Exploring Japan one destination at a time
My very first hanami was at night. I was walking along the Meguro River in Tokyo, hundreds of paper lanterns, thousands of people, cherry blossoms glowing pink overhead, canal reflections shimmering below. Food stalls everywhere. People were laughing, eating, drinking, taking photos. I had no idea what I was experiencing had a name. Years later, … Read more
Cherry blossom season in Japan is a wonderful experience for the whole family. The colours, the atmosphere, the feeling that the whole country has stopped to notice something beautiful together. Kids can absolutely feel that magic too. But let’s be real about what hanami with children actually looks like. It looks like more snacks than … Read more
There’s something that stops me every single time I’m in Japan during cherry blossom season. It’s not just the colour or the sheer volume of blooms. It’s the feeling that you’re standing inside something much older and heavier than a pretty spring day. The cherry blossom has been Japan’s most loaded symbol for over a … Read more
March is one of the most confusing months to visit Japan with kids. Is it still winter? Is it cherry blossom season? Will you need snow boots or just a light jacket? The honest answer is: it depends on when in March you’re travelling. Early March can still feel like proper winter, especially in the … Read more
Snow in Tokyo: it rarely happens. You might get a light dusting once or twice a winter, but the kind of proper, boots-sinking-in, snowball-throwing snow that kids go absolutely wild for? That’s not Tokyo’s thing. The good news is that real snow is much closer than most people realise. If you’re planning a Tokyo winter … Read more
Cherry blossoms and drinking have been connected for over a thousand years. The 10th-century poet Ki no Tomonori famously wrote: “If there were no cherry blossoms in this world, the heart of spring would be at peace.“ But here we are, centuries later, still sitting under sakura trees with a cold drink in hand, watching … Read more
At first glance, hanami looks like glorious, beautiful chaos. Hundreds of people crammed under cherry blossom trees, food and drinks everywhere, kids running around, music playing, petals drifting onto everything. It feels like anything goes. But spend enough time at a hanami (cherry blossom party) and you’ll realise there’s a whole set of unspoken rules … Read more
Some of my favourite hanami memories have involved zero planning, a nearby konbini, and a patch of grass under a sakura tree. No fancy bento boxes. No Pinterest-worthy picnic spreads. Just cheap but good food, cold drinks, and cherry blossoms doing their thing overhead. Japan’s big three convenience stores; 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson are genuinely … Read more
Cherry blossom season is one of the most spectacular times to visit Japan, and 2026 is shaping up to be a cracker. Based on the Japan Meteorological Corporation‘s latest 7th forecast (released today, 5 March 2026), blooms are tracking earlier than average across most of Japan, with parts of eastern Japan sitting nearly a week … Read more
Tonight at our place, we’ll be eating uncut sushi rolls without speaking, then throwing beans at whoever draws the short straw to wear the oni mask. Just another regular day in a house that celebrates Japanese traditions. Welcome to Setsubun – one of Japan’s quirkier festivals that perfectly combines ancient superstition with an excuse to … Read more