Sakura Bento Days: A Hanami Picnic for Two
Written by Team MUSUBI
Spring is here, and that means it’s time for hanami—a picnic under the cherry blossoms, complete with good food, good drinks, and a soft pink canopy overhead. You don’t need a complicated setup or a perfect homemade feast to enjoy the season. With a Shokado bento box to keep lunch organized and some easy-to-carry accessories, it’s easy to create a spread that feels special without too much effort.
We’re packing up, heading to the park, and setting up a picnic for two that’s as much about soaking in the view as it is about what’s in the bento.
Table of contents
Where the Picnic Begins
Our morning under the blossoms began with a leisurely search for the perfect spot in the park. With a slight chill in the air and spring’s unpredictable weather lingering, the park felt quieter than in past years.
We stopped beneath a low-hanging branch, its limbs dusted with pale pink and white, some petals still tightly closed. The grass was soft and cool, carrying a unique, damp, earthy aroma—a refreshing sign that the ground had just awakened to spring. We spread out a large furoshiki cloth and made a little spot of our own.
Setting the Spread, Picnic-Style
Once the cloth is down, it’s time to unpack. We start with the Shokado bento boxes—stacked securely for transit, and structured enough to keep everything in place even on uneven ground. The lids lift cleanly, and nothing shifts inside, even if the box itself is somewhat heavy. That extra weight also comes in handy when there’s a bit of a breeze—it helps anchor the setup and keeps the cloth from lifting at the corners.
This year’s picnic menu was a mix of spring favorites: takenoko gohan (bamboo shoot rice), green pea rice, tsukune chicken meatballs, tamagoyaki, and pickled vegetables arranged in the smallest compartment to round out the color and flavor.
Accessories and small tableware are grouped in a round bamboo basket for easy packing and setup. This includes a set of chopsticks in beautiful cases, small kabazaiku cherry bark plates for sharing sweets, and stunning sakeware. The basket lies flat on the cloth once opened and keeps all the supporting pieces in one place—no rummaging around for small items.
For dessert, we brought a separate magewappa bento box packed with seasonal treats: ripe strawberries and a trio of wagashi, including pastel-colored mochi balls. This lightweight container travels well and adds a nice finishing touch to the spread without requiring much extra room.
The full layout fits comfortably on a large furoshiki, with each piece contributing to both the function and the feel of the picnic. Nothing is overly decorative, but everything has its place.
Sipping Sake as Petals Fall
If you’re in the mood to bring drinks, a sake set adds a nice pause between bites. We brought a hand-hammered copper katakuchi and a pair of matching guinomi sake cups. It's not about drinking a lot—just taking small sips while chatting or watching the petals drift down. Sometimes, they even land in the cups.
The sturdiness of metal makes it great for outdoors—there’s no worry about chips or breakage on uneven ground, and the material holds temperature well, especially if you’re serving it slightly chilled. The compact size of the set also makes it easy to pack into the basket without needing much padding. Once it's set out, it doesn’t just function well—it anchors the mood of the table: casual, seasonal, and just a little celebratory.
Packing a Bento That Feels Just Right: The Shokado Bento Box
The Shokado bento box brings just the right amount of structure to a picnic like this. With its clean lines and lacquer finish, it opens into neatly divided sections—ideal for a simple but well-presented meal. Whether you're packing rice, a main, and a small side, or using it as a base for more playful combinations, the design keeps everything contained without needing extra containers.
It’s also more versatile than it looks. For larger gatherings, you can place small bowls or sauce dishes inside the compartments to suit your menu or introduce extra variety. The box stacks securely and sits nicely once opened—especially on a picnic cloth where space and stability matter.
This style is available in a range of sizes depending on your needs, and also comes in a sleek black finish for a more minimal, modern look. Whether you're planning a quiet lunch under the blossoms or a slightly more generous spread, it’s a piece that works across seasons and settings.
Hanami takes a bit of effort. Things to pack, pieces to arrange, the weather to work around. But still—we lay out the cloth, unpack our favorite items, and find a spot beneath the trees like we always do.
Because once everything’s in place, it’s clear why we come back. And as you walk away, there’s that familiar, once-a-year satisfaction of having truly soaked in the beauty of the cherry blossoms—and the quiet reminder that this season never lasts quite long enough.
Featured Collection
Hibino Modern Shokado Bento Boxes
Bring excellence in hospitality to your own table with our collection of Hibino Modern Shokado Bento Boxes. Easy-to-use functionality combines with sophisticated modern design to enhance the dining experience of your guests. These innovative bento boxes have been used in top restaurants and hotels since their debut.
Each box is made of high-quality wood and comes with interior ceramic boxed-shaped plates that can be removed and rearranged. With these boxes, the creative possibilities are endless.
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