Hanami at Yoyogi park

I didn’t realise how severe winter can be in Tokyo until the city is awash with lovely pink sakuras. Long avenues light up with the promise of a new season that bursts with rejuvenation and energy. More people are taking leisurely strolls because the weather is getting warmer.

The parks are jammed with people eating, drinking, and dancing to thumping music. The city just comes alive.

Yesterday was spent at a hanami (means looking at flowers) party at Yoyogi park with a fun bunch of peeps. My Singaporean girlfriend invited the kangaroo and I for an afternoon of laughter, chit-chat, and lots of munching and boozing. I could tell the kangaroo was enjoying himself because he forgot about doing his work and we even joined the group for dinner in Shibuya.

I’m nursing a horrible hangover because I literally drank an entire bottle of pinot noir by myself. The Japanese sure know how to party. A couple of friends from my running group said they were busy these two weeks with lunchtime hanami office parties.

I feel this is my first proper hanami with friends. My first hanami was actually the kangaroo’s company party so that’s not really a let-your-hair-down kind of event though I still enjoyed putting together an Aussie picnic. Last year I explored two other famous parks in Tokyo: Inokashira and Yasukuni.

So when’s the next party season? Summer’s hanabi (fireworks) festivals all over town and I’m looking forward to that.

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