O Hanami (or cherry blossom viewing) came early to Japan this year ... late April instead of May. Hanami is a chance for companies to celebrate in the parks with their employees. This usually involves food (gas grills in abundance), singing, badmitten, soccer and lots of beer. Some of the more popular parks are "booked" up days in advance. Usually, a junior employee is sent out the day before the outing to stake out a good spot with a blue tarp. The scene in Tokyo's major parks is notoriously rioutous.
We decided to forgo that adventure and visited Joza Park in Sakura City. We went the day after the peak viewing day and the scenery was beautiful.
Joza Park is mostly soccer fields in a narrow valley. Around the fields, at the base of the hills is this trail. I had never seen cherry trees before and I expected them to be pretty but they are actually breathtaking. The blossoms are so light that it is almost like they're not there at all.
Hanami is traditionally a "company" event but in the past view years it has started becoming a family event as well, so I hear. We saw quite a few families in the park this day. Mostly parents with small children. Everyone was having a wonderful time. Especially one little boy that was making his father chase him in circles out in the middle of the soccer field.
Here's a view up into a cherry tree. You might want to take a closer look at this one.
Besides badmitten and beer, croquet seemed to be a popular hanami sporting event. I don't suppose this would be possible in a Tokyo park unless you used the sodden businessmen like golf hazards.
Well, here's a view of the crowd. There was one other area in the park that was more congested than this but all in all there were quite a few people there. I can't wait until next year.
