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Cherry blossoms with Tokyo Sky Tree in Japan. (Photo: Getty Images)
The Japan Meteorological Corporation recently announced the forecast on when cherry blossoms, also known as sakura, will bloom in various parts of Japan.
In general, the peak season for hanami, literally viewing flowers in Japanese, which in this case is the cherry blossoms, is between late March and early April. The sakura in southern Japan (Kagoshima, Fukuoka) will usually start to bloom first, followed by those on Japan’s main island (Osaka, Kyoto), and lastly northern Japan (Hokkaido).
However, the blooming time is also affected by the sakura species, the exact location of the sakura (hence the temperature of the environment), and fluctuations in temperature. As such, the forecast only serves as a guide for when the sakura may bloom and not its exact flowering date.
After the first bloom, the cherry blossoms will reach their full bloom in about a week. The full bloom — when the sakura looks the most beautiful — will continue to last for about two weeks.
City (from northeast to southwest): First Bloom (Full Bloom) Sapporo: 2 May (5 May) Aomori: 22 April (26 April) Sendai: 8 April (13 April) Tokyo: 22 March (30 March) Kanazawa: 4 April (10 April) Nagano: 9 April (15 April) Nagoya: 25 March (4 April) Kyoto: 27 March (5 April) Osaka: 28 March (5 April) Wakayama: 27 March (4 April) Hiroshima: 26 March (4 April) Kochi: 22 March (30 March) Fukuoka: 23 March (1 April) Kagoshima: 27 March (7 April)
[Japanese Cherry Blossom Season Limited] Tokyo Suburb Miura Cherry Blossom Viewing, Strawberry All You Can Eat, Tuna Fish Market Chartered One-day Tour (Six or Nine-person Small Group). (Photo: KKday SG)
Izu Cherry Blossom One-day Tour | Strawberry Picking at Izu Fruit Park, Kawazu Sakura, Sakura no Sato, Joren Waterfall | Departure from Shinjuku. (Photo: KKday SG)
Kansai Cherry Blossom One-Day Tour｜Sakura Viewing Boat by Water Bus, Cherry Blossom Tunnel at Ogawarte Tsuki, Thousand Cherry Blossoms in Osaka Castle Park, Uji Walking Tour in Kyoto｜Departure from Osaka. (Photo: KKday SG)
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