Hanami is a short-term event that lasts no more than ten days, after which the petals fall off the gazed-upon trees. It is a national event for the Japanese.
It is so important to their culture that cherry blossoms are even reported on television. The media informs about the number of trees in the parks and the possible timing of flowering.
In modern Japan, hanami mostly consists of having an outdoor party beneath the sakura during the day or at night. Nighttime hanami is often referred to as yozakura – or "night sakura." Yozakura is popular to the extent that temporary paper lanterns are hung in many parks, especially in Ueno Park.