TOKYO - As pollen season reaches its peak and spring approaches, a new survey shows that people in Japan are planning to spend less on cherry blossom viewing this year, while the trend of enjoying "solo hanami" is rapidly gaining popularity.
With Tokyo’s cherry blossoms expected to begin blooming around March 17th, people on the streets were asked about their plans for this year’s hanami season.
A woman in her 40s said, "(The place I usually go) has very beautiful cherry blossoms, so I don’t plan to spend a large amount of money."
Ahead of the hanami season, a survey revealed that 38% of respondents said they "plan to go" or "might go" cherry blossom viewing this year, down 2.1 percentage points from last year. The average budget was 6,383 yen, a drop of more than 1,000 yen compared to the previous year.
According to the research company, prolonged inflation has tightened household spending, and the desire to save money is now becoming a fixture even for casual seasonal activities such as hanami.
At the same time, the trend of "solo hanami"—enjoying cherry blossoms alone at one’s own pace and often at nearby locations during commutes or on the way home—is becoming more widespread.
When people in the city were asked about the idea, reactions varied.
A woman in her 80s said, "I’d like to go, but I have someone with me, so I can’t just leave them behind."
A woman in her 30s said, "I take my camera and go by myself to take photos."
The rise of solo hanami has been noticeable since the COVID-19 pandemic, when attitudes shifted away from large group gatherings, and the ease of enjoying cherry blossoms alone has helped fuel the trend. Compared to last year, solo hanami participation has increased 2.2 times.
