http://yumeno.dasaku.net
Oh yes definately. It's too "green" in Singapore. Need to see more pink!! Lol.
Student + Japanese wannabe
ehh....none of these are in the wallpaper section? too bad, it's beautiful and i wanted to make it on my desktop background XD
Student
http://animestuff.wordpress.com/
If I go to Japan I'll try to go in this time to see the Sakura trees ^^. Well the Sakura season in my country is over, it started in midd January to the end of February, there are still some flowered trees but are very scarce now. Although we don't really have many Sakura trees what we have are almond trees which are as beautifull as sakura ones.
Got some pics here http://animestuff.wordpress.com/2008/01/25/master-grade-gundam-unicorn-arrival/
Auditor Junior
sakura trees looks so nice i want one in garden of my house :D
http://paliodor.wordpress.com
When I go to japan (I hope that it will happen in the nearest two years), Hanami will be on my list to do. I think that end of March/early April is the best period of time to visit Japan since then is time for Hanami and TAF^^
And those photos of cherry blossoms in this article are very beautiful.
Otaku Webmaster
http://www.gamekult.com/blog/sbebiwan/
I went to Japan during Hanami, and I'm glad I did, it was very beautiful with all the blooming sakura trees everywhere. When I come back, I'll try to do during hanami again !
Spiral Warrior
http://www.perfectdesignsense.com/martinwandering
Lovely images, Danny.
Having grown up around Seattle, the Sakura are a familiar and much-loved sight. Not as many of them down in Portland, but fortunately there's a grove of them planted in the center of my college's campus. Their blooming is perhaps my favorite thing to observe in the course of an entire year.
Alas, such things aren't so nearby here in Taibei... So I look forward to next Spring.
free lance otaku, full time Protector of Peace.
*totally unrelated*
What's the japanese term for "Pantsu viewing"?
Design Student
http://wraith11.deviantart.com/
Hanami would be great to see in Japan, however I'm not sure being in the middle of such a crowd seems either appealing or restfull.
Still it'd be a great experience. I've not seen a cherry blossom in my life, for spring in Brisbane we instead have Jacaranda trees, which are the same general effect but with a soft purple flower. Basic rule is that if you haven't started studying for your finals by the time the Jacarandas bloom you'll most likely fail.
Nice sharp shots of the flowers by the way. I swear if most of your photos are to be belived then Japan seems to have a permanent bright blue sky and sunny days.
closet hikikomori
http://www.nekoguchi.com
Hanami! Will there still be sakura late april? I;ll be there but I think the flowers won't wait for me :( Seems like I'm missing everything nice in Japan (again!).
Eternal Dreamer
I hope you didn't go with your wife and played with Haruhi all the time.. you'd be making her very very sad.
Programmer, Web Developer / Web Designer
http://xenohawk.wordpress.com/
Very nice picture Danny, very good day and place. The place I go to was so crowded so it is hard to take picture without people in it.
NEET
http://hobbyjapan.blogspot.com/
Yeah, Hanami is on my " must do " list too. Can't wait until I arrive in Japan.
Love those tree's, they are just beautiful.
student
T_T, comiket or this? T_T
there's no way i will go to japan for twice in a row in 4 month, or no way to stay there for 4 month T_T
Webdev, internet contents, music
http://www.pepinismo.net/
Moar figure hanami pics!
Student
http://basement.halfarenaissance.net
Hanami is awesome with an ice-cold beer in hand! I had lots of fun at Ueno during Hanami last year - it got really lively!
3D artist
http://andyh.cgsociety.org
Aw, this makes me sad!
This time last year, i was in Japan for a month. We had a mini-hanami in Yoyogi and Ueno park. *sobs*
Video Game Design Student / Monster Hunter
Hanami is the reason i am choosing to go to Japan in April next year. Thats right, its set, i shall be returning to Japan in 2009, i haven't booked it yet, but its all planned, and one of the main things i want to do is see the cherry blossom ^_^
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
miss japan so much! Cherryblossoms are blooming here too (woot) but not as spectacular as those in Japan (Since the ones in japan are hugerer XD
one of the snapshots I took yesterday ( a goregous day as well)
flickr.com/photos/puppy52/2376761612/
Advocado
Shinjuku Gyoen de hanami o shimashita (on March 28th).
It was beautiful. ^^
Graphic Designer
http://ningin.com
Ah! I miss Spring in Japan! My friends and I would try to catch the falling sakuras with our noses.
conker the world
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTFLAME
Wow that is really awsome!!
I love Sakura is my favorite plant
Artist/Flash Programmer
http://wcloudxkumo.wordpress.com/
Wow!! Beautiful!! d>_<b
vendor
http://www.friendster.com
I wish i have that sakura seeds to plat it..That is my only wishes 4 my B-day.
Student
http://www.janken.de
We have a lot of these japanese cherry trees in our garden, and it is always a pleasure to look at them in the spring.
Student
http://yellowguy89.blogspot.com/
definately looks relaxing. There are a few cherry blossoms in Little Tokyo here in LA but it cant be compared to the real and uncut sakura's of Japan.
オタク all day long
http://www.nekomagic.com
Off topic!!!
I found Mirai ADV in Nitro+!!!!!!
Is it gonna be an eroge? XD
Online Shop
http://wildarms.egloos.com
Too bad I can't visit Japan during spring to enjoy Hanami...
Seems like news is leaked with the new banner above!!?? I would wait until Danny reveals the big news himself though ^_^
College Student
http://nategreene.wordpress.com/
I actually have 3 cherry trees in full bloom right outside my window. I didn't even realize it till I realized it was hanami season :)
They are lovely to look at. Hanami is good family togetherness time.
Student
http://basement.halfarenaissance.net
!!!! (no where else to post this so, please excuse me!!)
I just noticed the Nitro+ banner for a Mirai renai game! O: Hurrah!
NEET
http://hobbyjapan.blogspot.com/
Also notice that it's april 1.
" april 1 is known as April Fool's Day or All Fools' Day in many countries. "
..and if this isn't a joke, I'm sorry. ^^;
Huge amounts of Cherry Blossoms in California.
Project Manager
http://cherryblossomsfalling.myfastforum.org/index.html
Hey Danny - great pics.
I went down to Washington , D.C. yesterday for the Cherry Blossom Festival. Looks like you had better weather than I did. One day I'll get over there to view them in person.
Exchange Student
Love the pics, I hope I'm able to see those cherry blossoms some day :)
Hikikomori in the making
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
Singaore doesn't have any Cherry trees so I would definitely give cherry blossom watching a go!
Student
Simply beautiful! I can't say anything more on this, just beautiful... You're picture we're boring Danny!
student
Ahh...what a beautiful sight.^^
I made up my mind some time ago to go to a hanami matsuri and view them in full bloom when i go to Japan.
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
http://xspblog.com
Nice... takes me back to my trip. We did Hanami... but it was by the side of a river... can't remember the name of the place exactly.
But it was very nice. Very crowded too, but still...
IT, Programmer, Otaku, ...
http://blog.jpopdb.org/
Was walking through Ueno Park the day before yesterday and it was full of people indeed. Didn't remember the name but I know it's a yearly tradition. I just walked through the park and took some pictures of it.
Moved to other hotel is Osaka, and going to Kyoto today, I'm sure there will still be some sakura in bloom there. Will make some lovely pictures.
Plastic train engineer
http://namikazetoys.blogspot.com
Beautiful!
Visual Communications and Web 2.0
http://www.imagineboris.com
Awww how beautiful the Cherry Blossom are and I love how they are often used in anime. We are having Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC since they brought them from Japan years ago. One of the biggest tourist events in the area.
University Student
There are some on campus that I get to see, but nothing like the ones in the pictures.
Danny what is this?
http://www.nitroplus.co.jp/pc/lineup/into_17/story.html
student
http://animesugoi.animeblogger.net/
If you visit Washington D.C. in the states in the monument areas, you can see cherry blossoms as well. They are also in bloom right now ^^.
Software Engineer
http://www.neilduckett.com
It really is a great time of the year Danny ... thanks for the link back too!
Off too Toshimaen this weekend for a Hanami party, can't wait!
Combat Engineer For Australian Defence Force
Wow , Looks very nice there
compared to here..
we do have Cherry Blossoms , even in my high school we had a few Cherry Blossom trees
but it looks better there..
definately on my list on things to do..
Student Otaku (ITM Student) and ACG NA Staff
http://koiaichaku.com/
I so want to watch or see cherry blossoms in Japan. Too bad I can only go when it's the summer. It looks soooo lovely looking at Sakura.
Mind Navigator
http://xenoprobia.blogspot.com
I don't recall ever seeing any Sakura trees around my neck of the woods. Though I'm sure Northern California's got to have some somewhere. Right? If I can be a couple hours' drive from circus trees, cherry blossoms can't be that hard to find in bunches.
-
*wonders if anyone's ever applied arborsculpting methods to Sakura trees*
Student
http://www.desangel.blogspot.com
Hanami is definitely on my to do list wished my region has cherry blossom like those T_T
urg... enough flowers in CA... I'm going to die from flower over-exposure... flower trees are EVERYWHERE - literally
I was wondering - do cherry blossoms come in different shades? I never knew... some look really crimson while some look white... must be in the genes... heterozygous... homozygous...
Labyrinth builder
Yep, nice. And so typical.
But Danny, don't you suffer from pollen allergie ? Isn't it difficult then ?
Appreciate the pics, Danny. I've got 15130.jpg as my new desktop. ^_^
Thanks!
T
Student
http://www.ansonlin.com/
Yup, I went to Ueno to check out the sakura trees there. Everything was so white.
My friends and i sat down and ate takoyaki and other foods you'd find at hanami.
The experience was great!
Anime Retailer
http://www.otakufuel.com
We have a couple in our front yard actually...they're still pretty small though. There are quite a few cherry trees around here, we can't get enough of them.
Japanese Student
http://japanqna.wordpress.com
Thanks for the link, Danny!
Just a few more days... I wish the Sakura season was longer...
Structural Engineer
Hi Danny,
i am currently touring Japan and everywhere i go, i see sakura,sakura,sakura...they are so beautiful ..!! could i meet up with u this sat in tokyo ? i like to go to Nakano Broadway and Akihabara.
Polytechnic Junior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer In-training.
http://thehangerbay.wordpress.com/
Must be great to have a day set out just to appreciate the beauty of nature without running the risk of being yelled at. Not that there's much nature to see in the concrete jungle I'm living in... Even when gazing out of the window I can see buildings from the corner of my eyes.
New media student
We're so north here that we still have to wait for the cherry blossoms, but yes, we also have some cherry trees here. There's even a park here in Helsinki where people like to go to have a picknick when trees are blooming.
Anime Retailer
http://www.otakufuel.com
We have many places to enjoy them here in LA. My yard included. ;)
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
Why yes, I would love to go see the cherry blossoms.
Though maybe only when I have the time (and mood and companions and etc)~ ^^
.NET/Web Developer
http://scrumptious.animeblogger.net
Seeing cherry blossoms are actually one of my reasons in visiting japan. ^^
medicine student & otaku
cherry blossoms are a miracle from the Japanese nature & if i ever get to go to Japan i think i'll grab a bunch of 'em & come back hehe anyway i always hear & read of the beautifullness of the cherry blossoms in Japan that with those pix are confirmed
otaku-ist
http://myanimelist.net/profile/mel
That Pro Hanami snapper looks awfully like Konota's dad.
Pre university student
http://ticotaku.blogspot.com
Ooh, that looks very awesome, off course that here in my country in Central America I don´t have anything like that, but there is a kind of tree who is simmilar to the cherry tree, I love that trees.
Ork Warlord
Well, I think you made one of the best articules I see in your site; Danny. The fhotos are pure beauty, and sure Hanami is a unique experience, but I think when go to Japan my priority are freak bussiness,visit the sacred "freak" places, and get all my pocket can, so I`m afraid that this festival don`t enter in my plans... I mean, is not don`t want to do, is that want to do the indispensable...
But if I have the chance...
accountant
this i the most beautiful sight i ever seen. I wish i coud live in Japan, but i am so far far away....
software developer
http://japanesegirlidol.blogspot.com
hope can experience it in future...
Student
Wow, it'd be really spectacular to experience such a site..Nice pics Danny
Mainframe Analyst
Hey danny great photos!! And I'll go to Japan for a trip, and definitely will see theses sakuras, I'm planning to go about March/April, expecting get a good Spring here! And aside see theses beautiful flowers, a little bit of Akiba and Shibuya too, maybe I'll stay for 15-20 days off.
I want a pink sakura tree in my backyard. Very beautiful!
Student | J-Drama beau
http://www.emikro.de.vu
IT'S SO KINKY! I envy the people which live in Japan! Something that beautiful. Japan is sooo~ different from Germany, it is insane. This is one thing I want to see it once in my life!
Really nice pictures you did, thx.
SOS Brigade Leader
So peacefull yet so beautifull Now this is real JApan
IT specialist for application development, Business Process Manager
http://www.lukisblog.de
Just too good to be true... I hope I get to see many blooming sakura in April this year...
Public service employee
http://stary84.blog.de/
While looking this pictures i feel some romantic feelings ^,^
Great Pictures,
Wan´t to see this next year in real
College Student
http://www.xanga.com/coolmikeolgx
Very beautiful. Just today after leaving the DMV (Dept. of motor vehicles) in San Francisco for my driver permit, I passed a cherry blossom tree and took a couple of pictures (Its my desktop background now). Wish I could show it but compared to the rest of the pictures Mr. Choo took, it doesn't even compare.
I long time ago i feel in love with sakura trees, they are absolutely beautiful and very romantic. i like the concept of the Hanami, gathering with your family and friends and watch Mother Nature in action.