Cherry blossoms viewing : basic rules to follow

Cherry blossoms viewing : basic rules to follow

Spring is just around the corner and sakura, the iconic flower of Japan, is blossoming in Japan!

Everyone waits for this spring beauty to come and many people go for hanami parties, which is basically sitting under cherry blossom trees to admire their stunning beauty.

Hanami is sort of like a picnic, and there are some dos and don’ts you need to follow in order to enjoy hanami to the fullest.

Today we introduce some basic rules to follow for cherry blossom viewing!

Don’t touch the blossoms

Cherry blossoms bloom for a very short time; usually it takes a week or two to full bloom. The flowers and petals are extremely fragile and delicate.

Therefore, breaking or bending the branches, touching petals or plucking flowers is prohibited.

You should never shake the branches to see the petals fall or climb on the trees.

Avoid standing on the roots when taking pictures.

Reserve a space

Most Japanese bring along a mat or sheet to hanami. If you want to block or reserve some space, make sure to not block more space than necessary and avoid using tents as it blocks other people’s views.

Take your trash with you

You should always take your trash back home with you, or throw the trash away into the trashcans inside the park. Make sure to sort your trashes properly before throwing them away.

Don’t be noisy

 

Most Japanese go for cherry blossom viewing with friends and family, so hanami is a time to catch up and celebrate the spring.

It is ok to drink but make sure to not get drunk and make noise. Try to respect everyone’s space and privacy.

No smoking in public places and dress warm

Many parks and public areas in Japan prohibit smoking in public places. Please go to the designated smoking areas to avoid fires and throw your cigarette butts into the ash trays.

Also, even though it’s spring in Japan, the air temperature is still quite low; usually around 5 to 10 degrees. Make sure to dress properly to keep your body warm!

Since the cherry blossom viewing season is also the peak season for domestic and international travelers, make sure to follow the basic manners for hanami so that everyone can enjoy the gorgeous blossoms of Japan and create wonderful memories of spring.