Spring Anime: Best Hanami Episodes!
Devon Lord-Moncrief
Spring is one of the most important seasons in Japan, and for good reason! Between the gorgeous foliage, the countless sakura festivals to attend, all the fantastic sakura-themed foods and snacks to eat, and the world-famous sakura viewing events, spring is a time of happiness and beauty across Japan. Here is some spring anime to excite you for the season!
Polar Bear Café
Polar Bear Café is one of the cutest, most wholesome shows you’ll ever watch. Starring the titular big white polar bear, Polar Bear Café follows the day-to-day lives of several animals as they run a café, embark on fun adventures around town, and enjoy the world around them. What makes the show especially cute and endearing is how it caters to younger viewers, showcasing fun and educational moments.
In the second episode, Polar Bear, Penguin, and their friends go out to enjoy a sakura viewing event. They pack a big picnic basket, bring a blanket, and sit beneath the beautiful flowers. It wouldn’t be Polar Bear Café without Penguin acting like his usual self, so some silly mishaps aside, this is a great episode to see what a typical sakura viewing event is like in Japan. Just make sure to keep your cantankerous penguins at home.
Azumanga Daioh
Azumanga Daioh is a vast hodgepodge of slice-of-life vignettes, scenes, and situations bound together by the endearing friendship of young girls Chiyo, Sakaki, Ayumu, Koyomi, Tomo, and Kagura. Life as a young girl in Japan is surprisingly full of mishaps, antics, and the perils of navigating everyday life. Everything from being sleepy in class to eating snacks and skipping rope is covered in Azumanga Daioh.
In episode 19, Yukari wants Nyamo to attend a flower-viewing festival with her, but as usual, other things happen instead. The episode’s focus isn’t on spring itself or any particular sakura-themed festival but is simply an episode that occurs during the spring season. It highlights what life is like during this time of year, in school and out, and it shows what young girls can find themselves up to during sakura season.
Rilakkuma and Kaoru
Not enough words describe how unbelievably cute and wonderful Rilakkuma and Kaoru are. A show that stars the titular lazy bear, Rilakkuma and Kaoru explores the ins and outs of everyday life in modern Japan for the working woman. While Rilakkuma, Korilakkuma, and Kiiroitori all stay home all day, Kaoru heads to work and navigates a Japanese adult’s often stressful and lonely life.
In the very first episode of the series, Kaoru attempts to reconnect with her friends by hosting a picnic at a local park during the sakura season. She gets super excited as she prepares and packs the food (much to Rilakkuma’s dismay when he learns it’s not for him.)
But when Kaoru shows up at the park, none of her friends leave her feeling even more alone. It’s a sad turn of events for her, but her friendship and camaraderie with Rilakkuma and the others cheer her up when she returns home.
Are you looking for snacks to enjoy while watching your favorite spring anime? Check out TokyoTreat! TokyoTreat delivers limited-edition Japanese noodles, drinks, snacks, and sweets right to your door so you can enjoy the latest Japanese treats directly from Japan!
Gintama
Gintama is a show about what happens when super-powerful aliens arrive on Earth and manage to take over. It’s not as grim as it seems, as one of the biggest changes for the late-Edo period show is that carrying swords in public is banned. Still, life is challenging for Gintoki Sakata, a freelance samurai who does random work for pay.
In episode 125, the gang comes together to enjoy a day in the fine spring weather. This means eating good food, getting plenty tipsy in public, and engaging in friendly but heated competitions with one another. Regardless of everyone involved’s intentions or goals for the day, everyone enjoys the Hanami season together.
Sailor Moon R
Sailor Moon R follows the adventures of Usagi Tsukino as she battles evil in the name of the moon! By transforming into the powerful Sailor Moon, Usagi helps defend the world from the forces of darkness. She might also be ditzy and kinda dumb most of the time, but not everyone’s perfect.
In episode 5, Usagi is taken to a park to picnic with the rest of her class. It’s full-on sakura season, and the flowers are positively beautiful. It’s a fantastic day until Alan and Anne summon a monster to ruin everything. Even though she ends up fighting a monster, Sailor Moon still gets to enjoy a lovely day out in the fantastic spring weather.
Why should I watch these spring anime episodes?
You should check out these spring anime episodes because they accurately represent springtime life in Japan. Sure, they might have monsters and wild competitions tossed in for good measure, but the act of enjoying food and drink with friends under the flowering sakura trees is something everyone can do. And if you can’t make it to Japan, watching these episodes is the next best thing!
Have you seen these episodes before? Did we miss any good Hanami episodes? Please let us know in the comments below! We would love to hear about which spring episodes you love best!
Related articles
Japanese Cafe: Most Beautiful Ones in Tokyo You Need to Visit!
Tokyo is full of surprises. One street throws neon lights and busy crowds at you like a video game. Turn the corner, and suddenly you’re in a quiet Japanese cafe (sometimes spelled “café”) that is a hidden treasure. These cafés aren’t just about grabbing coffee or tea. They mix design, comfort, and atmosphere to create...
Dagashi for Tsukimi: Best Snacks to Have!
When the weather turns crisp and the autumn moon shines bright, Japan celebrates tsukimi, the traditional moon-viewing festival.
Egg Drop Soup: Tsukimi Traditions in a Swirling Bowl
Can you imagine sitting under a glowing autumn moon, warming your hands and spirits with a bowl of egg drop soup? In Japan, as the air gets crisp and families gather for tsukimi, or moon viewing, this gentle soup transforms from a quick comfort food to a celebration of the season.
Curry Udon: A Comforting Twist on Japanese Noodles
When it comes to warm, cozy comfort food in Japan, curry udon is hard to beat. It’s thick, chewy udon noodles swimming in rich, flavorful curry broth. The soup is savory, a little sweet, and satisfying.
Aaron and Claire Show Us an Amazing Shogayaki Recipe!
Aaron and Claire are back with another quick and flavorful Japanese recipe: shogayaki, or Japanese ginger pork. If you like simple, affordable dishes that taste like they came straight from a cozy Japanese diner, you’ll want to try this.
Nori Snacks: Seaweed Treats You Need to Try!
When you think of Japanese snacks, you might picture Pocky, mochi (Japanese rice cake), or soft, fluffy custard cakes. But Japan also has another snacking world: crunchy, savory seaweed treats made from nori (Japanese seaweed) and other ocean goodies.