Make the most of cherry blossom season this year!
Spring is a reawakening, both for us humans who have spent the winter bundled up and sleepy, and for nature which has been lying dormant until the weather warms. And there is no better herald of the arrival of spring than those beautiful, fleeting cherry blossoms which burst open around the world!
In the Northern Hemisphere you can actually chase the bloom from the lowest latitudes and altitudes to the highest, from February to May. While Japan is best known for celebrating cherry blossom season, or Sakura Season, as it’s called there, you’ll find a love for these flowers in cities wherever they bloom, from Paris to Washington D.C., Jinhae in South Korea to Vancouver in British Columbia. You’ll, most likely, even find some in your home town!
So in honor of the coming of spring signaled by these delicate little flowers, let’s look at ways to make the most of this cherry blossom season, whether you’re able to see them in person this year or not.
Enjoy cherry blossom festivals in person or virtually
In Japan, the ancient tradition of hanami, or flower viewing, started centuries ago with aristocrats. Today it is enjoyed with more levity and inclusivity as couples, families, and friends, consider hanami the perfect opportunity to gather together under the canopy of cherry blossoms for good food and good company, often lounging on a blanket or a signature bright blue tarp for a picnic of sake, beer, and grilled meats.
Hanami festivals also include traditional performances of dancing, drumming, and martial arts. Some cities offer historical processions, others the experience of tea ceremonies beneath the trees, and most will have countless vendors selling hanami souvenirs. Night cherry blossom viewing, or yozakura, takes on a completely different feel as the pale canopies of blooms glow with the light of various traditional Japanese lanterns. People stroll beneath them or sit in open-air tea houses for an otherworldly experience.
Hanami festivals occur throughout Japan and correspond to the two-week bloom of the flowers, which varies year-by-year. It is the same for cherry blossom festivals in other countries, each with its own dates, traditions, and charms. And while cherry blossom festivals will look different this year, the blossoms are still blooming and the cities have not forgotten the tradition of honoring this special herald of spring.
Here is a list of just some note-worthy cherry blossom festivals around the Northern Hemisphere. But this year, no matter where you live, there are virtual festivals and activities to be enjoyed from anywhere in the world!
Hirosaki Park, Hirosaki, Japan
National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington D.C.
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, Vancouver, Canada
Ueno Sakura Matsuri, Tokyo, Japan
Brooklyn’s Botanic Garden, New York City
Koganei Cherry Blossom Festival, Tokyo, Japan
Copenhagen Sakura Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark
Indulge in cherry blossom foods and drinks
Did you know that all parts of the cherry tree blossom are edible?! And they’re used to make everything from leaf powder to extracted essence. But that doesn’t mean you should start picking cherry blossoms and sampling them when you’re out viewing their beauty. It’s viewed in very poor taste (no pun intended!) as they are sacred in many cultures and meant to be enjoyed visually by all.
That said, don’t worry, you can still get a taste. Cherry blossoms create all sorts of pink, blossomy foods and drinks, from traditional delicacies to mainstream products, and no cherry blossom viewing (in person or virtual) would be complete without trying some if not all!
In Japan, one traditional, an iconic treat is Hanami Dango, a tri-color sweet dish of three different colored mochi rice dumplings (green, pink, and white) skewered on a stick. This makes it convenient to nibble as you wander amongst the blossoms. Another classic dish is sakura mochi. This is made by wrapping mochi rice cake around red bean paste and then wrapping that in a salted cherry blossom leaf. And at certain restaurants, you can slurp up cherry blossom Udon noodles.
In Washington D.C. chefs at restaurants let the blossoms and season inspire their creativity, producing cherry risottos and cherry BBQ tacos, and dishes including everything from cherry sauces to dark chocolate cherry ganache.
As for mainstream items, the list is endless but here are just a few:
Starbucks sakura lattes and sakura blossom and strawberry frappuccinos
Sakura and matcha Kit Kats
Blossom infused sodas like Coke and Pepsi
Sakura infused energy drinks like Red Bull!
Krispy Kreme sakura donuts
Sakura yogurts
Cherry blossom beer and wine
If you’re able to visit a cherry blossom festival this year, take home some of the subtle, sweet, cherry blossom flavors for yourself or as a gift.
If you’re viewing the blossoms virtually, consider ordering some treats to go with your “travels”: the April sakura-themed Japanese treat box from TokyoTreat; sakura flavored iced tea, Oreos, and Kit-Kats from Desert Drinks & Exotics; or some specialty ingredients to create your own sakura flavored creation.
Dress up for the blossoms
In Japan, it’s encouraged for both male and female visitors to dress up in traditional Japanese kimonos for their cherry blossom viewing experience.
Kimono means garment, and it is a very special garment made of beautiful textiles, falling to the ankles, with wide hanging sleeves, that wraps around the body and is secured with a sash, called an obi. Kimono rental is available in various cities throughout Japan, though perhaps it’s most popular in the historic city of Kyoto. Stores offer different packages and a variety of kimonos while staff guides you through the process of choosing the perfect garment and appropriate footwear, like traditional clogs and split-toe socks or boots. For women, the experience often includes a hairstyle and makeup.
If you live in Japan and decide to dress up for your sakura experience this year, don’t miss the opportunity to get photos to remember the start of the season and share on social media. Book one of our local Japanese photographers to capture your special sakura viewing.
Wherever you live, you take some fashion and photo tips from spring, dressing up in blossomy prints and breezy materials then indulging in a photoshoot that captures you and nature reawakening together.
Let the blossoms inspire travels now or later
Finally, if you let them, these soft, sweet-smelling blossoms will happily be your tour guides!
Whether you live in Japan or visit in the future, it should be on everyone’s bucket list to follow the bloom from South to North, visiting various cities as they come into Sakura Season. Some cities’ train stations offer maps and up-to-the-minute information on where to see the best blooms that day. And considering that cherry blossoms are often found in Japanese parks, temple complexes, and castles, you can follow them on a castle tour of the Japanese kingdom, make a bucket list of temples to visit, or experience the various beautiful Japanese parks and gardens during Sakura Season.
If you’re considering a trip to the East Coast of the U.S. or through Europe sometime in the future, schedule your stops around the blossoms! A road trip from Macon, Georgia to Washington D.C. will let you experience all types of festivals and hospitality. And a European vacation might include a rail pass with stops to see 2 million cherry trees in Jerte Valley, Spain as well as the blossom-lined park paths and avenues of Paris.
Wherever and however you enjoy the cherry blossom season this year, pausing to spend time with these beautiful trees and flowers will help you savor the season around you.
Book one of our local photographers to capture you and nature reawakening together wherever that may occur!