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!