It’s a sunny day in early April, and you’re walking through Shinjuku Gyoen in the heart of Tokyo to celebrate hanami 花見. The sakura 桜 flowers are in full bloom. Soft pink petals drift to the ground while others swirl overhead, carried by a gentle breeze. For a moment, time seems to pause.
Hanami translates to “flower viewing” — hana 花 meaning “flower” and mi 見 meaning “to look” or “to view”. This annual tradition takes place from late March to early April, when sakura cherry blossoms and ume plum blossoms bloom across the Japanese islands.
Initially reserved for the elite, hanami gradually spread to the samurai class, and by the Edo period (1603-1868), it had become a celebration enjoyed by everyday people. Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, is known for planting cherry trees in public spaces to encourage people of all classes to take part in the festivities.
Today, hanami is celebrated both during the day and at night. Evening gatherings are called yozakura 夜桜 (night sakura), when lantern-lit blossoms create a magical atmosphere. Whether day or night, hanami is a time to gather with family and friends, to appreciate nature and to mark the passing of the seasons—an important part of Japanese culture.
Seasonal awareness is deeply rooted in Japanese life, and festivals like hanami help people stay connected to the rhythm of time. Throughout the ages, poets and artists have drawn inspiration from the fleeting beauty of sakura blossoms, which typically last just a week.
The 18th-century philosopher Motoori Norinage helped shape the concept of mono no aware 物の哀れ—an awareness of life's impermanence and the quiet, bittersweet beauty that accompanies it. He believed cherry blossoms embody this sentiment, blooming brilliantly for a brief moment before gently falling away.
When we remember that nothing lasts forever—not the hard days, nor the most beautiful ones—we are invited back into the present. And from presence, gratitude grows. Gratitude for the ordinary, the fleeting, the people and moments that color our days.
Sakura blossoms are symbolic in a multitude of ways. Most of all, they remind us to celebrate the time we have now, together. No matter where you are in the world, partaking in hanami-like festivities is a beautiful way to honor this season—and the people you hold dear.
