Essential Items for Cherry Blossom Viewing:
● Waterproof Picnic Mat
A waterproof picnic mat is an essential item for cherry blossom viewing. Depending on the number of people in your group, find a nice spot, lay it out, and use it to mark your area. If you forget to bring one, don’t worry—you can easily buy one at any Japanese 100-yen store.
● Packaging Tape
Bring some packaging tape to secure the edges of your picnic mat. You can also use it to attach your name as a marker.
● Plastic Bags
Since many cherry blossom parks in Japan do not have trash bins, please bring plastic bags to pack up your own trash and tidy up the surrounding area, restoring it to its clean state.
● Tissues, Paper Towels, and Wet Wipes
Carry tissues and wet wipes in case restrooms or water sources are far away. They’ll come in handy if your hands get dirty.
● Playing Cards
When a group of friends gathers together, aside from admiring the cherry blossoms, it’s always good to have some entertainment. That’s when you take out the playing cards and have fun together.
● Thermos and Hand Warmers
During the cherry blossom season in Japan, temperatures are often still quite low. Prepare hand warmers and fill your thermos with hot tea or coffee so you can comfortably enjoy an afternoon tea time under the cherry blossoms.
● Bento Boxes, Mochi, and Onigiri
When everyone gathers together to enjoy the cherry blossoms, sharing bento boxes and onigiri is both fun and heartwarming. Of course, there are also some food stalls around the park where you can buy local delicacies—don’t miss out on mochi balls.

Essential Hanami Etiquette:
● Avoid Over-Reserving Space
During cherry blossom season, companies, families, and friends all head out to view the blossoms. If you arrive early to reserve a spot, remember to only claim space for your group and avoid occupying too much area. Be respectful to others who are also there to enjoy the flowers.
● Do Not Break Branches
When admiring cherry blossoms, simply use your eyes and heart to appreciate them—never break off branches or flowers.
● Do Not Leave Trash
No one wants to admire beautiful cherry blossoms while stepping around piles of trash. After enjoying the blossoms, help clean up the area and keep the environment pleasant for everyone.
● No Open Flames or Cooking
To help preserve the cherry blossom viewing environment, if you get hungry, enjoy the bento or onigiri you brought along. Do not use cooking equipment on-site.

 

 

2015 Japan cherry blossom forecast revealed – plan ahead and take notes!