Miss Japan? Here’s how you can experience sakura season in Singapore
We don’t know when our next trip to Japan will be, but the good news is that you can experience cherry blossom season right here in Singapore.
Raffles Hotel's Sakura Afternoon Tea. (Photo: Raffles Hotel Singapore)
If the sakura season in Japan used to be a highlight on your travel calendar, it’s something you’ll sorely miss this year. But fret not, because these experiences right here in Singapore will let you bask in Japan’s springtime bloom without having to leave the country.
SAKURA AFTERNOON TEA AT RAFFLES HOTEL
From Mar 15 to Apr 11, indulge in a sakura-themed afternoon tea session (S$88++ per person) at The Grand Lobby of Raffles Hotel, complete with a selection of classic Japanese treats, home-baked scones and unique creations by executive pastry chef Tai Chien Lin.
Treats include Sakura Panna Cotta, Sakura Ice Cream Monaka and Sakura Strawberry Eclair, all in beautiful shades of pink reminiscent of cherry blossom season. Guests can also tuck into a lavish spread of Beef Sando Katsu Bechamel, Japanese Omelette with Ikura and more, paired with a selection of cocktails.
Find out more here
JAPANESE-THEMED STAYCATION AT PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE
When you can’t go on a vacation to Japan, why not do a Japanese-themed staycation instead? From now till Dec 31, Pan Pacific Singapore is offering a Taste of Japan staycation package (from S$470).
On arrival, guests can enjoy an exclusive welcome amenity comprising a boxed selection of sakura mochi and red bean pastries, paired with green tea. Next, dine at the picturesque Keyaki restaurant, located in the hotel’s beautifully landscaped garden.
In the morning, put on a yukata and tuck into a gourmet breakfast bento, which you can savour in your room. The hotel is also located 15 minutes away by foot from Gardens by the Bay, where a limited-time sakura and Hello Kitty floral display is taking place till the end of March.
Find out more here
SUSHI TEI’S BLOSSOMS OF JOY MENU
Japanese restaurant Sushi Tei is getting in on the festivities by launching a spring Blossoms of Joy menu. The menu, available from Mar 17, features exquisite offerings such as Sashimi Moriawase “Goto” 4 Kinds, which showcases camellia buri, a farm-raised fish from Kamigoto Island, Nagasaki, that’s fed a diet enriched with camellia oil. The oil is a good source of oleic acid, which lowers cholesterol and promotes skin repair.
There’s also the Bara Chirashi Tower, a classic chirashi don that takes on the form of a tower with layers of ingredients and sashimi. Desserts include the Edamame Cream Puff, a sweet-savoury dish flown directly from Japan.
