Chinese tourists climbing trees and picking cherry blossoms spark Japanese media’s new term “Chinese-style hanami”

▲ Such sights have appeared in Ueno Park, Tokyo. (Photo / from Weibo account “Japan Trends Daily Brief”)

Travel Centre / Comprehensive Report

As Japan enters cherry blossom season, the number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting the country for hanami has surged. However, recent reports in Japanese media have revealed that some visitors climb trees, pull down branches for photos, and even pluck blossoms to wear on their heads. Following the term “explosive buying,” Japanese media have now coined the new phrase “Chinese-style hanami.” In response, a TV host suggested setting up designated photo zones for Chinese tourists.

March and April are Japan’s most beautiful months, with vast expanses of blooming cherry blossoms attracting huge crowds. Statistics show that the number of tourists visiting Japan for cherry blossoms this year is about three times that of last year. However, a Japanese TV station recently disclosed that in Ueno Park—a famed hanami spot in Tokyo—a mainland Chinese woman entered a restricted area to take photos and claimed she hadn’t seen the signs when reminded. Another woman said, “Cherry blossoms feel so rare to me, I want to take some back home.”

▲ A tourist said she felt cherry blossoms were rare and wanted to take them back home. (Photo / from Weibo account “Japan Trends Daily Brief”)

▲ Just look—do you really have to pull down the branches? (Photo / from Weibo account “Japan Trends Daily Brief”)

Meanwhile, in Osaka Castle Park, numerous mainland tourists were seen touching branches and even breaking off flowers to wear on their heads. Thus, following the term “explosive buying,” Japanese media have now given Chinese tourists another label: “Chinese-style hanami.” Beyond domestic hanami behavior, Japanese media also reported on how people in Nanjing, China, enjoy cherry blossoms—such as kicking trees to create “cherry blossom showers.”

Guests on a Japanese TV show argued that the government should step up awareness campaigns, while a host suggested setting up designated photo areas for Chinese tourists. In fact, some scenic spots in Japan have already put up signs in Japanese, English, and Chinese. Last month, the Chinese Embassy in Japan also issued a statement urging tourists to respect local customs during hanami—avoiding loud noises, pushing, climbing trees, breaking off branches, or shaking trunks.

In response to the attention Chinese tourists’ hanami behavior has drawn from Japanese media, a verified Weibo user “Japan Trends Daily Brief” specifically posted, “Please share this widely—don’t bring Chinese-style hanami to Japan!” Many mainland netizens also commented, “After ruining things at home, they go abroad to embarrass us,” “Speechless,” and “They need to be doxxed.”

▲ When asked why she touched the cherry blossom branches, the woman said it was because she loves nature. (Photo / from Weibo account “Japan Trends Daily Brief”)

▲ This cherry blossom tree just happened to grow on a stone pillar, and many climbed up for photos. (Photo / from Weibo account “Japan Trends Daily Brief”)

▲ Uh… is that wearing a flower you picked? (Photo / from Weibo account “Japan Trends Daily Brief”)