Sydney Is Getting Its Own Cherry Blossom Festival
www.awol.com.au
Japan’s cherry blossoms are elusive little beauties — it can be hard to catch a glimpse of the flowers when they’re only in bloom for two weeks of the year and also, you know, in Japan. Well friends, yeet your FOMO across the garden and get down to the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival for your chance to see sakura in Aus.
Kicking off in Auburn Botanic Gardens on Saturday, August 17, the festival will transform the Japanese Gardens into a pretty in pink wonderland. For two weeks, you’ll be able to practice hanami, the Japanese tradition which translates literally into “flower viewing”.
[related_articles]74488,75153,75081[/related_articles]Follow the cherry trail through the gardens to find some truly excellent Instagram sites. Want even more trees? Go on a Shinrin-Yoku “forest bathing” tour. You’ll be taken into the nearby rainforest and led through some gentle mindfulness exercises.
Forest bathing is the act of simply being in a forest. It’s been proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce stress and improve overall feelings of wellbeing. Um, sign me up.
There’s also a Zen Zone where you can learn origami, and a Lazy Cinema dedicated to one of Japan’s most popular characters Gudetama (a cute lil lazy egg cartoon who we stan).
[related_articles]74521,74683,73990[/related_articles]But it’s not all chill vibes. Massive games of laser tag will be played in the amphitheatre, complete with terrain, bunkers, and a fierce soundtrack.
There’ll be a lot of food and drinks to keep you going, including some cherry blossom-inspired treats. Former MasterChef Australia winner Adam Liaw has even created a Cherry Blossom Festival bento box.
Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased from the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival website now. Good news for locals — entry is free if you’re a Cumberland resident!
[qantas_widget code=SYD]Check out Qantas flights to Sydney to begin your next adventure.[/qantas_widget](Lead image: Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival / Facebook)
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