The History and Culture of Hanami: Japan’s Cherry Blossom Tradition and the Bento That Brings It to Life

When spring arrives in Japan, hearts begin to flutter as news of cherry blossoms begins to spread. It’s almost instinctual—the pull to go outside, to seek out the soft pink blossoms, and to gather beneath their fleeting beauty. But what is it about sakura that so deeply captivates the Japanese spirit?

🌸 Hanami's Sacred Origins

In ancient Japan, the cherry blossom was believed to house the spirit of the rice field deity—ta no kami. The word “sakura” is thought to derive from sa (the spirit of the rice field) and kura (a seat or resting place for the divine). The blossoming of sakura signaled the arrival of spring and was once used as a divine forecast for that year’s rice harvest.

When snow melted into flowers, villagers would climb into the mountains to welcome the deity. They offered food and sake, shared a meal with the divine, and prayed for a bountiful harvest. These rituals were known as yamazakura (mountain outings) or noasobi (field picnics)—early forms of hanami rooted in agricultural faith and sacred communion.

🎎 Hanami in the Heian Court

Though hanami’s spiritual roots stretch far back, its emergence as a cultural tradition began in the imperial court during the Nara and Heian periods. At first, it was plum blossoms that captivated nobles. But in 812 CE, Emperor Saga held a garden party at the palace to celebrate cherry blossoms—a festival known as Hana no En no Setsu. It became an annual custom and by 831 CE, was a formal imperial event.

Thanks to Emperor Saga's deep affection for sakura, cherry blossom viewing soon spread among the aristocracy. Beneath the blossoming trees, nobles composed Chinese poetry, performed music, and danced in elegant celebration.

📷 Visual Glimpses of Heian Hanami

• "Butterflies from The Tale of Genji" by Kanō Harunobu depicts a dazzling hanami party with dragon-headed boats and young dancers beneath a canopy of sakura.
• "The Cherry Blossom Banquet" folding screen captures Prince Koretaka enjoying hanami with companions, reciting poetry and transcending class boundaries.

⚔️ Hanami Spreads to the Samurai

In the late 16th century, hanami became popular among samurai and daimyos. One of its most famous fans was warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. His legendary hanami gatherings—Yoshino no Hanami (1594) and Daigo no Hanami (1598)—were extravagant affairs with over 1,000 guests, tea ceremonies, sake banquets, costume play, and even outfit changes for the women in attendance.

📷 The Grand Banquet at Daigo

The six-panel screen "Daigo no Hanami" shows Hideyoshi surrounded by nobility, wives, and entertainers in a lavish garden setup. This celebration not only reflected the warlord’s joy after unifying Japan but also marked a shift in hanami—from a noble and sacred ritual to a communal and joyous festival.

🏮 Hanami for the People: The Edo Era Bloom

It wasn’t until the Edo period (1603–1868) that hanami truly became a festival for the masses. Around the 1660s, flower viewing mostly meant admiring a single cherry tree in a temple or shrine. That changed under the rule of Tokugawa Yoshimune, who planted thousands of cherry trees in locations like Asukayama, Sumida River embankments, and Koganei to encourage the tradition.

Hanami quickly became a beloved seasonal event. People of all backgrounds gathered beneath cherry trees, setting up cheerful banquets and enjoying performances.

📷 Edo-Era Hanami in Art

• "Hanami no Tawamure" (1868): Women spread out red cloth, share boxed lunches, and enjoy food, drinks, and music.
• "Asukayama Hanami" by Hiroshige: Women play shamisen while others serve sake from portable warmers (kandokko), creating a vibrant festival atmosphere.

🍱 The Hanami Bento: Food, Friendship, and Festivity

At the center of any hanami celebration lies the beloved hanami bento. Packed with seasonal delights, these bento aren’t just about nourishment—they're about beauty, pride, and social bonding. During the Edo period, bento became more elaborate, sometimes even a form of performance.

A 19th-century cookbook, Ryōri Hayashinan, categorizes hanami bentos into three tiers: high, middle, and low. The finest included:

• Castella-style egg omelets (with yam and sugar)
• Fish cake with abalone liver (watakamaboko)
• Steamed flounder, cherry sea bream, hirame sashimi
• Sweet treats like karukan and kinton
• Grilled rice balls in a separate warigo bento bx

📷 Recreated Hanami Bento

• Layer 1: Simmered lotus root, burdock, salted cod roe, grilled shrimp, hijiki, ginkgo nuts, castella egg, watakamaboko, and Tamagawa fish cake
• Layer 2: Steamed flounder, vinegared daikon, sweet pickled plums, pressed sea bream sushi, and pickled ginger

🍱 The Evolution of the Bento Box

As hanami spread, so did the artistry of its containers. Bento boxes evolved to balance functionality with aesthetic charm:

• Nobento Boxes: Used by nobles for flower and maple viewing, often included tea utensils and sake sets. Portable via shoulder straps.
• Stacked Boxes (Jubako): Popularized during the Edo period, came in various shapes—square, round, hexagonal—and featured lacquerware designs.
• Teijū (Carrying Boxes): Portable sets with flasks, cups, and tableware, often used for seasonal outings.
• Warigo & Oribako: Compartmented boxes made from thin hinoki wood; oribako were disposable versions—precursors to modern bento packaging.

🎭 Hanami in Japanese Theater and Humor

The famous rakugo tale Nagaya no Hanami (“The Tenement Flower Viewing”) pokes fun at poor townspeople preparing for hanami with food and drink substitutes. Tea disguised as sake, pickled daikon for egg, and burnt rice crust for fish cakes—it was satire, but it revealed how deeply ingrained hanami customs were among commoners.

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🌸 Iconic Hanami Locations: Past and Present

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Ueno (Tokyo)

Ueno was once the grounds of the Tokugawa clan’s Kan’eiji temple. Later, the area was opened to the public and designated Japan’s first public park in 1873. After WWII, locals planted over 1,250 cherry trees, creating the stunning blossom corridor we see today.

Asukayama (Tokyo)

Once the shogun’s falconry grounds, Asukayama became a public space when Yoshimune planted 1,270 trees and opened it to the people. Today, 650 trees—including late-blooming varieties—make it a spring hotspot.

Sumida River (Tokyo)

Yoshimune also beautified the Sumida embankments with sakura trees. Its proximity to Asakusa and Yoshiwara pleasure quarters made it a festive destination. Today, you can still enjoy hanami from traditional yakatabune boats.

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🌸 Hanami's Signature Treat: Sakura Mochi

Sakura mochi became a popular souvenir during hanami. Originating at Chōmeiji Temple along the Sumida River, the treat features sweet bean paste wrapped in pickled cherry leaves.

• Kanto Style: Thin crepe-like mochi (Chōmeiji mochi)
• Kansai Style: Rough rice flour mochi (Dōmyōji mochi)

A record from 1824 notes the temple sold over 387,500 sakura mochi annually, using 770,000 pickled leaves!

⛰️ Other Famous Hanami Sites Across Japan

‍Arashiyama (Kyoto)

Sakura were transplanted from Yoshino under Emperor Go-Saga. Later emperors and Prime Minister Zhou Enlai of China also admired the cherry-lined riverbanks. Today, hanami boats along the Katsura River are a timeless tradition.

Maruyama Park (Kyoto)

Home to the “Gion Shidare-zakura,” this elegant weeping cherry is famed for its night-time beauty. The second generation tree continues to enchant visitors with light-up displays until 1 AM.

Mount Yoshino (Nara)

Boasting 30,000 cherry trees, Yoshino is Japan’s most storied sakura site. The blossoms are layered in elevation, creating the legendary hitome-senbon (“a thousand trees at a glance”) view.

Hirosaki Park (Aomori)

Originally home to only 25 trees, the grounds were restored with over 2,000 sakura after the Meiji Restoration. Late blooming, it’s a prime Golden Week destination.

Kawazu River (Shizuoka)

Famous for early-blooming Kawazu-zakura, first discovered in 1955. Now with 8,000 trees, the blossoms arrive in February and last for a month, heralding the arrival of spring in Japan.

🌿 Hanami as Harmony with Nature

Hanami isn't just about flowers—it’s about connection. The tradition of nogake (field outings) meant eating and playing in nature’s embrace, forming bonds with the seasons, loved ones, and the world around you.

One charming custom from Tokushima is the Yusanbako tradition, where children carry colorful personal lunch boxes filled with treats on April 3. These outings—once nearly lost—are now making a comeback as a way to reconnect with seasonal joy and community care.

✨ Final Thoughts

Hanami is much more than a fleeting seasonal photo-op. It is a living tradition born of spirituality, poetry, politics, and everyday joy. From emperors to children with yusanbako, from imperial gardens to humble riverbanks, hanami tells the story of Japan’s deep-rooted reverence for nature—and its talent for turning the simplest of pleasures into lasting memories.

So next time you sit under cherry blossoms, bento in hand, you’re not just enjoying a picnic—you’re participating in centuries of tradition that continue to blossom anew each spring.

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https://hyakkei.style/hot_spot/sakura_nara_001/

https://www.hirosakipark.jp/sakura/2022/04/12842/

https://media.jreast.co.jp/articles/549

https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000003.000084171.html

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