If you’re a Japanese American planning a trip to explore your roots, spring is one of the most beautiful times to visit Japan. The cherry blossoms—beloved not only by the Japanese but by people all over the world—are often in full bloom around early April. This season offers a rare chance to visit your ancestral temples in full color, and perhaps even experience Hanamatsuri, or the Flower Festival, celebrated on April 8th. In some regions, this date aligns perfectly with the peak of cherry blossom season, making it an ideal moment to connect with heritage and tradition.
Hanamatsuri marks the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. While it is a major Buddhist celebration in many parts of Asia, Japan’s version is a quieter, more subtle affair—yet no less meaningful. On this day, Buddhist temples decorate small pavilions with flowers and place a statue of the infant Buddha inside. Visitors pour amacha, a sweet hydrangea tea, over the statue, reenacting a legend that says sweet rain fell from the heavens to bathe the newborn Buddha.
Temples also become lively with seasonal blossoms and, in some cases, chigo gyoretsu—processions of children dressed as celestial beings, symbolizing the celebration of the Buddha’s birth. These processions are often organized by the temple community and can be quite moving to witness. If you have a connection to a local temple—especially through family ties—there may even be an opportunity for young children in your family to take part. Wearing ornate robes and headpieces, the children walk in a joyful parade, sometimes holding lotus flowers or bells. It’s a charming, once-in-a-lifetime experience that creates beautiful memories and photos, especially under the canopy of blooming cherry trees.
Interestingly, Hanamatsuri is not widely celebrated in modern Japan. Despite its spiritual significance, festivals like Christmas and Valentine’s Day—both imported from the West—receive much more public attention. Many people in Japan, particularly the younger generation, may not even know that April 8th is the Buddha’s birthday.
Still, on this one spring day, temples take on a festive mood. In today’s Japan, temples are typically associated with funerals, memorial services, and annual visits to ancestral graves during Obon or the equinoxes. Hanamatsuri stands apart from these solemn traditions—offering a rare glimpse of joy and liveliness in sacred spaces. The flowers, the children’s laughter, and the lightness of spring make it a beautiful counterbalance to the more somber roles temples often play in daily life.
Another unique aspect of Hanamatsuri is the use of amacha, or “sweet tea.” Unlike green tea or matcha, amacha is made from the fermented leaves of a particular type of hydrangea called hydrangea serrata. It has a naturally sweet flavor, without sugar, and is said to have antibacterial properties. Traditionally, it’s offered to the Buddha statue, but many temples also allow visitors to sample it. Children often find the taste surprising—some love it, while others aren’t sure what to make of it! Regardless, it adds a sensory element to the festival that engages both sight and taste.
For those seeking a deeper cultural experience in Japan—not just sightseeing, but genuine connection—Hanamatsuri offers something rare and intimate. It’s not a commercial spectacle, but a gentle, reflective celebration grounded in beauty, kindness, and reverence for life.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan in early April, consider adding Hanamatsuri to your itinerary. You may not find it in every guidebook, but it’s a quiet treasure—one that might lead you not only to an ancient temple, but to a new understanding of your roots.
