Japanese spring in the heart of Prague: the traditional hanami festival will transport visitors to the atmosphere of blooming sakura, under which the beauty of a fleeting moment is celebrated. In Hanspaulka Park, picnic comfort, the aroma of Japanese specialties and small cultural experiences will come to life — from a tea ceremony to creative workshops. The event, organized by the Czech-Japanese Society, invites you to stop, share and enjoy spring, as people in Japan have experienced it for centuries. Hanami is a phenomenon in Japan, with the arrival of spring you will come across pink flowers with their characteristic bitten petals almost everywhere. The celebrations were originally intended exclusively for nobles, but later they became almost a ritual for ordinary people. There are also several options in the Czech Republic where you can enjoy hanami in the most authentic form. In Prague, the celebrations take place at Hanspaulka on the Růžák playground — the park is not the largest, but its sakura trees are first-class, so the space turns into a small Japan for a day. Throughout the day, it will be possible to taste a wide range of Japanese specialties. There will be traditional sweets, quality teas and popular Japanese street food specialties. This year, visitors can also look forward to ramen or popular Japanese mochi donuts. The atmosphere will be complemented by stands with original creations and products inspired by Japanese aesthetics, offered by Japanese and Czech artists, illustrators and craftsmen. The program will also include intimate workshops and cultural experiences, thanks to which visitors can experience Japanese culture firsthand. For example, there will be a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, origami, mizuhiki, painting on textiles and porcelain or a new feature for hanami: the production of miniature Japanese interiors. A new feature of this year’s hanami will be a commented walk around Hanspaulka, which will take visitors among the beautiful local villas. The walk will focus not only on the architecture of this part of Prague, but also on interesting Japanese traces in the surrounding area. Fb event