Experience

Cherry blossom viewing, called "hanami" or "ohanami" in Japanese, is one of the most popular seasonal events in Japan. Cherry blossoms is called "sakura," and is a representative flower not only of spring but also of Japan.
You can usually enjoy cherry blossoms in Japan from the middle of March until the middle of May, depending on the year and the area.

When it comes to the season, the weather forecast not only says what day cherry blossoms would bloom in each area in Japan but also brings some news about cheery blossoms everyday. There was the news that the Meteorological Agency miscalculated the flowering date in 2007.

Once cherry blossoms bloomed, people happily go out to see them. Many people like to make a party near the cherry blossoms during the day and also in the evening. Families, friends, and co-workers get together with food and drink and enjoy cherry blossom veiwing parties.

Because some of popular cherry blossom viewing spots get too crowded, it's competitive to hold a good space for party. While some people put plastic sheets with their name tag a couple of days in advance, some companies send their men to keep their space from the morning for their party at night.
There are also some people enjoy viewing cherry blossoms along the bank from boats. Cherry blossom viewing is a big thing for Japanese people as such.