[For Seniors] Liven Up Cherry-Blossom Viewing! Fun Games and Recreational Activities

Making a cherry-blossom viewing bento

[Charaben] How to pack a picnic lunch for cherry-blossom viewing and outings

When it comes to cherry-blossom viewing, delicious treats—hanami bentos—are a must.

Making a bento and heading out for hanami makes the outing even more exciting.

Just packing food into stacked boxes or lunch boxes together builds anticipation.

Conversations liven up over likes and dislikes in food, and memories blossom too—like the bentos we used to make, or which side dishes the kids loved.

And food eaten outdoors tastes all the more special!

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barbecue

Cherry Blossom Viewing Party.wmv

A classic leisure activity: the barbecue.

If you have access to a space where you can barbecue, how about enjoying one together with everyone? Barbecues usually require a lot of preparation—ingredients, a grill for the meat, charcoal, plates, and other small items—but if you use a facility that offers barbecue setups, you can enjoy it almost empty-handed, without much preparation.

While viewing the flowers, you might end up eating more than usual—meat, fish, vegetables, and more!

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to dance

Cherry-blossom viewing heats up: Awa Odori by the Kaminari-ren

Let’s liven things up by dancing together while enjoying cherry-blossom viewing.

You can use drums and bells, or set up equipment at the venue so you can play background music—either is fine.

Whether people know each other or not, if everyone dances with a united spirit, the hanami atmosphere will become much more festive.

It’s also a good idea to prepare a kids’ bon odori so children can join in.

If you designate separate areas in advance for seated hanami on picnic sheets and for dancing, everyone can relax without worrying about bumping into each other.

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Making cherry blossom rice

Perfect for spring: Sakura Rice

When you think of spring, isn’t the first thing that comes to mind cherry blossoms? How about a group activity where everyone makes sakura rice using cherry blossom petals.

It’s very simple to make: soak salted cherry blossoms in water for a few minutes, drain them well, then chop them finely and mix them into warm rice together with chirimen-jako (dried baby sardines).

For a topping, place a few whole salted blossoms without chopping—this makes it look beautiful and really elevates the presentation.

It creates a springlike, heart-lifting table.

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commemorative photo

Yutakana Village Cherry Blossom Viewing Scene EP2

Spring is the season for cherry-blossom viewing.

It’s fun to have a little party under the cherry trees, and even if you don’t drink, simply being surrounded by the spring scenery makes for a relaxing time.

How about taking a commemorative photo together so you can keep the happy moments as memories? A regular group shot, friends lined up together, or even a prim and proper pose you don’t usually show—all are great.

When we were in elementary school, we had plenty of chances to take pictures on field trips and at sports days, but as adults we tend to capture everyday moments less often.

Use spring as an opportunity to take lots of great photos.