First of all you need to know at least what Cherry Blossom Festival is and what the festival is about.

People often say that the Cherry Blossom Festival is just an act of “flower viewing”, but in fact, it is more than just a flower viewing. Cherry Blossom Festival is a cherished Japanese tradition where you can enjoy the rare experience of being surrounded by the beautifully blooming soft pink and white color of the sakura trees while gathering around friends or family, sharing laughter and conversations. It is a cultural and social celebration that bursts into a vibrant life each spring.

It is believed that everything starts from around the 8th century. Back then, the Japanese elite were heavily influenced by the cultural traditions of China, and one tradition about enjoying poetry and wine beneath plum blossoms, which symbolized the arrival of spring, is becoming a trend among the aristocrats. But in Japanese aristocrats stead, they began admiring cherry blossoms instead.

Things happen and the common people also get those influences from the Aristocrats, and now, Cherry Blossom Festival has become one of the most cherished traditions enjoyed by everyone in Japan, and not even a few foreigners fell in love with these Japanese traditions.

Cherry Blossom Festival is held annually during Spring which is around March to April. But it is especially celebrated when the cherry blossom blooms beautifully. While the timing of the bloom would all be different from one location depends on the weather and elevation of each location.

TheSouthern part of Japan such as Okinawa or Hiroshima usually have a faster blooming time around late March to April, followed by the center part of Japan such as the capital, Tokyo and the historical city of Kyoto which is around early April to Mid-April, and last but not least on the Northern part of Japan such as Sapporo and Hokkaido would be the last area where the cherry blossom would bloom which is around Mid-April to late April.

The most common activities that people would do during the Cherry Blossom Festivals would be picnic and partying. People would gather with their friends and families, have some fun conversation to deepen the bond with each other, playing games from card games to board games, and eating various mouth-watering foods especially traditional Japanese foods like bento boxes, and rice balls are the most common food that people would bring. Some groups might even set up a picnic area with table cloths, decorations and a variety of dishes, snacks and beverages while the other might only have some casual gathering with a few snacks.

Strolling under the beautifully bloomed sakura tree would give out some kind of relaxing feeling and it is the time to appreciate the beauty of nature. For people who are not fans of picnicking with crowds, they prefer to take some photos as keepsakes, memories and choose to simply enjoy the moment. It is another chance to unwind and let go of the stress while enjoying the company of the beloved one.

Drinking is always known to make people feel easier to open up with each other which makes it one way to deepen the bond with the other person. Drinking parties under the sakura trees always brings a new experience and memories, and it is often done among colleagues. While drinking beers, sake or any alcoholic beverages, a snack is a must. Among that fun and happy atmosphere, people would chat freely, laughing and sometimes even playing some music and sing together celebrating the festival and making it livelier than before.

If you happen to attend an official Cherry Blossom Festival that is being held by the official, such as from the castle, you might be able to enjoy the cultural experience where they will perform a music performance, the traditional tea ceremonies, and even a demonstration of Japanese crafts. This kind of cultural experience you can experience at historical place such as Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and the Inuyama Castle.

Some of the parks that hold cherry blossom festivals usually have stunning illumination during the night. They would lit up the colorful lights nor only around the trees, but also on the buildings around them that created a magical atmosphere that you could never forget. An example of the park that has illumination during the night is Ueno Park in Tokyo, and Hirosaki Castle in Aomori.

First of all, before you book some flight, make sure the dates of your flight and the full blooming date of the sakura trees are aligned, so you will not miss the timing. Again, the full blooming period is different from one location to the other, so please make sure to book the flight and hotel during that period of time.

Cherry Blossom Festival is a huge event that only happens once in a year. A lot of people wait to celebrate this annual event, and so, a lot of cherry blossom festival popular spots are often crowded. If you would like to get a good viewing spot, it is recommended for you to arrive early. Some of the spots are available to book during the cherry blossom festival period, if you are sure you’re going to attend, don’t forget to book them first to assure your seat.

If you plan to have some nice picnic-time, don’t forget to bring picnic essentials, such as blankets, reusable utensils, plates, napkins and of course the delicious foods to be eaten together with your friends and family under the cherry blossom trees. You could also bring some games with you too, to be enjoyed and played together with your friends and family.

Last but not least, please be reminded to keep being respectful to others, mind your noise levels and avoid damaging the trees.

The very first place that has always been worth-mentioning is Tokyo's Ueno Parkthat boasts over 1,000 cherry blossoms lining its pathway. The atmosphere is also very lively which is perfect for celebration where there are a lot of street performers, food vendors and picnickers to add to the festive spirit. If you want to continue on doing other activities, also visit the Tokyo National Museum, the serene Toshogu Shrine, or meet with various animals at Ueno Zoological Gardens.

A unique experience where you can stroll alongside the river and have a good time picnicking with over 800 cherry blossom trees or rent a boat and cruising under the sakura canopy is another unique experience that is not to be missed. Besides, Meguro River is located in a quite trendy neighborhood, so you could try to visit some shops, cafes and restaurants around the area after or even before you went to the desired park.

A festival annually held inside the ruins of Takeda Castle every year where it offers a natural beauty and historical significance at the same time. The festival itself has some activities and performances that are being held throughout the day, and all of them are done based on the Traditional Japanese Performance such as traditional dance and music. Not only performance, you can also find stalls that sell classical Japanese foods lining through the park grounds.

A delightful celebration of the cherry blossom tree festival that is annually held around late March to April located in a historical castle at Fukuoka. With over 1,000 cherry blossom trees lining up around the castle park, it makes the area covered by a warm pink-white color of sakura trees.

A cherry blossom festival has always been held at Fukuoka Castle every year featuring traditional Japanese performances such as dance and music, and of course numerous stalls around the park where you can get your favorite Japanese snacks. But not only that, during the night you would get immersed into the breathtaking views of the illuminated cherry trees together with the Fukuoka Castle on the backdrop that also illuminates a beautiful light. It is a collaborative event that you can only find in Fukuoka Castle.

A park that boasts over 3,000 cherry blossom trees and witness the majestic views of Osaka Castle standing proudly among the sea of pink-white petals. Not that far different from the other castle, Osaka castle has also been a place where cherry blossoms festival is held throughout the year in Tokyo. And it is actually one of the most popular locations to do Hanami.

The Castle Park has numerous stalls, with various performances such as traditional dance and music being played throughout the day. While during the night you could witness the stunning illumination of lining up cherry trees being lit up which makes that magical atmosphere. BUt other than that, you could immerse yourself more in Japanese culture by renting a Kimono where you can take a walk around the castle while wearing that traditional outfit of Japan.

Now that you’ve known a lot about the cherry festival, it is time to plan your visit and prepare to enjoy yourself in cherry blossom festivals held around Japan, wherever you would like to. Whether it’s in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Fukuoka, you could participate in the festival while also having some holiday in numerous attractions located around the area. If you would like to visit Japan soon, Traveloka would gladly help you in booking some tickets, hotels, and even the attractions that you would like to visit too! Giving out the best price, with various combos, promotions and discounts, Traveloka will not disappoint you.