🌸 Cherry Blossom Viewing (Hanami)

Hanami ('flower viewing') is the Japanese tradition of gathering beneath blooming cherry (sakura) or plum trees to appreciate their fleeting beauty, eat and drink together, and reflect on the transience of life (mono no aware). The practice dates to at least the Nara period (710–794 CE) and was originally a courtly pastime before spreading to all social classes. Weather agencies publish cherry blossom forecasts weeks in advance, and parks fill with blue tarpaulin picnic groups from dawn in early April.