One thing I've noticed about hanami (cherry blossom viewing) is that it brings everyone together. Coworkers, friends, families, foreigners and locals all gather to witness and appreciate the beauty of the sakura blossoms. These precious flowers attract all walks of life and hanami doesn't stop at "flower viewing" but it really is a social event, where you can bond with those around you. There was a large group of salary men next to us at Yoyogi park and they were eating pizza and drinking beers and they got quite loud. But they seemed to be having a lot of fun. At Shinjuku Gyoen, there were many families with young children running around on the grass. Some of them were blowing bubbles and others were jumping rope. I really enjoyed Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden because although Shinjuku is one of the busiest places in Tokyo, the park itself is like an oasis where time moves a little slower and your surroundings are quieter. Of course, at the ticket gate it was crowded, loud and crazy. But when I walked further into the park (it's huge by the way), I found myself relaxing and really taking in the beauty that surrounded me. I could see that others were doing the same, finding tranquility in the midst of chaos.
Side Note: If you ever hanami, bring your own mat or picnic sheet to sit on! I saw many people using tarps at Yoyogi Park, which helped because the ground was muddy. I didn't have any with me but it would have been really nice to sit under the dancing cherry blossoms that fell from trees each time the wind blew.
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