Lovers of Japanese culture will have the opportunity to enjoy the Hanami Festival this Saturday, April 5th, an event that will bring the best of Japanese culture and cuisine to the National Park. The activity is organized in collaboration between the Municipality of San José and the Embassy of Japan in Costa Rica, as part of the commemoration of 90 years of friendship between the two countries.

What’s Hanami?

The Hanami Festival pays homage to the Japanese tradition of celebrating the cherry blossom. In Japan, the word “hanami” means “to see flowers”, and it is an activity that brings people together to enjoy the company of family and friends. Since the Nara Period (710-794), this tradition has symbolized the welcoming of spring and the admiration of natural beauty.

In centuries past, there was a belief that deities inhabited the sakura trees, and farmers prayed to the cherry blossoms to ensure good harvests. Over time, this custom evolved into an appreciation of the ephemeral beauty of the cherry blossoms, inspiring poets and artists to create works dedicated to their splendor.

Hanami Festival

For the first time in Costa Rica, the Hanami Festival, one of Japan’s most cherished traditions, is being celebrated. Although the country does not have cherry trees, it has a wide variety of flowering trees such as the savannah oak and the yellow bark, which bloom at the same time. The date chosen for the festival seeks to unite these local flowers with the ancient Japanese tradition.

Hanami Festival
Hanami Festival
Hanami Festival

The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in San José National Park. Visitors will be able to enjoy martial arts exhibitions, traditional music, talks on origami and bonsai, among other activities.

Besides the cultural activities, there will be a wide range of gastronomic offerings including sushi, ramen, Japanese desserts and other traditional delicacies.

How is Hanami celebrated in Japan?

In Japan, Hanami is celebrated with open-air parties under the cherry blossoms. The gatherings can be during the day or at dusk, when Yozakura or “nighttime sakura” takes place. In these nighttime celebrations, paper lanterns are hung among the trees, creating a magical and serene atmosphere.

It is also customary to drink sake and traditional tea, accompanied by sweets and other typical seasonal dishes. This ritual is performed in parks, temples and other places where cherry trees bloom abundantly.

Open Invitation to the Festival

We are delighted to bring the Hanami Festival to the country for the first time, a tradition that represents beauty, unity and renewal, he said.

Ariyoshi Katsuhide, Japanese ambassador to Costa Rica.

The activity is completely free and is aimed at all ages. This Saturday, April 5th, the National Park will become a meeting point for a different kind of experience.

Sensorial Sunsets