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Seasonal Forecast · Sakura

Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast
When & Where Sakura Blooms

The sakura front sweeps south to north — from Okinawa in mid-January to Hokkaido in early May. See average bloom dates per city, scrub the timeline to your travel dates, and plan the perfect chase.

Cherry blossoms don't open everywhere at once — they roll from south to north as the “sakura front” (sakura zensen), moving a little each day. It starts in Okinawa in mid-January, reaches Tokyo and Kyoto by late March, and finishes in Hokkaido in early May. The table below shows each city's “average” bloom dates — a solid starting point for planning.

First bloomFull bloomSoonOver
CityRegionFirst bloom (kaika)Full bloom (mankai)Best viewing windowStatus
Okinawa (Naha)Kanhizakura — deep-pink, blooms a month before the mainlandOkinawaJan 18Feb 4Feb 4 – Feb 12
FukuokaFukuoka Castle & Maizuru ParkKyushuMar 23Apr 1Apr 1 – Apr 5
HiroshimaPeace Park & Hiroshima CastleChugokuMar 25Apr 3Apr 3 – Apr 7
NagoyaNagoya Castle & Yamazaki RiverChubuMar 25Apr 3Apr 3 – Apr 7
TokyoChidorigafuchi, Ueno, Meguro RiverKantoMar 24Mar 31Mar 31 – Apr 4
YokohamaOoka River & Minato MiraiKantoMar 25Apr 1Apr 1 – Apr 5
KyotoPhilosopher's Path & ArashiyamaKansaiMar 26Apr 4Apr 4 – Apr 8
OsakaOsaka Castle & Okawa RiverKansaiMar 27Apr 4Apr 4 – Apr 8
KobeShukkeien & riverside pathsKansaiMar 27Apr 4Apr 4 – Apr 8
NaraNara Park — sakura with the deerKansaiMar 27Apr 5Apr 5 – Apr 9
KanazawaKenrokuen & Kanazawa CastleChubuApr 1Apr 6Apr 6 – Apr 10
HakoneUp in the hills — a touch later than TokyoKantoApr 1Apr 7Apr 7 – Apr 11
SendaiAoba Castle & Nishi ParkTohokuApr 7Apr 11Apr 11 – Apr 15
Kawaguchiko (Fuji)Sakura framing Mt Fuji — the dream shotChubuApr 10Apr 16Apr 16 – Apr 20
TakayamaOld Sanmachi town, higher altitudeChubuApr 15Apr 20Apr 20 – Apr 24
Hirosaki (Aomori)Hirosaki Castle — a legendary spotTohokuApr 21Apr 25Apr 25 – Apr 29
HakodateGoryokaku star-fort parkHokkaidoApr 23Apr 29Apr 29 – May 3
SapporoEnd of the front — sakura with plum blossomsHokkaidoApr 30May 4May 4 – May 8
Note: the dates here are historical averages — a solid planning baseline, but any year can shift several days with the weather. Closer to your trip, recheck the official forecasts from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) or Weathernews. We refresh these estimates yearly (last updated Jun 2026).
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FAQ

FAQ · Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast

When do cherry blossoms bloom in Japan?
It depends on the city. Okinawa blooms first from mid-January; Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka peak from late March into early April; Tohoku and Hokkaido follow in late April to early May. See each city's average dates in the table above.
Which cities bloom first, and which bloom last?
The sakura front moves south to north. Okinawa is first (the Kanhizakura variety), followed by Kyushu, Kansai and Kanto in late March, then up through Tohoku, finishing in Hokkaido in early May.
What's the difference between first bloom (kaika) and full bloom (mankai), and how long does it last?
“First bloom” (kaika) is when the first flowers open; “full bloom” (mankai) usually follows about 5-7 days later. The best viewing runs from full bloom for roughly another 4-7 days before the petals fall — a short window overall, so build in buffer days.
Where can I photograph sakura with Mt Fuji?
Kawaguchiko in the Fuji Five Lakes. Its sakura usually bloom about two weeks later than Tokyo (mid-April) because of the higher altitude — perfect for catching cherry blossoms and Mt Fuji in one frame.
How accurate is this forecast?
These are historical averages — a good planning baseline, but any given year can shift several days with the weather (a warm February brings earlier blooms). Closer to the season, double-check the official forecasts from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) or Weathernews before locking in tickets.
How far ahead should I book accommodation?
Sakura season is peak travel — hotels in popular cities fill fast and prices rise. Book 2-3 months ahead if you're targeting full bloom in a major city, and keep a backup of a nearby city that blooms a week apart.