How to prepare for Hanami

29 Mar 2006 Category: Events & Exhibitions, Features, Japan, Products

Sakura, the Japanese cherry blossom, is a miracle that happens over night! While the whole nation impatiently watches the Sakura-forecast on the news every night (When is it going to hit my town? Tomorrow or next week? When do I have to take a weekend off? Will it rain a lot this year or will it be warm???) the shops prepare their Sakura goods and dedicate whole areas to this nation-wide event, which only lasts a few days.

written by Uleshka

Millions of Sakura songs, stories, paintings, Kimono patterns… have been inspired by this very flower. Let’s take a little look at the big variety of Sakura goods you can find around the stores.

Hanami - literally meaning flower viewing - is all about sitting outside under the beautiful cherry trees, meeting friends and family, drinking, eating, singing and having fun. Here are some ideas how to make sure you are super-Hanami-equipped!

All you need for outside:

For some outside means hayfever! Well - there is a big selection of protecting masks to chose from for sure!

Don’t only fight for the best tree to celebrate under this year, make sure you also get a stylish sheet to sit on! Since most people just drag along their big blue sheet to mark their territory - try to make it better with some funky decoration you can get at Tokyu Hands. These festive paper decorations actually fold up to a great long line of Sakura flowers in bright pink!

Decorating with Sakura

There are tons of other decoration goods, too. I like those coasters in Sakura petal shape

or extra paper-petals to throw (in case the wind doesn’t blow enough petals all around you already).

Prepare your lunch-box

Now remember, you might get hungry while sitting in the sun. Show off your cooking skills and prepare a great bento (Japanese style lunch box) with all those great things you can get at your local supermarket.

Chiemi found these excellent soy-sauce refill cherries in the bento-corner. Once you marvelled your little dishes, make sure to find a suitable bento-box for it!

And in case you just can’t be bothered: there are lots of beautifully prepared Sakura-bentos to buy anyway…

When it comes to food, there are of course millions of sakura-taste things: Sakura tea, Sakura rice, I had a Sakura-soup with mochi the other day in Kyoto (mmmmh!) and then there is of course the famous Sakura-mochi! In case you like the unusual taste of the pickled cherry leaf that wrapps itself around that little rice ball - this is certainly a delicacy!

Sakura-bags

You can carry your food in a traditional style Japanese furoshiki (a piece of cloth folded in a certain way) - or for those who prefer western style bags - there is also quite a range with Sakura patterns to chose from!

Ssakura-beauty

You won’t have problems finding pretty much anything- Sakura: kitchenware, toys and anything that is decorative such as these candles or luxurious bath salt.

How to impress with a Sakura-phone

In case you like decorating, you might like to customize your mobile phone to match the event? Here is my favorite selection of Sakura-extras.

Sakura to wear

But why stop with your phone, when you can also dress in ‘Sakura?

There are some really beautiful Sakura accessories around (I avoid the whole Kimono-corner here, since that is certainly an article on its own).

What I really like are Sakura-nails, though! That is excellent!

A postcard for a friend

Well - in case you just want to go straight to your favorite park, enjoy the good weather and celebrate - you might still miss a dear friend or two! A good opportunity to enjoy being far away from the computer and write a good old-fashioned post card while smiling at the sun. I’m sure that will make someone very happy.

After too much sweet Sake

If you are out with the kids, please try to be decent! In case you are out with your friends or colleges, though, go for it and enjoy what’s on the market! Tokyu Hands’ costume department has a huge range of silly costumes to play around with after warming yourself up with hot sweet Sake (Ama-zake - not sure about the non-alcoholic remark on WikiPedia)

Now - make sure you find a good spot for this weekend! Have fun!

66 Comments

1. I heard a lot about Hanami, specially from my friend in Japan, and always wished to know more about it.. PingMag gave me a very nive overview on how much Japanese are fully prepared for such occasion and how much they love this season.
   I wish I can visit Japan in the same period one day :)

   Posted by: Rida Al Barazi on March 30th, 2006 at 1:26 am

2. Hehe, what diversity! I also look forward to try it one day. Certainly on my “before-I-die-to-do-list”! (^_^)

   Posted by: Massimo Fiorentino on March 30th, 2006 at 2:19 am

3. [...] Sakura, the Japanese cherry blossom, is a miracle that happens over night! While the whole nation impatiently watches the Sakura-forecast on the news every night (When is it going to hit my town? Tomorrow or next week? When do I have to take a weekend off? Will it rain a lot this year or will it be warm???) the shops prepare their Sakura goods and dedicate whole areas to this nation-wide event, which only lasts a few days. If you’re a fan of hanami or plan to make a trip to Japan go and check out the rest of this great report over at ping mag. [...]

   Posted by: ENergylog»Blog Archive » Cherry blossom is going to hit japan soon!!! on March 30th, 2006 at 2:52 am

4. Great article, thank you for posting such fun pics. I love how people totally change during sakura time — coming out of the train station and just looking up at the trees, ooing and aaawing as if they have been transported to heaven.

   Here is a Flickr set I posted from last year: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmania/sets/72057594093670954/

   Posted by: Josh J on March 30th, 2006 at 3:34 am

5. Ohh, I didn’t know about it. :) Its quite informative. And lovely pictures you put here.

   Posted by: Paavani on March 30th, 2006 at 3:50 am

6. Respect owner and nice to look !Wagering Online

   Posted by: Anihma on March 30th, 2006 at 6:20 am

7. nice-eating images!!!

   Posted by: Olltta on March 30th, 2006 at 9:36 am

8. kawaii des! certainly informative and interesting : ) i like.

   Posted by: wl on March 30th, 2006 at 11:08 am

9. awesome article! very pretty and i bet my gf will love this!!

   Posted by: G on March 30th, 2006 at 1:08 pm

10. Yay! thanks for posting the sukara season!! I thought u may have forgotton or something XD

    Another wonderfull article Uleshka ^____^

    Posted by: Fei on March 30th, 2006 at 1:15 pm

11. hey! I was thinking of going to Ueno this year, but Josh’s images from the Imperial Palace are really tempting, too….

    Posted by: Uleshka on March 30th, 2006 at 1:46 pm

12. Hah! This is madness… I didnt know the Japanese are so into the Sakura thingy. Unbelievable. The sexy pink panties with Sakura branch and flower is hilarious. Love the picnic sheets and the yummy looking bento and mochi! Cheers!

    Posted by: nukie on March 30th, 2006 at 2:24 pm

13. Sakura = Japan!
    ;-)

    Really!

    Posted by: Uleshka on March 30th, 2006 at 6:04 pm

14. [...] viewing as I hoped, but that is another story entirely). posted by steph tekano at 5:19 pm | | permalink Leave aReply [...]

    Posted by: Steph Tekano | Steady Vibe Design | Vancouver on March 31st, 2006 at 10:19 am

15. [...] Enjoy Hanami! For tips on how to Hanami best (click here](http://www.pingmag.jp/2006/03/29/how-to-prepare-for-hanami/)! [...]

    Posted by: PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about "Design and Making Things" » Archive » Announcement: on March 31st, 2006 at 12:14 pm

16. Just the perfect article for a sakura freak like me!

    Posted by: Rose on April 3rd, 2006 at 9:36 am

17. [...] 2) Since the works were all about Japan - there were quite a few cherry blossoms to be found, of course… detail of cherry blossoms of Mackey Kimura’s Kakemono detail of cherry blossoms of Yurikov Kawahiro’s Kakemono Mackey Kimura’s Kakemono Yurikov Kawahiro’s Kakemono [...]

    Posted by: PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about "Design and Making Things" » Archive » Diesel’s “Japan” exhibition on April 24th, 2006 at 10:53 pm

18. [...] Finally let’s walk though all the playgrounds called Forest of Cherry Blossoms. But although Hanami is long ago in Tokyo, the cherry blossoms haven’t bloomed in Hokkaido yet! [...]

    Posted by: PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about "Design and Making Things" » Archive » First spring at Isamu Noguchi’s Moerenuma Park on May 8th, 2006 at 10:23 pm

19. Please help me: Where can I find Hanging Paper Sakura Branches, as seen in the movie Lost in Translation? Where can I buy them online??? I’ve been looking forever. Please email me at mjmisch@mac.com THank YOU!!!

    Posted by: Melissa on May 26th, 2006 at 7:28 am

20. hey i need to know how to get cherries on my nails please help me by hittin me back on this site

    Posted by: megan on December 15th, 2006 at 5:43 am

21. answer: buy - glue - paste - done ;-)

    Posted by: Uleshka on December 15th, 2006 at 2:08 pm

22. [...] A portable green tea copper can by Seiji Yagi for traveling or picnics such as Hanami! [...]

    Posted by: PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » Kakitsubata: Japanese tradition and contemporary design on March 29th, 2007 at 7:02 pm

23. Looks delicious

    Posted by: comerjapones.com on March 31st, 2007 at 2:45 am

24. [...] in Japan, a country where you would never ever leave for a casual outdoor gathering like a Hanami picnic completely unprepared. So these are the 24/7 stores where you not only get everything to [...]

    Posted by: PingMag - The Tokyo-based magazine about “Design and Making Things” » Archive » TOP 5 Sales Decor In A Japanese Combini on May 23rd, 2007 at 7:00 pm

25. [...] not me above but it’s exactly how I feel. More on getting prepared for Hanami over at PingMag, a great new site covering the art scene in Tokyo that Mark Dytham mentioned to me when he was [...]

    Posted by: We want Spring — everwas on August 12th, 2007 at 5:17 pm

26. Just the perfect article for a sakura freak like me!

    Posted by: kurye on February 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 am

27. I am still looking for the paper cherry blossom chandelier seen in the movie, Lost in Translation. Looks as though it may be found here at Tokyu Hands…does anyone know what I am talking about? Please email me with any info. Thanks, Aaryn Polzer.

    Posted by: Aaryn on December 29th, 2008 at 1:55 am

28. [...] April 2006 by misssunalee En voyant cette page sur la floraison des cerisiers au Japon et de tous les gadgets qui accompagnent cet événement, [...]

    Posted by: Sakura « Popup Monsters on January 5th, 2009 at 12:46 am

29. [...] Nel caso poi non dimenticare di fare anche una visitana al negozio di dolcetti giapponesi che si trova sulla sinistra dall’uscita del tempio, visto che in questo periodo si trovano anche i sakura mochi, delle polpettine di riso glutinoso ripiene di pasta di fagioli azuki e avovlti con uno o due fogli di ciliege sotosale (vengono usate le prime foglie dell’anno, messe sotto sale poi accuratamente sciacquate prima dell’uso), un deliziosisismo bocconcino insieme dolce e confortante e con una punta fresca e primaverile e giustoquel’accenno di salato che serve a spingere il tutto un pochino più in là, davvero un grandissimo dolce :-) La stessa cosa purtroppo non si puàò dire del gelato sakura mochi che siamo andati a prendere a due passi da li, da Cibeta in Senbon-dori, poco più a sud dell’incrocio con imadegawa-dori, beh, come dire, ci avevano promesso lo stesso identico sapore del mochi ma in versione gelata, niente fu meno vero, un gelato si artigianale ma neanche lontanamente sconvolgente quanto il mochi originale Detto questo, Chibeta sembra sia pur sempre una delle poche gelaterie artigianale qui in giro, tornerò a provare il gelato al matcha, èer vedere. Infine, in foto ci sono anche le bustine di tè solubile con prugne e alghe, e per ultimo un sakura swiss roll made in muji, giusto per illustrare quanto il sakura in questo momento sia omnipresente (persino da starbucks ci sono i dolcetti sakura al momento :-) Lato sakura non comestibile invece, fatevi due risate con questo post qui su come prepararsi per l’hanami. [...]

    Posted by: Mignonne, allons voir si l’ume… | il cavoletto di bruxelles on February 22nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm

30. [...] (e per farvi un’idea degli altri milliardi di sakura-accessori che ci sono in giro, vedete qui [...]

    Posted by: Come fare Hanami? | il cavoletto di bruxelles on April 13th, 2010 at 4:55 pm

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