Travel Sakura 2026

[thomas]

Meteorologists expect the cherry blossom season to arrive about a week ahead of the usual schedule. The Japan Meteorological Corporation (not to be confused with the Japan Meteorological Agency) said in a forecast yesterday that higher early-spring temperatures are likely to lead to earlier blooming across the country. In Tokyo, blossoms are expected to open around 18 March, six days earlier than average. Full bloom is projected for about 26 March. The Somei Yoshino variety, the country's most common cherry tree, usually begins to shed its petals within a week of reaching full bloom.

Elsewhere, the season is also set to begin early. Flowers are forecast to open around 18 March in Fukuoka, 22 March in Kyoto and 23 March in Osaka. Full bloom typically follows eight to ten days later. Sendai is expected to see its first blossoms around 4 April. In Sapporo, the season may not begin until about 25 April, with full bloom arriving less than a week afterwards.

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Japan's cherry blossoms expected to bloom earlier due to warmer weather

Forecasts indicate Tokyo trees in flower as early as mid-March, ahead of Kyoto and Osaka

asia.nikkei.com

 

[thomas]

Spring has arrived in Japan with the start of the cherry blossom season declared on 16 March in Kochi and Gifu prefectures, the earliest announcements in the country this year. The Kochi Local Meteorological Observatory confirmed the bloom after six flowers opened on its sample Somei-Yoshino (ソメイヨシノ) cherry tree in Kochi city.

The blossoms appeared seven days earlier than last year and six days ahead of the seasonal average. For Kochi Prefecture, this is the third straight year it has been the first in the country to announce the start of sakura blooming.

Nation’s first cherry blossoms spotted on trees in Kochi, Gifu | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Japan’s cherry blossom season begins with first flowering confirmed in 3 cities

Japan’s cherry blossom season is starting as officials confirm the first blooms in three Japanese cities.

apnews.com

Cherry Blossom Forecast 2026

sakura.weathermap.jp

 

[thomas]

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[thomas]

Cherry blossoms in central Tokyo reached full bloom yesterday. The timing is slightly earlier than in an average year. In many parts of eastern and western Japan, the peak is expected within about a week, according to a forecast by the private weather service Weathernews Inc.

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At Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, officials confirmed that the blossoms on a designated Somei Yoshino tree, the country's most common cherry variety, had met the standard for a full-bloom declaration. This year's peak in central Tokyo came three days earlier than usual, and two days earlier than last year.

Cherry blossoms in full bloom in central Tokyo area - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Cherry blossoms in central Tokyo are in full bloom, Japan's weather agency said Saturday, slightly earlier than an average year.

mainichi.jp

Meanwhile, Nakameguro, one of Tokyo's most famous sakura viewing spots, has installed view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding:

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Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]

Once an under-the-radar sakura spot, this neighborhood near Shibuya has become dangerously congested.

soranews24.com