Hanami Rules!

Published on 06.03.2016 In this video, Victor and Tomoko desu talk about things you cannot do during hanami (cherry blossom viewing paries) in Japan. They also share their Hanami experience from the previous day, and show some fun footage they shot at their party!

Recently, Hanami parties are becoming more and more popular amongst foreigners in Japan. Areas like Shinjukugyoen and Ueno park become unbelievably packed with visitors during the Hanami season, from within Japan and abroad. Because of the recent influx of foreigners visiting Japan just for the Hanami season, Tomoko compiled a list to help those who are new to Japan, and maybe unsure of the unspoken rules of Hanami. The rules are as follows:

1. Do not break cherry tree brances
2. Do not shake the brances and cause the petals to snow down on you.
3. Do not take more space than you need.
4. Do not leave your garbage behind.
5. Do not barbeque where it is prohibited.
6. Do not put your tarps on pathways, or other places where they might get in the way.
7. Do not do hanami in residential areas.
8. Do not go to the bathroom in places that are not toilets.

Most of these are common sense, you don't want to cause a disturbance, or obstruct the flow of traffic. Rule #1 and #2 however, are a bit more interesting. The reason for these two rules is because since cherry blossoms only last for about a few days at the most, doing anything that would cause them to end faster would be unfair to the other viewers. Just remember to be respectful to the the park or area where you are viewing, to the others who are enjoying the cherry blossoms, and of course to the trees themselves.