Source: © pxhere.com

Stuck-at-home consumers turn to indoor picnics to get a taste of summer

In Japan, residents are still forced to manage their summer plans to some degree around the ongoing pandemic. Many are taking the current conditions as an opportunity to pursue indoor interests such as in cooking, yoga, meditation, various hobbies and games. Recently, a unique way to spend time at home is showing itself to be popular on social networking platforms. For instance, Twitter user MochiPan (@mochipan1115) posted a picture on Twitter that spread widely:

"It took a week for me to make a wildflower carpet on my own"

Thank you to the many people who liked my post. Here are my stuffed animals having a picnic on my carpet.

As you can see, the creative twitterer made a grass carpet that she laid out in the sun. Its flowers are in bloom and are indeed a cute sight to behold. Moreover, it's hard to argue that lying on this carpet, say some on a Sunday afternoon, would not be a great way to calm down and relax. The creator admitted that she bought an embroidered flower appliqué and sewed it on a green rug by hand. Naturally, her followers were impressed. They reacted to her post:

  • “How have you not sold this already? It’s so good!”
  • "It's adorable! I want one for my room too."
  • “The sunlight looks like a butterfly!”
  • “Wow, you made this carpet in a single week?”
  • “I wish I could sleep here…I’d be so happy...”
  • “It’s very cute…! I want to take pictures of my cats on this carpet.”
  • “I wonder if I paid her, she would make one for me.”
  • “It’s so dreamy!”

There were many impressed by the cute carpet and the simpleness of the idea. Admittedly, MochiPan got took inspiration from the game Animal Crossing in making the piece. It just goes to show how a little effort and creativity can make for some enjoyable and unique experiences.

More picnics at home

Other internauts are enjoying at-home picnics during the summer months. Twitter user Dai (@daicfoblog), who is a father, was taking care of his daughter who was feeling under the weather. He thought it would be good to rest and relax at home while she wasn’t feeling well, so he thought of an interesting way to entertain her:

"Yesterday and today, my daughter has been absent from kindergarten because of a cold. I thought, "She'll stay at home all day, and it's boring for her to just play in her room." I thought of something nice for her, so I made a lunch box, laid down a sheet, and we played picnic! Thanks to this idea, she just finished eating! Now it’s time to take a nap and rest! I hope she will feel better today."

Indeed, small children can enjoy such special occasions, even while sick at home. She certainly looks interested in the food even though she isn't feeling her best.

Still, others posted similar experiences which became popular on Twitter. User No Good Pneumonia (@play_doll_1982) posted pictures of a day off during the Japanese Golden Week vacation:

"It's Golden Week, so I had a picnic in a room with a balcony. I wrapped an egg sandwich in a napkin while eating, so my hands wouldn't get messy, and it was perfect for a picnic. However, when I thought about it, it didn't matter if my hands got messy because I was at home."

Sure enough, you have to be creative if you're going to enjoy yourself at home. In Japan, this can be as simple as making a to-go bento box but enjoying it at home. Moreover, when you think of all the planning and preparation involved in a real picnic, this is undoubtedly a relaxing alternative. Perhaps that's also why so many have taken an interest.

By - Luke Mahoney.

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