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Updated April 1st – Looks like they’ll be blossoming early this year in Tokyo.
It’s almost upon us, the 2009 Cherry Blossom Season and of course the Cherry Blossom Forecast that is, and every god damn blog that has anything at all to do about Japan will make mention of it …. multiple times too no doubt, myself included.
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Saturday night saw the repeat of last years Hanami Party at Toshimaen. Toshimaen is one of the biggest theme parks in Japan although we were there for none of that carry-on. The easiest way to get to Toshimaen is on the Oedo Subway line, it’s about 18 minutes from Shinjuku.
There must have been a good 30 of us this year, all Friends from a local Sushi bar and predominantly the same crew i go to the Onsen trips with.
It started early in the evening and what a show they put on, 5000 yen for all you can eat and all you can drink for a good few hours, set in the greatly lit surroundings of Toshimaen.
After a good feed of Yakiniku and Nabe, along with my fair quota of beers it was off to Nerima for the second party of Karaoke and Whisky … plenty of both.
Next week, now the Cherry Blossom Season and related Hanami parties are finished and i’ve hung up my Snowboarding Boots for this winter, i will resume my journey on the JR Yamanote Line.
Next stop will be Hamamatsucho, another first for me so i’m looking forward to it. So far i know very little about Hamamatsucho so i’m open to suggestions on things to see and do while i’m out that way.
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I took the long way home from my travels this morning and took a stroll through Yoyogi Park. Yoyogi Park (代々木公園 Yoyogi kōen) is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, located adjacent to Harajuku Station and Meiji Shrine in Shibuya.
Even though it was barely lunch time the park was already filling quickly with punters enjoying their first weekend of Hanami Parties. Hanami (花見 lit. “flower viewing”) is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, “flower” in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms (桜 or 櫻 sakura?), or ume blossoms (梅 ume).
If you can look past the sea of blue tarpaulins it’s quiet a site to be seen. The Hanami parties are a great excuse to pull up some grass in the park and progressively get loaded on your favourite drop. After being restricted to indoor activety for much of winter, it’s a welcome change to get outside and enjoy Spring time in Japan.
It’s first in best dressed when it comes to getting a spot during the Hanami season. People gather in the park from the early hours on the weekend and no doubt during the week for those not working.
Often there’ll be a few designated individuals that will go early and mark the spot with their tarps and the others in their party will join later in the day.
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