Not everyone loves sakura season

For many of us expats in Japan, sakura season is one of the most magical times of the year. You've got weeks of parks filled with picnic sheets, convenience store snacks-a-plenty, and all of the lovely pastel pink flowers to enjoy. However, according to a recent survey, not everyone here is quite as enthusiastic about hanami as you might expect.

A survey by youth marketing firm Wakamono Research found that 30.2% of respondents aged 15 to 19 said they don't find cherry blossom viewing enjoyable. That said, the majority still seem to be on board. Around 70% of respondents said they do enjoy hanami, with many appreciating the beauty of the blossoms, the relaxing atmosphere, and the feeling that sakura really do mark the arrival of spring here.

For many young people, it also seems that the flowers themselves are only part of the appeal. Respondents frequently said that who you go with matters more than the blossoms, with many describing hanami as simply a fun excuse to hang out with friends or family outdoors. Others admitted the food and picnic aspect is the real draw, while some noted that sakura make a nice backdrop for social media photos.

As for the anti-hanami camp, their reasons were pretty practical. Some of the complaints included bugs, pollen, wind ruining styled hair, and the belief that looking at flowers is boring (each to their own, I suppose!). Some respondents even argued that if the main point is eating and chatting, they'd rather just do it indoors at a cafe. For every person living their best life under the blossoms, apparently there's another wondering why everyone doesn't just meet at Starbucks instead.