The Hanami festival in Gothenburg's Botanical Garden typically draws between 10,000 and 20,000 visitors, featuring Japanese cultural activities like manga, haiku, natural textile dyeing, Japanese fairy tales for children, and the traditional sakura dance. Almost all activities at the festival are free, and visitors can bring their own picnic food. The day begins with a ceremonial release of koi carp into the Mirror Pond.
The Botanical Garden's relationship with Japan dates back to 1952, and the Hanami concept was introduced to Sweden by Mats Havström, now research director at the garden, after he visited three Japanese Hanami celebrations in 2013. Meanwhile, in Helsingborg, the cherry blossom celebration in Furutorps Park is being held for the first time today, with local author Frans Wachtmeister, who has lived in Tokyo for a decade, writing about the Japanese phenomenon for the event. It remains uncertain whether the cherry trees in Gothenburg will bloom in time for the festival on April 19, and the exact number of attendees or specific activities for the Helsingborg event have not been confirmed, with weather conditions potentially affecting blossom timing.
I had visited three Japanese Hanami celebrations in 2013 and was completely taken. So we brought the idea home to the Botanical Garden and made a Swedish version. Then we were taken by surprise by the response. 12,000 people came the first year. It was shocking.