In Japanese, the word “hanami” means “flower viewing,” whether the flowers are cherry (“sakura,”) plum (“ume,”) or some other fruit tree in bloom. Probably the most popular hanami event centers around the blooming of the cherry trees between the end of March and the beginning of April. During hanami time in Japan, people attend and/or host outdoor picnics and parties under the blooms, either during the day or at night. Special paper lanterns hang underneath the trees at night.