- BGG rating
- 7.6
Hanami: Mini Expansion
- 2–4 players
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2026
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,210
- BGG rating
- 8.0
Hanami
2026
Rules assistance for Hanami
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Hanami
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Hanami is a board game released in 2026 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Area Majority / Influence.
Expansions
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About the game
Pack your bento box, grab your picnic blanket, and find the perfect spot under the treetops. The sakura blossoms are in full bloom and people from all over are gathered in the park for Hanami (or “flower viewing”) a centuries-old Japanese springtime tradition. In Hanami, you’ll be picnicking in parks all across Japan and Tokyo city in the springtime, fighting the crowds to celebrate the floral spectacle. Players will place their tiles out to reserve spots near the various activities found there. Each tile represents a picnic blanket set out by a member of your group to claim a spot in the park. Tiles indicate the strength of your group (the number of pips on the tile), and the favored activity of the group (viewing sakura, eating onigiri, or an evening under the lanterns). You’ll collect Activity Tokens once they’re surrounded by Player Tiles, if your tiles have a higher strength than any other player’s. Earn Victory Tokens at the end of the game for each activity by having the most of the corresponding Activity Token. Earn the most Victory Tokens to win Hanami! Hanami is a new reimagining of the classic game Samurai, designed by Dr. Reiner Knizia. This updated game tells a new story: One of relaxing picnic lunches among the cherry blossoms and paper lanterns of Tokyo city parks or the lush countryside of Japan. It brings new strategies and two distinct ways to play: The Japan map allows players to enjoy the classic Samurai ruleset, and the Tokyo setup gives players new challenges, new abilities, and new tiles. —description from the publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Awaken Realms
- Lucky Duck Games
- HIT Games
- Moona Games
- Keymaster Games
Questions and answers
Hanami supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Hanami is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Hanami for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Hanami has a complexity rating of 2.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Hanami belongs to these categories: Abstract Strategy and Travel. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Area Majority / Influence. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Hanami are: Reiner Knizia. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Hanami as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.