3 Must-Haves For the Perfect Cherry Blossom Viewing Experience
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It’s cherry blossom season in Japan, so get ready to see the sakura with these handy items from Japan!
Getting Ready for Hanami
Whether you're visiting Japan this year, or you want to enjoy the cherry blossoms in your own hometown, sakura season is the perfect time to get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air. Spring is here, bringing with it the gift of warm breezes and perfect pink cherry blossom petals! (Also, unfortunately, the curse of allergy-triggering pollen.) There's no better way to celebrate the changing of the seasons, a very Japanese tradition, than a day spent cherry blossom viewing ("hanami" in Japan) and relaxing outdoors. So pick your favorite sakura spot, and get ready with our list of cherry blossom viewing necessities!
① Decorations to Set the Sakura Mood
It's hard to resist the many sakura-themed products that come out every spring in Japan, when each new pretty floral item is enough to put a bounce in your step. To celebrate the new season and the beautiful blooming flowers, some Japanese brands even release whole collections in time with the cherry blossoms each year, like these fabulous purses and wallets from Aether. But if you want to dress up for your hanami outing, there are more than a few ways to add a little sakura to your outfit. Check out this sakura ring from Coccodeco, and the many handmade accessories offered on the marketplace of Minne! Dress up your whole house, too, with cute cherry blossom items like these pinwheel magnets or all the amazing cups and plates available from Grape.
② Hanami Picnic Necessities
Excited to get out there and see the flowers? The next step is to prep your picnic basket! You don't really need to have a picnic to make it "hanami" – just enjoying the flowers is enough – but the tradition of sitting down under the cherry trees, watching the petals rain down with every stiff breeze, and enjoying some food and drinks with a few of your friends is actually a tradition that dates back to ancient Japan. So first, choose the perfect basket! We like this basket available on Iichi, but you could also go for a basket-style handbag like this one from Tsuru by Mariko Oikawa, or this chic leather version from Irose. Then tuck in a picnic blanket to spread out on, make yourself a bento lunch, wrap it up in this irresistible Totoro handkerchief, and throw in some tasty Japanese snacks like these ginger almonds and cinnamon candies. The best days for hanami are sunny and warm, so don't forget to bring a handy straw hat, like these classic ones made in Japan by the family-owned Tanaka Hat. Keep cool with this adorable leaf-shaped fan, too!
▷ For those who suffer from allergies during the spring, check out all the anti-pollen products available from Ainz-Tulpe! They offer everything from masks that keep the pollen out of your airways, to sprays and skincare that let pollen slip over your skin without sticking around!
③ Cameras for the Perfect Pics
For many hanami fanatics, taking pictures is the most important part! And as amazing as our phones have gotten at taking photos, they can't quite beat a real camera with a high-quality lens. Luckily, you can get some amazing camera gear online, straight from Japan. Try Halia Camera, Kitamura Camera, Shirai Camera, or Japan Camera to find the perfect new lens (or new camera body!) for your cherry blossom photoshoot! You can even try out a little toy camera from Bonzart for some funky shots with the flowers. Whatever it takes to get that perfect shot!
In Japan or far overseas, a hanami picnic out among the cherry trees is the perfect way to make the most of the new spring season – warm weather, flowers, pollen, and all. Whether you're making a packing list for your Tokyo trip or just looking to hang out in your own garden, gathering together just a few of these recommendations will help you make your next adventure into the ultimate cherry blossom viewing experience. Now you just have to decide where to see the flowers!
(There are some great hanami spots in Tokyo!)
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
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NAME:Cherry Blossom Viewing (花見)
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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