Question
I’m planning to visit Japan for the cherry blossom festival and I want to enjoy a hanami picnic under the cherry blossoms. How do I politely ask someone “Can I join you for hanami?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
花見（はなみ）に一緒（いっしょ）に参加（さんか）してもいいですか。
Hanami ni issho ni sanka shitemo iidesuka?
Can I join you for hanami?
This is a polite way to ask someone if you can join them for an activity, in this case, a hanami picnic. “Issho ni” means “together with” and “sanka suru” means “to participate or to join”. Here, you’re using the expression “Verb+temo iidesuka?” which is often used to ask for permission politely. In this context, “sanka shitemo iidesuka?” translates to “may I join?”
Remember to smile and be friendly when using this phrase to show that you are genuinely interested in sharing the experience. Enjoy the cherry blossom viewing!
