Planning · 6 min read
The cherry blossom front
Japan's sakura season does not happen everywhere at once. Blooming starts in subtropical Okinawa in January and moves north as spring warms the country, a progression the Japanese call sakura zensen, the cherry blossom front.
For most visitors the key window is late March to mid April, when Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima reach full bloom within about a week of each other.
Typical dates by region
Okinawa: mid January to mid February, with deep pink kanhizakura trees.
Kyushu and Shikoku: late March to early April.
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima: first bloom around March 20 to 28, full bloom about a week later.
Tohoku (Sendai, Hirosaki, Kakunodate): mid to late April.
Hokkaido (Sapporo, Hakodate, Matsumae): late April to mid May.
First bloom versus full bloom
The Japan Meteorological Agency declares first bloom (kaika) when five or six flowers open on a sample tree. Full bloom (mankai) follows about five to seven days later, when around 80 percent of the buds are open.
Trees usually stay at their best for about a week after full bloom. Rain and strong wind can shorten that, and petals start falling quickly afterwards.
How to time your trip
Book at least three or four days in your main city during the expected full bloom week, then add a day trip north or into the mountains if you arrive late. Places like Yoshino, Hakone and the Fuji Five Lakes bloom a week or two after central Tokyo.
Check our forecast page in the weeks before you travel. Bloom dates can move a week either way depending on how warm February and March are.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best week to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo?
Usually the last week of March into the first days of April, but check the live forecast as dates shift each year.
How long do cherry blossoms last?
About one to two weeks from first bloom to falling petals, with full bloom lasting roughly a week.
Estimated bloom windows by park
Estimates based on long-term averages. Check each park for today's status and weather.
- Ueno ParkFirst bloom 24 Mar, full bloom 31 Mar, petals fall by 8 Apr
- ChidorigafuchiFirst bloom 24 Mar, full bloom 31 Mar, petals fall by 7 Apr
- Shinjuku GyoenFirst bloom 20 Mar, full bloom 30 Mar, petals fall by 20 Apr
- Meguro RiverFirst bloom 24 Mar, full bloom 31 Mar, petals fall by 7 Apr
- Maruyama ParkFirst bloom 26 Mar, full bloom 3 Apr, petals fall by 10 Apr
- Philosopher's PathFirst bloom 27 Mar, full bloom 4 Apr, petals fall by 11 Apr
- ArashiyamaFirst bloom 28 Mar, full bloom 5 Apr, petals fall by 14 Apr
- Osaka Castle ParkFirst bloom 25 Mar, full bloom 1 Apr, petals fall by 8 Apr
- Kema Sakuranomiya ParkFirst bloom 25 Mar, full bloom 1 Apr, petals fall by 8 Apr
- Chureito PagodaFirst bloom 3 Apr, full bloom 9 Apr, petals fall by 16 Apr
- Lake Kawaguchiko north shoreFirst bloom 5 Apr, full bloom 12 Apr, petals fall by 19 Apr
- Sakurayama ParkFirst bloom 15 Oct, full bloom 20 Nov, petals fall by 20 Dec
- Hirosaki Castle ParkFirst bloom 18 Apr, full bloom 23 Apr, petals fall by 30 Apr
- Matsumae ParkFirst bloom 26 Apr, full bloom 2 May, petals fall by 15 May
- Maizuru ParkFirst bloom 22 Mar, full bloom 29 Mar, petals fall by 5 Apr