Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
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What better way to bring in spring than to gather all your friends together and have a sakura hanami (cherry blossom viewing) under the beautiful pink blossoms. Many towns have large festivals to coincide with this wonderful natural event.
This year's warm winter is said to have pushed the arrival of the sakura by up to two weeks. The predicted date for Tokyo is March 22nd. Normally they arrive in Ibaraki between late March and early April. Tokyo and Ibaraki have similar weather so this means they will be arrive in most areas of Ibaraki in mid-march (barring the mountainous north).
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Predicating the day that the flowers will open to the world has become a precise science and there are many websites dedicated to following the cherry blossom front as it crosses Japan.
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Some people even try to follow the front from the south to the north. "Hokkaido Highway Blues" is an interesting book about one ALT from England's hitchhiked journey.
So the most important question is where to have your party?
The list below outlines the most popular places in Ibaraki. Be warned, if a place in Japan is designated as popular, then it is the place to be seen. There will be hundreds, maybe even thousands of people having parties in the evening.
| Name (English) | Name (Japanese) | Town | Address (English) | Address (Japanese) | Normal Viewing Times | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isobe Sakuragawa Park | 磯部桜川公園 | Sakuragawa | 740-2 Isobe | 桜川市磯部740-2 |
Mid April | |
| Hanyain no Shidare-zakura | 般若院のしだれ桜 | Ryūgasaki | 3341 Ne-machi | 龍ヶ崎市根町3341 |
Late March–early April | Saturdays and Sundays when bloomimg |
| Sairenji Temple | 西蓮寺 | Namegata | 504 Sairenji | 行方市西蓮寺504 |
Late March–early April | |
| Akogigaura Park | 阿漕ケ浦公園 | Tōkai | 579 Muramatsu | 那珂郡東海村村松579 |
April 1–April 20 | Tōkai Saura Festival (April 8, 9) |
| Jūō Panorama Park | 十王パノラマ公園 | Hitachi | 1085-6 Tomobe, Jūō-machi | 日立市十王町友部1085-6 |
April 5–April 15 | Sakura Festival (April 1–20) |
| Gugyoji Temple | 弘経寺 | Jōsō | 1 Toyooka-machi | 常総市豊岡町甲1 |
Late March–mid April | Tea Ceremony (April 9) |
| Mitsukaidō Asunaro no Sato | 水海道あすなろの里 | Jōsō | 310 Ōtsukato-machi | 常総市大塚戸町310 |
Late March–mid April | |
| Yoshino Park | 吉野公園 | Jōsō | 1863 Jōja-machi | 常総市上蛇町1863 |
Late March–mid April | |
| Uruno Park | 宇留野公園 | Htachi-Ōmiya | 687 Uruno | 常陸大宮市宇留野687 |
Late March–mid April | |
| Tatsunoguchi Shinsui Park | 辰ノ口親水公園 | Htachi-Ōmiya | 1339-2 Tatsunoguchi | 常陸大宮市辰ノ口1339-2 |
Late March–mid April | |
| Ōmiya Nature Park | 大宮自然公園 | Htachi-Ōmiya | 60-2 Ishizawa | 常陸大宮市石沢60-2 |
Late March–early April | |
| Amabiki-san Rakuhōji Temple | 雨引山 楽法寺 | Sakuragawa | 1 Motoki | 桜川市本木1 |
Early April–mid April | |
| Haguro-san Park | 羽黒山公園 | Namegata | 989-1 Asō | 行方市麻生989-1 |
April 10–April 20 | Sakura Festival (April 2–9) |
| Kamine Park | かみね公園 | Hitachi | 5-2-22 Miyata-machi | 日立市宮田町5-2-22 |
April 5–April 15 | |
| Kijō Park | 亀城公園 | Tsuchiura | 1-13 Chūō | 土浦市中央1-13 |
Late March–early April | Tsuchiura Sakura Festival (during blooming) |
| Around Hōjō Ōike Pond | 北条大池周辺 | Tsukuba | Hōjō | つくば市北条 |
Early April–mid April | Hojo Oike Sakura Festival (early April) |
| Atago-san Park | 愛宕山公園 | Kasama | Izumi | 笠間市泉 |
Early April–late April | Atago Sakura Festival (April 9) |
| Sakurayama Park | 桜山公園 | Mito | Migawa-chō | 水戸市見川町 |
Late March–mid April | Night Live (April 7), Yosakoi (April 8) |
| Shizumine Furusato Park | 静峰ふるさと公園 | Naka | 1720-1 Shizu | 那珂市静1720-1 |
April 20–May 5 | Sakura Festival (Late April–early May) |
| Nishiyama Park | 西山公園 | Hitachi-Ōta | Shinjuku-chō | 常陸太田市新宿町 |
April 5–April 15 | Sakura Festival (April 1–10) |
| Yūki Castle Ruins Park | 結城城跡公園 | Yūki | Yūki | 結城市結城 |
Late March–early April |
During the peak of the season, some people wait from 8 a.m. to guard their favorite part of the park, especially if they are inviting lots of people to their party. I remember a party I went to in Tokyo one year where we had waited all day on our big blue tarp, only for it to be stolen from us at the last minute. Don't take your eyes of your mat!
What to take to hanami?
- Large blue tarp (for sitting on)
- Cushions (if you have a delicate behind)
- Food
- Drinks
- Bottle opener (don't you hate it when you go to open that wine and it's not a screw top?)
- Plastic glasses (so you don't break anything)
- Karaoke machine (or you can join in with another group nearby)
At the larger hanami sites, food and drink are normally available from food stands, but they are overpriced. It is best to be prepared and take your own.
Even if you don't have a big party planned, go along to the site and join in some random group's party. They will love to have you there!
Finally, don't drive. Take public transport or walk if possible. These parties get pretty wild and we wouldn't want anyone to drink and drive.
Have fun!
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