Enjoying the transient beauty of cherry blossoms during the spring time has become a long tradition of the Japanese people. People go picnicking under cherry trees not only in famous sightseeing spots, but also parks and river banks. Wherever there is boisterous cherry blossoming, there is laughter and fun.
Hanami, 花見, flower viewing, is not just an activity of enjoying the beauty of the cherry blossoms. The Japanese people believe that blooming cherry is the symbol of stable climate and abundant harvest. Going picnicking under blossoming cherry trees, drinking sakes, Japanese alcoholic beverage, and appreciating the flowers has become a custom that the Japanese people enjoy in the spring time since ancient times.
One of the most special and essential part in hanami is drinking sake.
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Sake, also spelled saké, is a Japanese rice alcoholic beverage, made by fermenting rice. It is a fermented food product like soy sauce, miso, and katsuobushi (dried bonito), seasoning typically in Japanese recipes.
Unlike wine, most produced by fruit, typically grapes, sake is made by brewing, in which starch is converted into sugars to be fermented into alcohol.Sake, also spelled saké, is a Japanese rice alcoholic beverage, made by fermenting rice.
It is a fermented food product like soy sauce, miso, and katsuobushi (dried bonito), seasoning typically in Japanese recipes. Unlike wine, most produced by fruit, typically grapes, sake is made by brewing, in which starch is converted into sugars to be fermented into alcohol.
There are basically two types of sakes: Futsū-shu, ordinary sake, and Tokutei meishō-shu, special-designation sake.
For the tastes of different sakes, you can read the labels on the bottles of sakes, basically including nihonshu-do, san-do, and aminosan-do.
There are various kinds of sakes with different taste and flavor. To know what you really like, you can visit Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center near Ginza in Tokyo.
It is one of the must-visit spots for experiencing Japanese culture. The center is not only a small museum but also a cozy bar, where you can learn sake making and try 80 kinds of sake and shochu from all over Japan.
For the sakes brought to picnics, choose the sakes that taste good under room temperature or the ones with slightly acid flavor to match fried snacks.
In addition to sakes, here are things suggested to take with you for Hanami: picnic sheet, waterproof cushions, blankets, warm packs, paper towels, wet wipes, plastic bags, vacuum flasks, cards, edamame, chicken nuggets, sushi, and rice balls, etc.
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