The Himeji Sakura festival offers you to experience a Japanese traditional custom, “Hanami”, which consists of enjoying the beauty of flowers, or cherry blossoms (“sakura”). This tradition is centuries old and the festival originated from the Nara Period. The dates for the festival are announced each year by the weather bureau and take place in many parks, under the flowering trees. Himeji City, and more specifically the Himeji castle, is one of the most popular places that offer a beautiful cherry blossom experience.