The origin of cherry blossom viewing custom

Cherry blossom viewing originated from the flower festival, flower party, flower banquet and flower dance that began in Nara era. Since heian period, cherry blossom viewing has become a form of entertainment for the nobles in Kyoto. In the samurai era, generals such as ashikaga yoshimitsu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi loved cherry blossom viewing, which made cherry blossom viewing a samurai's hobby. After the rise of the merchant class in the Edo era, cherry blossom viewing gradually expanded to ordinary people and became one of people's entertainment activities in spring.