Sakura, or cherry blossoms, are a big deal in Japan. They attract countless people and tourists from all over the world year after year. At first, we didn’t quite understand the hype around the sakura season; after all, flowers bloom in spring everywhere! Why is it so special in Japan ?! Already early in January news outlets and social media were all discussing the cherry blossom forecast (sort of like a rain radar map), while supermarkets had fully switched to sakura mode with every product branded with cherry blossoms on it. It made us laugh a bit, so much fuss over some flowering trees! And while the hysteria still seems a bit odd, it’s hard not to indulge and embrace the sakura traditions. So, now that we’re living in Japan, we might as well try all the sakura branded products (or at least as many as possible) and visit some prime spots in Kyushu while they’re in full bloom.

Hanami

The anticipation kicked off weeks before the cherry trees even had a chance to sprout a single bud, with sakura-themed products filling the shelves of supermarkets and convenience stores. They can be divided into two categories, either with some kind of sakura flavor (whatever people making these products imagine sakura to taste like) or normal products with just sakura themes packaging. An example of the latter would be the Asahi Sakura themed beer that tastes exactly the same. Far more exciting and exotic are the “sakura flavored” products and naturally, we sampled a few so you won’t have to; sakura-flavoured mochi, sakura chips, sakura sake, etc. Some treats tasted better than others, for example, we definitely don’t recommend the sakura coffee… but it was a fun way to build up to the ‘pink season’.

As our taste buds were slowly adjusting to the season, the cherry tree buds started to grow. We noticed more and more parks being decorated with lanterns, adding a touch of magic to the atmosphere, a bit like decorating pine trees with Christmas lights. That’s when we learned about a Japanese tradition that’s very popular. When the cherry blossoms bloom, people gather under the trees for picnics, getting slightly intoxicated by soaking in the beauty of the fleeting flowers (and the many types of alcohol brought along). This tradition is called Hanami (花見), which literally means “looking at flowers”, and involves food, drinks, friends and watching beautiful trees. That sounded like a nice custom and something we could get behind!And apparently sakura in Japan has a much deeper meaning than you would think at first. It’s not just about beauty but also a symbol of life’s fleeting nature, a concept deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Even though everyone had been eagerly anticipating peak bloom for months, the blossoms will only last about 1-2 weeks before falling to the ground. Since Hanami isn’t just an excuse for a picnic, people also take time for reflection and appreciation, where the delicate cherry blossoms serve as a gentle reminder that all beautiful moments are temporary, so we need to enjoy them while they last.

we definitely don’t recommend the sakura coffee…

It’s time!

After a week of warm weather in late March, the cherry blossoms kicked into high gear. Not just the younger trees, but even the old ones finally started showing their first flowers. And then… the rain came. Lots of it. Along with a sudden cold surge. But the sakura trees weren’t deterred; flowers exploded from every branch, painting the city in pink.

The picnic plans started to sound a lot less cozy and more miserable. Still, we gave it a shot on a chilly Monday afternoon in Nagasaki, wrapped in thick down jackets, beer in hand and determined to embrace the tradition. As we shivered under the trees, we finally started to get it; Hanami wasn’t just about perfect weather. Despite the cold, people gathered beneath the lanterns, laughing, eating, and totally in the moment. A few food stalls added to the festive atmosphere, and suddenly, the chill didn’t seem so bad after all (or was it the beers?).

What makes this season also really impressive is the sheer number of Sakura trees, both wild and planted, scattered across the landscape of Japan. In Nagasaki, it feels like a solid third of all trees are cherry blossoms, and now that they’re in full bloom, we have to admit, the sight is absolutely breathtaking. One of your best shots would be to look up a school on a map if you want to find cherry trees, as they are often present around the schools. The mountains around Nagasaki offer a bit more variety in tree species, but even there, you can easily spot the wild sakura, their more white blossoms standing out against the forested landscape. It’s a nice touch of spring magic. At the end of the week we get another shot at Hanami with friends, when the weather will luckily warm up. Hopefully the flowers won’t have vanished by then. But even if they do, this has definitely been a great lesson in appreciating life’s fleeting moments!