(Photo by 123RF)
As the cherry blossoms bloom and spring arrives in Japan, there are countless ways to immerse yourself in the season beyond simply admiring the flowers. These are a handful of our suggestions, from the edible to the artistic!
Sakura high teas
If you’re looking for a luxurious, indulgent way to celebrate sakura season, consider a high tea event. Many larger hotels offer them, and they typically include a variety of both sweet and savory items to enjoy. For instance, the event below at the Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo includes items like a sakura tandoori chicken, sakura Mont Blanc, and a sakura swan mousse.
(Photo by Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo. Courtesy of Japan Travel)
Sakura drinks and convenience store snacks
One thing you can always rely on Japan for is its plethora of seasonal snacks and drinks, and just about every cafe and convenience store has something to offer in that regard. Of course, Starbucks is one option, but other local chains like Tully’s Coffee and Pronto also have some tasty choices to pick from. The “big 3” convenience stores (7-11, Family Mart and Lawson) are also places to look for your sakura-flavored item fix—we would recommend keeping an eye on their social media accounts to monitor new releases!
Seven Eleven Japan | Lawson | Family Mart
Seasonal drinks at Tully’s Coffee, including the Sakura Honey Cream Latte on the right (Photo by Tully’s Coffee Japan Co., Ltd. Courtesy of Japan Tracvel.)
Sakura-themed art events
Cherry blossoms have inspired countless works of art, from ukiyo-e woodblock prints to traditional ink paintings, poetry, and more. During the leadup to sakura season, various art galleries host themed exhibitions with blossom-focused pieces—but if you’re after something with a more modern spin, check out the projection mapping event at Kyoto’s Nijo Castle. Hosted by digital art collective Naked Inc., the event offers a contemporary take on after-dark sakura viewing.
(Photo by Naked Co., Ltd.. Courtesy of Japan Travel)
Sakura body products
The scent of sakura works its way into a number of body care products, too, and one place where you can find a variety of them is at Lush stores across Japan. This year, they have items like a sakura body wash and “hanami” scrub, alongside some beautiful furoshiki fabric squares which are perfect for sustainable gift wrapping.
To find the nearest Lush branch to you, visit the store locator on their website.
(Photo by Lush Japan LLC. Courtesy of Japan Travel.)
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