If your travel budget is low (or even non-existent), it is a pleasure to discover that you do not need to travel to see the world. The world might as well come to your neighbourhood.
Japanese woman dances Ryukyu Dance (Hisako) at Sakura Festival.
This weekend Japanese people gather at Langelinie in Copenhagen. And no, they are not there to photograph The Little Mermaid … They generously share their culture with anyone curious enough to drop in during the annual Copenhagen Sakura Festival.
The occasion for Sakura Festival is the pink Cherry Blossoms. In Japan it is a great tradition to picnic under the trees when they come into leaf in Spring. And this a tradition Danish people seem to enjoy as well.
Joyful picnic under the Cherry Blossoms at Langelinie.
If you have not brought your own food, you are free to buy any Japanese food. It does not have to be eaten with chopsticks – but of course you are welcome to give it a try.
Note how the Danish traditional cloth mixes with beer and Japanese snacking.
Culture is multifarious, and that goes for Japanese culture as well. It is fascinating to see how the same culture can breed beautiful dancers, strong fighters and even ceremonies with tea. We can only watch and learn. Especially the tea ceremony is a beautiful way to remind yourself of what really matters in life. It both admires the beauty in content of simple everyday life and praises the inner spiritual content in restraint, simplicity and humility.
The tea ceremony is prepared very carefully.
Even though the cherry blossoms are getting close to the season’s end, you can still catch the Copenhagen Sakura Festival at Langelinie this sunny Sunday from 11 o’clock.
Read more about Copenhagen Sakura Festival.
