Yearning to visit Japan but unable to? Get your Hanami and kawaii Tokidoki fix at Gardens by the Bay’s Sakura Matsuri 2022.
Sakura Matsuri is the second of Gardens by the Bay’s eight annual exhibitions for 2022, and I shouldn’t have gone on opening day.
Having seen the actual blooms in Japan, and with the Flower Dome exhibition lasting a month till April 3, I kinda predicted the blooms wouldn’t be at their best on opening day. Sakura, after all, are notorious for short “shelf lives.”
Haiz, if only I’m as accurate with shares and lottery. While the Tokidoki figures, this year’s star attraction, were quirky and cute, the majority of the cherry blossoms were still twigs and branches.
This means I’d have to make another trip down to Gardens a week or so later; thank goodness for Friends of Gardens free entry! For this post, it means there’s a major update coming in the middle of March too.
If you’re heading down yourself, do try to do so later too if you wish to appreciate the blooms at their best.
Sakura Matsuri 2022: Cutesy Tokidoki Figures and Traditional Japanese Icons (Mar 4)
To be clear, there are still various atmospheric Japanese set pieces to enjoy and photograph. No doubt these would all look lovelier when the blooms are at their most glorious.
Mar 11 Second Visit: Mankai
As planned, I returned exactly one week later in search of better hanami views. And it was again as I expected.
Most of the cherry blossoms are now in mankai condition, i.e., full bloom. On the other hand, the mankai crowds have also descended and it is far more difficult to take pictures! Which, by the way, is the annual situation over in Japan.
I suppose it’s indeed a slice of the Japanese spring in Singapore.
Sakura Matsuri 2022 is ongoing till April 3, 2022. There are also various Japanese cultural programmes scheduled throughout.
Check out these Tokidoki collectibles!
Sakura 2023 at Gardens by the Bay.
My other Singapore events posts.
