Hanami in the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens

Last month my family and I went to the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens to practice the Japanese custom of hanami (cherry blossom viewing). Natalia from Smiles! Photography also came along to capture the beauty of the flowers and surroundings so I can share them here with you. 

When I lived in Japan I got a real insight into how Japanese people celebrate hanami by taking part in it with my Japanese friends and also my work colleagues. I remember the most junior member of staff had to sit under a tree most of the day to make sure we had the best spot for hanami after work. Hanami is enjoyed by sitting under a cherry blossom tree or nearby and appreciating the beauty of them while eating a packed bento with drinks. Here's a picture of our dog, Jackie enjoying hanami!! 

This is the perfect place to spend time with family or friends. I'd recommend bringing a picnic along and enjoying it on the benches in the car-park as you drive in or pack a picnic blanket to sit on the grass. We brought along a packed bento including homemade panko coated fish goujons, onigiri (rice balls) sprinkled with furikake and a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Notes:
- To see more about the Irish National Stud & Japanese gardens click on the link below:
http://irishnationalstud.ie/
- Thanks to Smiles! Photography for taking the photos of our family day in the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens. The copyright for these photos belongs to Smiles! Photography and Fiona Uyema so please ask for permission if you'd like to use them. 

CHERRY BLOSSOMS AT THE JAPANESE GARDENS IN KILDARE

After months of miserable weather the sun started to shine and the cherry blossoms started to bloom. I packed a Japanese themed picnic and headed to the Japanese Gardens with my family. The gardens are located in the Irish National Stud in Tully, Kildare (exit 13 just off the N7) just 45 minutes from Dublin city centre. 

 

As we drove through the gates of the Irish National Stud we were welcomed by large blooming cherry blossom trees which were being admired by families having picnics on the surrounding benches.

The gardens are beautiful all year around however they're particularly beautiful during the cherry blossom season. I had a chance to meet the gardener Jim and learn a little about cherry blossoms and the maintenance required for such a large garden. Jim told me that the cherry blossoms bloomed a bit later this year due to the cold weather. While we walked around the gardens he showed us the different variations of cherry blossoms and the discrete differences between them (including pink perfection, kanzan, shirofugen, taihaku, incisa and kiku-shidare). 

The gardens symbolise the "Life of Man" from birth to old age and the different paths that can be chosen during life. 

This is one of my favourite views looking towards the bridge of life.

The bridge of marriage

The Japanese tea room

The Japanese Gardens hold very special memories for my husband and I as we visited there on our wedding day to take photos.  

Queen Elizabeth II visited the Irish National Stud during her state visit to Ireland in May 2012 where The Queen enjoyed a stallion parade and unvieled a sculpture dedicated to a thorough bred horse born in the stud called "Sea the Stars". Click here to see more details.

For more info on the Japanese Gardens and the Irish National Stud see the links below:

http://irishnationalstud.ie/

http://irishnationalstud.ie/visitors/46/europes-finest-japanese-gardens.html

JAPANESE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL CALLED HANAMI FESTIVAL

If I ever get a chance to return to Japan I'd love to go during the cherry blossom season. Cherry blossom is called "sakura" in Japanese and is the national flower of Japan. Every spring cherry blossom festivals take place in Japan and around the world to celebrate Japanese culture and the beauty of cherry blossoms.

During the cherry blossom season Japanese people participate in a Japanese custom called "hanami" which means flower viewing. They sit under cherry blossom trees and admire the beauty of the blooming flowers while enjoying their packed bentos. 

When I was a student in Japan I lived in a beautiful town called Kanazawa. During the spring of that year I visited a park in Kanazawa called Kenrokuen to view the cherry blossoms. I'll never forget how amazed I was by the beauty of the cherry blossoms. It was only later I learnt that Kenrokuen is one of the most beautiful places in all of Japan to view cherry blossoms. 

You should see if there is a cherry blossom festival near you this year as it's a great way to celebrate the coming of the spring. 

 

In Ireland, we have a Cherry Blossom Festival on Sunday April 7th 2013 in Farmleigh House & Estate in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. This is a great festival with family-friendly Japanese activities, demonstrations and workshops. There are also various other Japanese culture related activities taking place around Dublin in the first 2 weeks of April (further details can be seen on www.experiencejapan.ie). 

You can also view cherry blossoms in the Japanese Gardens in the Irish National Stud in Co Kildare.

 

All of the photos in this post were taken by my husband and I during our time in Japan. They were taken in various places around Japan.