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It might be winter, but now is the perfect time to nail down the details for your spring trip to Japan. Getting the timing right to catch the cherry blossom season can be hard, so Japan’s yearly sakura (cherry blossom) forecasts are a huge help when you’re aiming to enjoy hanami during your trip. Check out this forecast from the Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC), and start planning now!
Cherry Blossom FAQ
When do the cherry blossoms bloom?
There are a few different types of cherry blossom, and each variety tends to bloom at slightly different times. But on the whole, the flowers start blooming in the slightly warmer regions of the south, skipping Okinawa (too warm!) to begin the season in Kyushu. The wave of cherry blossoms gradually moves northward, reaching Hokkaido last. Cherry blossom season begins in the second half of March, and can stretch as late as the first days of May. To travelers with limited time in Japan, sakura season can feel ephemeral and difficult to plan for, but if you take a look at the dates for each region of Japan, there’s actually plenty of time to enjoy the blossoms!
How long do cherry blossoms stay in bloom?
Usually, once the cherry blossoms start blooming in a certain area, it takes about 4~7 days to reach full bloom. After reaching full bloom, the blossoms remain beautiful on the trees for about a week before they begin to fall. Since the cherry blossoms are at their most spectacular for a period of a week or two, it’s worth paying attention to the dates when the trees will come into bloom, and when they will be at their very best – “full bloom.”
The First Cherry Blossom Forecast of 2025
On January 9th, the Japan Meteorological Corporation released the first sakura season forecast for the year, predicting bloom dates similar to 2024. Here’s a quick summary of some of Japan’s most popular cherry blossom viewing regions.
Region | Flowering Begins | Full Bloom |
Tokyo | March 24 | March 31 |
Fukuoka | March 22 | March 31 |
Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture) | March 24 | April 3 |
Hiroshima | March 24 | April 3 |
Kyoto | March 27 | April 4 |
Osaka | March 27 | April 3 |
Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture) | April 2 | April 8 |
Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) | April 7 | April 13 |
Sapporo (Hokkaido Prefecture) | May 1 | May 5 |
Of course, this is only the first cherry blossom forecast of the year! Updated forecasts are expected to be released regularly, even as the flowers begin to bloom. Keep checking back to make sure your Japan travel plans line up with the best dates for cherry blossom viewing in 2025!
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Original Article in Thai by Sarita Thaveetermsakul
English Edition by Sophia Appelbaum