It's That Time: Hanami!

It's Hanami season! Literally meaning "to look at flowers" hanami is a season to sit under the cherry or plum blossoms and reflect on the fragility of life. Or at least, that's what it used to mean. Now it's an excuse to picnic with friends and drink all night long. None of the parties I went to involved that (okay, maybe the one where we shared a bottle of sake), but it's a great season to get to see Japanese people free of the normal controlled state.

The fact that they're beautiful helps too

One of the great places to go and see cherry blossoms, and generally every season Japan has to offer, is Kiyomizudera. You've noticed I've visited it quite a number of times and this time was for some night time viewing and checking out how Gion took flower viewing to heart.

It really is a different world at night.

We headed all around the temple, which had almost every type of cherry tree possible. From weeping cherry trees to full scale old ones. It was hard not to appreciate just how crazy a season it was, and just how much Japan loves it's flowers.

Everything was lit up just for this occasion

The real party was down in the park though, close to Gion-Shijo which last well until midnight. There was some irony in a huge Hanami festival going on there when there was really only one tree in the park.

What a tree it was

There were people everywhere, sleeping by the rivers, going by food stands and drinking. The entire atmosphere was very festive.

There were even some geisha present in the big spender area

And even though it wasn't summer, we had to have some fun by visiting Japan's version of a haunted house. It's pretty common to find them at big festivals and even school festivals, but they're never as scary as the big ones you find in the states.

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All in all it was a great night out, a terrific season for friends and food and should you find yourself in Japan during this season a picnic under the blossoms is the best medicine you can get this time of the year.

Until next time!