Hanami, the flower viewing tradition

Hanami, the "flower viewing" festival (from hana 花 "flower" and mi 見 "to see"), is a thousand-years-old tradition, begun when the Japanese aristocracy started a sort of garden parties under the blossoming cherry trees, with food, drinks and poem recitations...

What hanami means today? The most beautiful part is that hanami can mean whatever you like... It's a blend of spirituality and fun, you can enjoy a stroll under the blooming trees, you can sing, dance, eat and drink with your friends. And that's why, during this period, lots of food stalls are installed close to the popular hanami venues...