Hundreds gathered last Saturday under the blooming cherry trees at Hanspaulka Park in Prague 6 to celebrate Hanami, a traditional Japanese festival marking the arrival of spring.
The annual event is organized by the Czech-Japanese Society and offers a mix of culturally inspired activities, refreshments and traditional Japanese cuisine. Attendees can participate in tea ceremonies, watch martial arts demonstrations and explore workshops around Origami or Calligraphy.
“I visited Japan last year and it’s nice to bring back the memories, the whole atmosphere of the event, great food, and Japanese culture in general,” Radek, a Czech attending Hanami for his 6th time, explained.
“The goal is not only to celebrate spring, but also to create a space where Japanese traditions can be experienced outside their country of origin,” organizers state on the website.
One group of Japanese exchange students sat in the near by fields to relax for the afternoon.
“I mean, that’s what Hanami is, just get together,” one of the exchange students said.
