Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival and Top Hanami Spots

Japanese Cherry blossom, sakura picture, history, top hanami spots including spring travel guide to japan for you to know and explore. Cherry blossom (Sakura) and Hanami both have great impact on Japanese culture. If you are looking for popular hanami (Cherry blossom viewing) spots in Japan then you have come to the right place. Do you know what Sakura is? It is a Japanese word that means Cherry Blossom. This is my favorite season, what about yours? I don't forget to see Cherry blossoms in spring. At least I go to park once in a year to see sakura with friends and my family members. Though I see many cherry trees around us here. It would be a meaningless life if we don't see sakura in our nature during spring.

Hanami, the cherry blossom festival (Sakura Matsuri) is a very popular festival in Japan. The English meaning of Hanami is flower viewing, though typically it refers sakura viewing. Only for participating on this charming festival many tourists from all over the world visit Japan in spring. Before arriving of hanami Japanese celebrate other seasonal festival that is held usually from early February to late March. We call this festival as Ume Matsuri (Plum Blossom Festival).

Japan is the land of the rising sun, this is the land of cherry blossoms, and this is the land where a cherry blossoms festival "Hanami" is celebrated by Japanese people. Let us explore together and see what a beautiful nature cherry blossoms can create in this country. You would see history of Japanese cherry blossom, cherry blossom variety, popular hanami and sakura spots, cities, some great spring travel advices, hanami celebration, symbolism of Japanese cherry blossom, cherry blossoms theme accessories, gift ideas and some very beautiful cherry blossoms pictures in this lens. If you want to visit Japan in spring season then you have come to right spot, I am going to share some great tips to you so that you could enjoy your Japan trip.

Sakura and Hanami History in Japan

Cherry Blossom Festival History

Here I am going to tell you about the history of Japanese cherry blossom festival. Hanami is a popular traditional Japanese festival held every year in Japan during spring season. Cherry blossom festival in Japan is known as Hanami. Do you know the meaning of Hanami? Hanami means flower viewing. Japan is the country where cherry blossom festival appeared for the first time in the history. It is believed that flower viewing custom has started in Nara period (710-794). Though this practice was first associated with plum blossom later it was linked with cherry blossom in Heian Period (794-1185). It is better to tell you that Buddhism flourished in Japan during Nara period.

The Emperor Saga used to welcome this flower viewing time with celebratory feast and parties under Cherry trees in Kyoto’s Imperial Court during Heian Period. It was the time, only upper class people have the right to do though in the early 1600′s it spread to all citizen of Japan in Edo period. Now, not only Japanese people celebrate it but also people from all over the world celebrate it in spring.

Japanese people love viewing cherry blossoms in spring. This is the time they prepare to see the stunning view of cherry blossoms. They need forecast and based on that they plan where to go to see the cherry blossoms. In Japan, every spot has unique view of cherry blossoms; they spread all over Japan mostly.

Later, in this lens you would see the famous cities and famous spots of viewing cherry blossoms across Japan. Do you know Cherry blossoms last only for a week or more than a week? That’s the reason why Japanese people need blooming forecasting to start and prepare for the Hanami festival. You will explore how Japanese people celebrate Hanami festival later in this lens, just keep reading.

Beautiful Cherry Blossoms and Japanese Garden in Spring

Japanese gardens in spring become very beautiful and charming. Usually Japanese gardens are filled with many flowers and trees. Most of the gardens have cherry trees and when cherry flowers bloom in spring they turn into a new look just like a heaven!

I know how it feels like; I think you can feel it once you visit Japan and its public gardens where many cherry blossoms are seen during spring. The same thing happens in autumn, but that time you see only read leaves, no cherry blossom.

Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) in Japanese Culture

Cultural value of Cherry Blossom in Japan

Cherry blossoms and Japanese culture are closely related to each other. Japanese culture is rich enough and cherry blossom adds extra beauty of its culture.

I think you have noticed that you see many things which are designed in cherry blossoms theme such as clothing and paintings. You can find cherry blossoms in many Japanese songs, poems, novels, stories, manga, and anime. Numerous works of Asian art depict cherry blossoms, ranging from silk paintings to poems. Cherry blossom is truly famous in this country, no doubt about that.

As we all know that, cherry blossom does not exist for a long time. Its life is very short. In this short period of time it brings a lot of joys. Cherry blossom is seen as clouds which are associated with spring and mortality. Hanami would be not be celebrated by the Japanese if there was no existence of cherry blossom. Hanami the cherry blossom festival has started from Nara period. I think you already have read the history part in this page. There is a long history behind Hanami. This festival has an important role in Japanese culture. Many cultural events are arranged that include dancing, singing, storytelling, offering seasonal foods, drum performance, modeling, drama performance at theater and many more.

Do you know what Sakura means except flower blossom? It actually can refer as announcement of the rice planting season. Nowadays hundred thousands of travelers from all over the world come to Japan to see its beauty and culture heritages.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Symbolism

What Do Japanese Cherry Blossoms Symbolize?

Do you know the answer? I know this and it is very easy to answer. The significance of the cherry blossoms in Japanese culture is very important and thing to be discussed by cherry blossom lovers. Japanese Cherry blossom symbolizes many things. It mainly symbolizes Hope, Purity, and New Beginning. Also fallen cherry blossom is seen as a life of a worrier who passed away in war.

In Japan Cherry blossom symbolizes :

1. Virtue
2. Hope
3. New beginning
4. Bright future
5. Purity
6. Poetic appeal
7. Transience
8. Melancholy

Japanese cherry blossom symbolism comes from Buddhist concept. Like every Buddhist believes that nothing is permanent in this world. Buddhism believes in rebirth. As you know cherry blossom is not a permanent thing, it lasts for a week only.

If it is the ending and then there will be the beginning, thus how our life is going on year after year. Change is the only constant. We see ups and down in our life, so there is nothing to be depressed of anything.

The picture you see on the right side is taken from Hachiman Shrine that is located in Kamakura.

Most Popular Hanami Spots in Japan

What are the top cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan?

I love cherry blossom season, this is the time when nature of Japan changes and turns into a new look. Things are going to be crazy because of sakura appearance. Spring in Japan would never make you board. You may have a question like this one “Where to see cherry blossom in Japan?” – actually you are going to find them right here in this article.

There are so many Hanami spots you can find out throughout Japan but we can make a short list of it. They are spread all over Japan in different cities including Tokyo, Okinawa, Osaka, Yokohama, Nara, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Fukushima, Hiroshima and so on. I could show you the well known famous cherry blossom viewing spots here.

Where there is sakura there is hanami as well. Varieties of cherry blossoms can be seen across Japan. They don’t bloom at the same time, some are early and some are late bloomers. Not all the cherry trees bloom in one color as well though white color sakura is very popular in Japan.

I don’t want you would be directed by others in a wrong way. There is a possibility of missing hanami at the right spot. Hanami festival does not take place when there is no sakura on the cherry trees. To find the exact location of Hanami spot I have brought to you the most popular hanami spots of Japan.

Let us see the popular Hanami and Sakura viewing spots here in Japan. These popular sakura spots spread out in different regions and cities across Japan.

1. Tokyo: Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno Park, Chidorigafuchi

2. Kyoto: Philosopher’s Path, Heian Shrine, Maruyama Park, Kiyomizudera Temple

3. Yokohama: Sankeien Garden, Mitsuike Park (Mitsuike Koen)

4. Kamakura: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine

5. Hokkaido: Matsumae Park, Goryokaku Fort

6. Fukushima: Miharu Takizakura, Hanamiyama Park

7. Hiroshima: Miyajima

8. Himeji: Himeji Castle

9. Osaka: Osaka Castle, Kema Sakuranomiya Park, Expo 70 Commemorative Park, Osaka Mint Bureau

10. Nagoya: Nagoya Castle, Yamazakigawa Riverside

11. Izu Peninsula: Kawazu

12. Matsumoto: Matsumoto Castle

13. Tohoku: Hirosaki Castle, Kitakami, Koiwai Farm

14. Matsuyama: Matsuyama Castle

15. Takamatsu: Megijima Island

16. Okayama: Handayama Botanical Garden, Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle

17. Yoshino: Yoshinoyama

18. Nara: Nara Park, Hase-dera Temple

19. Fuji Five Lakes: Chureito Pagoda, Northern Shores of Kawaguchiko

20. Sendai: Mikamine Park

21. Wakayama: Kimiidera Temple, Negoroji Temple