Last Updated on February 5, 2026 by Laura
This post contains affiliate links. If you click these links to buy something we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting The Historian Traveller!
If you are reading these words, my friend, I know that you are here with a mission. Ticking off that point on your bucket list that says “seeing the cherry blossom in Japan”. I know you have it. I had it too for more time than you can ever imagine. My dream came finally true last year, and in this blog I will explain you step by step how the cherry blossom season in Japan works and what you have to do to get the best chances of seeing these beautiful flowers.
If you are new to Japan travelling, I do recommend including in your readings also the following guides (especially if you plan to travel by train):
My obsession with Japan’s cherry blossoms was born probably when I was about 10 years old and watched a Sailor Moon episode called “Cherry Blossom Time”. From that episode, I learned for the first time the term hanami, I’ve seen the Tokyo Tower surrounded by cherry blossoms and learnt that pink trees were actually a real thing. Oh yeah, and Usagi gets some new powers on the same episode as the rest wasn’t already great. That made quite an impression on 10-year-old me. One that lasts for 30 years.
As I grew up in between manga, anime and nutella it didn’t took me much to realise that Japan was my dream destination and seeing the cherry blossom was my experience of a lifetime. You can’t imagine how heartbroken I was after discovering that despite years of planning, the cherry blossom forecasts predicted a completely different week than the one I was visiting. So, how did I manage to see them? Let me explain it below!
Hanami the centuries-old Japanese practice of celebrating trees
Before heading into the core of this blog piece, it is my duty as a historian to provide some background on why the cherry blossom season is so important to Japanese people, and why it is equally important for tourists to understand this precious cultural heritage. Translated roughly as “flower viewing,” hanami is an ancient Japanese tradition that originated during the Nara period (710–794). During this time, plum blossoms, recently introduced from China, were admired by Japanese aristocrats, who organised specific “viewing parties” featuring special events such as plum blossom banquets. Nevertheless, before attracting aristocratic attention, sakura trees were originally used to divine the year’s harvest and to announce the rice-planting season. People believed that kami resided within the trees and made offerings to them, which were later shared with sake.
Heian Period
The viewing of cherry blossoms, rather than plums, emerged somewhat later, during the Heian period (794–1185). For a long time, however, these “flower parties” remained part of the annual routine of the aristocracy alone. By the tenth century, cherry blossoms had become the subject of numerous poems. This contributed to a romantic association between their appearance and the transience of human life. Indeed, cherry blossoms bloom and scatter in less than two weeks, and they came to symbolise in Japan the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
During the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, the custom of cherry blossom viewing spread from the aristocracy to the samurai class. By the mid-Edo period it is said to have become widespread among the common people. In Edo, cherry blossom viewing included ume-mi, a time to renew friendships with close companions; sakura-mi, occasions for welcome and farewell gatherings; and momo-mi, moments devoted to enjoying time with family.
Over time, hanami gradually transformed into the form we recognise today. From the late Edo period onward, local authorities deliberately planted cherry trees along rivers, roads, and in public parks. This made blossoms accessible to a broader population. In the modern era, particularly from the Meiji period, hanami became increasingly secular and communal, losing much of its religious dimension while retaining its symbolic meaning. Today, it is a nationwide seasonal event marked by picnics beneath blooming trees, food and drink shared among friends, families, and colleagues, and careful attention to official blossom forecasts.
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan. Essential information
In this section you can find all the essential information useful to plan your visit to Japan during the cherry blossom season.
When is the Best Time to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan?
Technically, cherry blossom season in Japan can go from February to May. This because the flowers’ blooming is affected by mainly two factors: the geographical areas where they bloom and the variety of flower blooming. Indeed, warmer southern regions such as Okinawa, often have early blooming (February/March). While northern and colder regions such as Hokkaido, usually see later blooming (April/May).
A good 80% of visitors who arrive in Japan during the blooming season focus only in the areas of Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka. If you are planning to visit these areas too, consider that the highest chances of finding the cherry trees in bloom are usually between late March and mid of April. The (general) calendar below should help you understanding what are the best period for visiting different regions in Japan. This will support your organisation plan but it needs to be double checked with the forecast expected for the year.
Japan Cherry Blossom Calendar by Region 🌸
| Region | Typical Best Cherry Blossom Viewing |
|---|---|
| Okinawa | Late January – Mid-February |
| Kyushu | Late March |
| Shikoku | Late March – Early April |
| Kansai (e.g., Kyoto, Osaka) | Late March – Early April |
| Kantō (e.g., Tokyo) | Late March – Early April |
| Chūbu (e.g., Nagoya) | Late March – Early April |
| Tōhoku (e.g., Sendai, Aomori) | Mid- to Late April |
| Hokkaido | Late April – Early May |
Blossom variety and expected blooming in different regions of Japan
Moreover, If you are interested in which type of variety you can find in each different areas of Japan and when this is expected to bloom, here is a schematic summary useful for your trip.
| Sakura Variety | Typical Blooming Period | Regions / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kanhizakura | Jan–Mar | Okinawa & southern regions; very early blossoms, dark pink bell-shaped flowers. |
| Kawazu-zakura | Early Feb–Early Mar | Izu Peninsula (e.g., Kawazu Town, Shizuoka); popular early-season hanami. |
| Somei Yoshino | Late Mar–Early Apr | Japan’s most widespread sakura, dominant in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, etc. |
| Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry) | Late Mar–Early Apr | Seen in temple gardens & parks, especially Kyoto (Maruyama Park), Fukushima, Tokyo gardens. |
| Yamazakura (Mountain Cherry) | Early–Mid Apr | Wild cherry in mountainous areas such as Mount Yoshino (Nara) and rural Tōhoku and Chūbu. |
| Yaezakura (Double-Layered) | Mid Apr–Late Apr | Decorative blossoms in parks and historic sites; later than Somei Yoshino. |
| Kanzan | Mid–Late Apr | A type of yaezakura; rich vibrant pink and longer season in urban parks and gardens. |
| Ichiyo | Mid–Late Apr | Light pink blossoms with green leaves emerging; popular in botanical gardens and parks. |
| Kikuzakura (Chrysanthemum Cherry) | Late Apr–Early May | Very late blossoms with many petals, often seen in northern regions like Tōhoku & Hokkaido. |
| Takanezakura | May–Jul (Late) | Alpine/often Hokkaido cooler-climate variety blooming well into late spring/early summer. |
| Shibazakura (Moss Phlox) † | Mid Apr–May | Not a traditional cherry, but often included in flower season viewing carpets near Mt. Fuji & elsewhere. |
What is the weather like in March and April in Japan?
From what I can tell you from my experience, weather in March and April in the Kanto and Kansai regions was very mild. I was able to get around without a jacket most days and there was plenty of sunshine. However, we encountered a few days of heavy rain in Kyoto and some clouds in the Mt Fuji area. Generally March and April are quite variable in terms of weather and this will affect the blooming more than you can forecast.
How the weather affect the cherry blossom blooming
To dig deeper into this topic, you will learn soon that weather in Japan can be either your best friend or worst enemy when it comes to cherry blossom blooming. Indeed, there is a long process involved in the flowering of cherry blossoms, but it is ultimately the weather that Japan will have 3 to 1 week prior to the blooming that will definitely determine if you will see the cherry blossom during a specific week.
My experience with the JMC forecast
This is what exactly happened to me. In fact, according to the initial forecasts projected for last year, the blooming was perfectly in time for my visit. I was very happy. My trip to Japan was something I planned for a very long time and despite I didn’t plan around the blooming specifically, I secretly hoped we spotted them. Then, the forecast started to change. A wave of warm weather pushed the buds to bloom earlier than expected. I was heartbroken as this meant I would have missed the peak blooming of about a week.
Forecast remained consistent almost until the very end when something incredible happen about 10 days before my trip. Sudden cold weather arrived and seemed to have blocked the blooming in most central northern areas. While some early varieties bloomed already in Tokyo and Kyoto, the Yoshino variety seemed still not to bloom. Until the very last day I wasn’t sure if in the end I was able to see the flowers or not. When I arrived in Asakusa, after 13h flight (it was the first place I went after landing) and saw the blossoms all around the temple, I was in tears. I couldn’t believe I was that lucky.
Therefore, yes if cold weather occurs the blooming might be delayed while if warm weather arrives, there is a chance of the buds to bloom earlier than expected. In the unfortunate case of heavy rain, the flowers can be washed away very early and last less then expected either.
Essential information released by the Japan Meteorological Corporation on the flowering
I’m not an expert on how the blooming of the cherry blossom works. So, if you want a more accurate description of the blossom flowering, I found this explanation from the Japan Meteorological Corporation incredibly useful:
” The flowering and full bloom dates of cherry blossoms depend on the temperature patterns from autumn of the preceding year. The buds of cherry blossoms are formed during the summer of the preceding year. Before they flower, they must go through two processes: dormancy and growth. Buds do not start growing as soon as they are formed; they first enter a period of dormancy. Dormancy allows the buds to survive the winter, with its cold weather and short days. This phenomenon is not exclusive to cherry trees. In temperate zones, many kinds of plant certain levels (between -5 and 15 degrees centigrade) during the autumn and winter period, trees awaken from their dormancy in anticipation of the approaching spring.
After breaking dormancy, the buds enter the growth stage, and grow as the temperatures increase to flowering. During this stage, the higher the temperature is, the better the growth rate will be.
During dormancy, buds do not show any visible development. However, once they enter the growth stage, they will grow increasingly large as the moment of flowering draws nearer. Eventually, their tips will turn a yellowish green color. Just before they start to flower, it will be possible to make out their petals“. Source: Japan Meteorological Corporation.
Luck and planning
Overall, I should admit that despite all the plans one can do and need to do, you still need a bit of luck to get the full bloom during a specific week. Of course if you have 3+ weeks your chances of seeing the cherry blossom increase exponentially. But if you have limited time, you might want to check the forecast until the last minute and adjust your itinerary accordingly. E.g. buds in Kyoto might bloom earlier than Tokyo and Mt Fuji can be instead later. So you might want to switch destinations last minute. For example, because of the weather, I switched my trip to Mt Fuji and thanks to my last minute decision I managed to visit during the very first day of cherry blossom blooming.
Japan’s Cherry Blossom Forecast 2026
One of the most essential tools you can use to plan your trip around the cherry blossom season in Japan is the Japanese “cherry blossom forecast”. If you haven’t heard about this before, these forecasts are released by the Japan Meteorological Corporation every couple of weeks since January. They works similarly to the weather forecast and predict the blooming of the flowers all over the nation.
How to read the JMC cherry blossom forecast map
One of the tools released by the JMC is a map showing exactly the flowering in each main city. To note the blooming of the flowers, does not necessarily correspond to the peak bloom of the flowers. So, if the map shows, for example, the blooming for Tokyo expected on 25th March, the full peak could perhaps be a week later. The map is accompanied by another more schematic “location prediction” that forecasts both flowering and expected full bloom.
4th forecast announced on February 05, 2026
| Location | Forecasted flowering date | Flowering deviation (days) | Forecasted full bloom date | Full bloom deviation (days) | Flowering date in average year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 4/26 | -5 | 4/29 | -7 | 5/1 |
| Aomori | 4/18 | -4 | 4/22 | -4 | 4/22 |
| Sendai | 4/5 | -3 | 4/10 | -3 | 4/8 |
| Tokyo | 3/20 | -4 | 3/28 | -3 | 3/24 |
| Kanazawa | 4/2 | -1 | 4/8 | 0 | 4/3 |
| Nagano | 4/6 | -5 | 4/11 | -5 | 4/11 |
| Nagoya | 3/20 | -4 | 3/30 | -3 | 3/24 |
| Kyoto | 3/24 | -2 | 4/1 | -3 | 3/26 |
| Osaka | 3/24 | -3 | 4/1 | -3 | 3/27 |
| Wakayama | 3/27 | 3 | 4/3 | 0 | 3/24 |
| Hiroshima | 3/22 | -3 | 3/31 | -3 | 3/25 |
| Kochi | 3/20 | -2 | 3/28 | -2 | 3/22 |
| Fukuoka | 3/21 | -1 | 3/30 | -1 | 3/22 |
| Kagoshima | 3/26 | 0 | 4/6 | 1 | 3/26 |
But let’s understand the data in a easier way. Imagine you have to visit Tokyo. The current flowering for Tokyo for this year is predicted on 20 March with a deviation of -3 days. This means the JMC expect the full bloom to be around the 28th March with the same amount of deviation. According to previous data with similar conditions, JMC estimates the average flowering will be on 24th March. So, according to this prediction, when is the best date to visit Tokyo? IF (stressing if) we consider these data as 100% accurate (more on this later), the best period to visit Tokyo this year would be between 25th March and 5th April. However, this is the ideal scenario that doesn’t account a bit of reality.
How much accurate are the cherry blossom forecast?
According to my experience, the JMC forecasts are not super reliable, at least in their early release. Indeed, I found the first 3-4 releases (those done in Jan/Feb) to be quite inaccurate. Indeed, the same JMC admits those are early predictions based on the previous year data and winter progression of the buds. They don’t account sudden changes in weather and how this will impact the flowering.
The March release tends to be more accurate, especially if close to the flowering date. If you really going only for the flowering, I would wait until the last minute before booking your flights. However, if you want an even more accurate picture of the flowering in the cities you are interested to visit, the app/website Sakura Navi offer perhaps a better perspective.
Sakura Navi and how to track cherry blossom flowers
Sakura Navi is a tracking app/website working alongside the JMC. However, it tends to be much more accurate than the single forecast itself. This because it takes in account also local reports and live cameras of each of the locations having cherry blossoms in the whole Japan. Users can use the app into multiple different ways:
- Checking the local flowering and buds stage in each location around Japan
- Finding cherry blossom locations in different cities
- Finding the best weekend for visiting each location (app only/paid subscription)
Indeed, Sakura Navi has a fantastic map mode where users can click on the single location of each city (e.g. Meiji Jingu), discover where the cherry blossom are and at what stage the buds are in that specific location. Moreover, each destination has various features such as weather-related forecasts, best weekend to see and live tracking.
Sakura Navi App vs Desktop use
If you are really determined to see the cherry blossoms and don’t want to miss any of the key locations, is worth to spend a little extra for the Sakura Navi app. The app cost JPY 900 (£5,99/$5,82) and it’s an all-in-one tool for your visit. This means that you can save and track your locations, see what festivals are in each locations and there is even a cool function that alerts you when you are near a cherry blossom spot. The desktop version is still useful but a bit limited in what one can do.
Indeed, you can still see the locations and check the status of the flowering, but you can’t see more details or save these on your phone or find any events. I personally didn’t download the app because I wasn’t sure to find any flowering when I went. BUT, if the sole scope of my trip was hunting the cherry blossom trees, I would download this 100%.
Mistakes to avoid when planning a trip to Japan during the sakura season
If you are planning a trip to Japan for the sakura season. Here are some of the mistakes you need to avoid to maximise your visit and the chances of spotting the flowering.
1. Booking your flights too early and your hotels too late
Yes it’s true, cherry blossom season often happens between late March and early April. Nevertheless, it’s happening frequently that flowers bloom earlier than expected or have a very delayed blooming (like last year!). If your trip’s purpose is exclusively that of seeing the flowers, booking your flights too early for a specific date risks to get you to Japan during the wrong week. On the other hand, due to sakura season being a peak period, hotel availability becomes quite tight. So it’s better to use a “free cancellation” tool and book hotels in advance.
How to find cheap flights for Japan cherry blossom season
Ideally, most of the deals for March/April are on sales 9 to 6 months before. Nevertheless, the most accurate cherry blossoms dates are out 1 or 2 months before. So, it’s worth to juggle if you want to grab more convenient flights and brace the unpredictable outcome or wait until the last minute but with the likelihood of very expensive airfares. Trip.com is recently my favourite flight search tool as it gives me many combinations with very good discounts. So it’s worth to give it a try!
2. Looking at the cherry blossom forecast without looking at the weather forecast.
Something I learnt while visiting is that many tourists just look at the cherry blossom forecast ignoring that these are strictly linked to the weather forecast. If you plan for a predicted blooming on 25th March, but ignore that two weeks earlier the temperature dropped to -10 (extreme example) you won’t get to see the flowers. Indeed, extreme changes of weather affect the blooming and the flowering date.
3. Be oblivious of the crowds.
Want to visit Japan during the sakura season? Congratulation, other 3 million people had exactly your same idea. Sakura season is quite busy. Therefore, you have to accept that intense crowds will be part of your daily schedule.
4. Not researching properly about festival and activities that need to be pre-booked.
There are countless of festivals and events linked to cherry blossoms in Japan. Some of them are free too attend, some other require a pre-booking. Make sure you do proper research and don’t leave your attendance to the last minute as you will 100% disappointed to discover that your activities are sold-out.
5. Not being flexible with travel arrangements
As said before, cherry blossom flowering can be quite unpredictable. Especially with uncertain weather (too hot/too cold/too rainy). Having a certain flexibility with your travel plans will help you in case of last minute changes.
6. Visiting only Tokyo and Kyoto to see the blossoms
Of course both cities are fantastic during this season, but adding a few other places to your list will make things more fun and touristically sustainable. For example, I found that Kamakura is absolutely a gem for cherry blossom flowering!
Is visiting Japan more expensive during sakura?
In a few words, YES. March and April are considered two of the peak months for visitors in Japan. This means that anything from hotels to tours and flights are more expensive compared to months considered as low season.
Here is an overview of the increase in price you might find during this period, particularly during the last week of March and two first weeks of April.
- Hotels : 50% to 100% more expensive than low season
- Flights: 30% to 50% more expensive than low season
- Tours and tour guides 20% to 30% more expensive than low season
- Car Rentals 15% to 20% more expensive than low season
- Food: no particular change but themed items might be more expensive
- Transport (e.g. shinkansen): no change compared to low season
How Crowded is Japan during the Cherry Blossom Season？
I visited in the super peak weeks of the cherry blossom and yes Japan was VERY crowded. However, I don’t know how the situation is during another period, so I can’t really compare. What I can tell you is that popular places were extremely busy, particularly late during the morning. Kyoto, in particular, was unbelievably crowded. Nevertheless, if you are an early riser, you can still get the best of each location without much crowd.
Is it worth visiting Japan during the cherry blossom season?
I’m not totally unbiased in my reply because I dreamed of seeing the cherry blossoms since I was a child and to me they are 100% worth the money, crowd and all the early rises one can do. HOWEVER, Japan is not just flowers and nice festivals. Indeed, as much as I wanted to see the flowers, I had very specific weeks to book my flights because of my work schedule and children school. So I planned for a trip to Japan, not for a cherry blossom one. The fact that I still managed to find them in every single location I visited, despite the initial forecast, it was almost a miracle to me. Something that I will be forever grateful to the universe!
So, in my opinion, they are of course worth a visit but more as part of a more complete Japan trip rather than a stand-alone reason. Going exclusively for the cherry blossoms, as much they are beautiful and photogenic, underwhelms what Japan has really to offer.
Things nobody tells you about the cherry blossoms in Japan
Here are some of the things I discovered my self and found absolutely no information or warning online, but that I believe visitors should be aware.
Pollen Allergy people like me, won’t love them
Something that I stupidly realised only on my first full day in Japan is that as much those flowers are beautiful, they could potentially ruin your trip if you have pollen allergy. Indeed, not more than 30 minutes out of my hotel room I started feeling strange. I told my husband my throat felt like it was closing, I was short of breath and my eyes were red and crying without reason. Yes I was kind of emotional for being in Tokyo after my long-planned trip, but I immediately knew that my being happy for being there wasn’t yet making me cry. I knew immediately what those symptoms were: pollen allergy.
Since I moved to the UK, about 12 years ago, I discovered that I suffer of tree pollen allergy. Apparently, I discovered in Japan that cherry trees fit within this category too. Unfortunately, due to the strict regulations that Japan has on foreign medicines, I couldn’t bring my antihistamine tablets. Luckily, I had a light antihistamine spray that passed the checks and momentarily helped me breathe. Nevertheless, I had to run to the first pharmacy and buy the local version of Clarytin (Benadryl is unfortunately banned in Japan FYI).
So my dear fellow allergy sufferers, keep this in mind when visiting Japan during the peak of cherry blossom flowering. Just for your knowledge and in case you might need this too, here is a photo of my Japanese antihistamine.
Cherry blossom trees are not really that pink
Something that might shock you a little, especially because of the shared imaginary of cherry blossoms, is that in reality that most cherry blossom flowers aren’t pink at all. Indeed, the bud itself starts with a darker pinkish shade at the beginning of the flowering but it becomes lighter and lighter as soon as it reaches its full bloom. The Somei Yoshino, which is the most spread variety of cherry blossom in Japan, is actually very white, with only a splash of pink. Of course, when you see hundreds of flowers all together, depending also on the light, even that splash of pink might give the impression of a more pinkish shade all around and it’s actually quite nice. Nevertheless, if ones takes a single flower, this will be more white than pink.
The very bright pink threes that everyone imagine when thinking about sakura, they are actually the original threes worshipped in ancient Japan: plums. Indeed, the plum blossoms are dark pink and their flowering goes usually from February to March. They last longer than cherry trees and might be even spotted alongside them. Also peach blossoms are a dark pink shade, much darker than the cherry ones. So, try to detach yourself from the idea of bright pink trees to avoid a delusion.
Cherry tree blossom flowers are actually poisonus
YES. You are reading this correctly and, to me, this was even more shocking considering the large amount of “cherry blossom- themed dishes” produced in Japan during the sakura season. However, the cherry tree petals contains some small levels of two very toxic elements: cyanide and coumarin. These, ingested in certain quantities, can be very toxic or even fatal.
Proper treatments of the petals ensure that level of toxicity for humans remain very low (so you can still enjoy your favourite sakura mochi!). Nevertheless, is confirmed that for pets those flowers are extremely dangerous causing vomiting, difficulty breathing, seizures or even death. Therefore, if you are travelling with pets, specifically dogs or cats, make sure to keep them well-away from fallen blossoms. Also, just in case, don’t try to eat the flowers! Untreated petals still contain cyanide and coumarin, so they are toxic for humans too!
Best places to see the cherry blossoms in Japan
I’m planning to write a more detailed guide on this, especially regarding the places I personally visited. For the moment, since this is a general guides, I will list some of the best places where you can spot the flowers nationwide.
If you are planning on travelling by train around Japan, my detailed guide to Shinkansen will help you planning your trip!
Sapporo
Located in the northern island of Hokkaido, Sapporo is the perfect destination for those who “can’t make it” in the stricter period between late and beginning of April. Indeed, temperatures here are usually fresher than Tokyo and flowering can appear weeks if not a month later.
Among the top places where to find the cherry blossoms in Sapporo:
- Bibai City Tomei Park
- Moerenuma Park
- Maruyama Park
- Otaru
2026 expected flowering for Sapporo
According to Sakura Navi, temperatures in Hokkaido were lower than average in October, normal in November, and higher than average in December. This means that flowering in the island is expected earlier than average this year with an estimated date of 26 April (flowering) and 29 April (full bloom).
Aomori
Located in the Tohoku region, the northern prefecture of Aomori offers a more than valid (and cheaper?) alternative to the crowded Tokyo and Kyoto. Similar to Sapporo, flowering in this region is very delayed and can be an optimal option for those who prefer a quieter experience.
Among the top places where to find the cherry blossoms in Aomori:
- Aipura Park
- Nogiwa Park
- Ashino Park (out of the city)
- Hirosaki Castle (out of the city)
2026 expected flowering for Aomori
Aomori has forecast similar to those of Sapporo. Indeed, winter had higher than average temperatures that are persisting through the first months of the year. This means that flowering is expected earlier than usual this year. The estimated dates are 18 April (flowering) and 22 April (full bloom).
Tokyo
Tokyo is of course the city where a good 95% of visitors flock during the cherry blossom season. Despite the intense crowd almost everywhere you go, there is something special about seeing the city in full spring mode. Something that surprised me is discovering cherry blossoms clusters here and there even in unexpected locations.
Among the top places where to find the cherry blossoms in Tokyo:
- Meiji Jingu Gaien
- Sumida Park
- Meguro River
- Yoyogi Park
If you want to discover more things to do in Tokyo, read my city guide here!
2026 expected flowering for Tokyo
This year Tokyo has forecasts that are really similar to the one predicted last year. Indeed, temperatures were higher than averaged in the autumn months and are expected to continue on the same line. If nothing extreme happens in terms of temperatures (i.e. sudden cold spells), flowers should blossom earlier than usual. The estimated dates are 20 March (flowering) and 28 March (full bloom). Nevertheless, keep a close eye on the weather as, similarly to last year, if a week of sudden cold weather happens close to the flowering, this could be delayed.
Mt Fuji
The area of Mt Fuji was one of my favourite where to see the cherry blossoms! There are so many locations one prettiest than the other. Of course with good weather framing both Mt Fuji and the flowers makes it the best postcard picture! Because it’s a mountainous area, cherry trees usually blossom around 10 days later than Tokyo (unless sudden warm weather). Therefore keep this in mind when visiting!
Among the top places where to find the cherry blossoms in the Mt Fuji area:
- Arakurayama Sengen Park
- Lake Kawaguchiko
- Saiko Iyashi-no-Sato Nenba
- Oshino Hakkai
2026 expected flowering for Mt Fuji
The area of Mt Fuji usually blooms around a week to 10 days later than Tokyo. Forecasts estimate this year the flowering is expected 30th March with full bloom around 5th April.
If you are planning a day trip to Mt Fuji, this detailed guide will explain you everything you need to do!
Kyoto
Kyoto is probably the most romantic place where to spot the cherry blossoms in Japan. Nevertheless, I noted that, differently from Tokyo, there are less cherry blossom clusters within the central city itself. Indeed, we spotted a few trees in Gion and Higashiyama, but if you want a proper experience you’ll need to travel in the ancient part and in the outskirts of the city.
Among the top places where to find the cherry blossoms in Kyoto:
- Arashiyama
- Philosophers’ Path
- Kyomizu-dera Temple
- Tenryuji Temple
2026 expected flowering for Kyoto
Sakura Navi estimates that Kyoto will have an average flowering this year (if the weather conditions remain stable). This means that unless a meteorological event happens, flowering is expected same period as a regular year. The estimated dates are 24 March (flowering) and 1 April (full bloom).
Nara
If you are visiting Kyoto, a day trip to Nara offers a great way to break your stay and visit one of the most stunning places in Japan. Nara is definitely high on the list of cherry blossom lovers and this is accompanied by the cuteness of the many deers roaming around the city.
Among the top places where to find the cherry blossoms in Nara:
- Katsuragiyama Park
- Hasedera Temple
- Tanzan Shrine
- Mt. Mimuro
2026 expected flowering for Nara
Being very close to Kyoto, also Nara shares similar forecasts with flowering expected in the usual period. The estimated dates are 26 March (flowering) and 2 April (full bloom).
Hiroshima
I found Hiroshima extremely charming and there are many places where actually seeing the cherry blossoms that seemed definitely less crowded than Tokyo/Kyoto.
Among the top places where to find the cherry blossoms in Hiroshima:
- Miyajima Island
- Peace Memorial Park
- Hiroshima Botanical Garden
- Kamei Park
2026 expected flowering for Hiroshima
Flowering in Hiroshima is expected to be similar to previous years with forecast predicting 22 March (flowering) and 1 April (full bloom).
Fukuoka
Located in the beautiful Kyushu region, Fukuoka prefecture is the perfect location to escape the crowds without missing the beauty of the cherry blossom season. The city offers a beautiful display of flowers located in beautiful parks and central areas.
Among the top places where to find the cherry blossoms in Fukuoka:
- Nishi Park
- Fukuoka Castle Ruins and Maizuru Park
- Misaka River
- Tenjin Central Park
2026 expected flowering for Fukuoka
Fukuoka might have a later flowering this year with dates expected as following: 21 March (flowering) and 30 March (full bloom).
Plan your trip to Japan
No time to read? Pin it for later!
