The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan’s unofficial national flower and often the first thing you think of when you think about what you want to see in Japan. Japan has dozens of varieties of cherry blossoms, with some blooming for just a few days during spring.
Celebrated for more than a thousand years, cherry blossom marks the beginning of spring, bringing optimism, new life and renewal.
Cherry blossom season in Japan
Cherry blossom season begins towards the end of March and can last well into May. Each year the season varies with the weather, so forecasts or ensure your trip covers a few weeks in the cherry blossom window.
Where to view cherry blossom in Japan
At the peak of their beauty, the cherry blossoms begin to fall, a reminder of the Shinto ideal of impermanence. This transient season is one of the unique experiences Japan offers for visitors. Travelling through Japan you will find that the season begins in the south, on the island of Okinawa and moves north as the season progresses.
Tokyo’s Imperial Palace East Garden
Tokyo’s cherry blossoms bloom from late March to early April. From the streets to Tokyo Bay there are hanami opportunities so you will want your camera ready.
The Imperial Palace East Garden, on the grounds of the former Edo Castle, is a wonderful place to discover Japan’s cherry blossoms. Stepping out of the bustling city into the 12-hectare garden, visitors find a calm oasis in the centre of Tokyo.
Ashikaga Flower Park near Tokyo
At Ashikaga Flower Park you find cherry trees, but there are also tulips, roses and nemophila in this carefully tended flower garden. From mid-April to mid-May you can see four colours of wisteria, cherry pink, purple, white and yellow.
Kyoto’s Philosopher’s Path
South of Tokyo, Kyoto’s cherry blossom season begins a little earlier. Perhaps the best-known place to see the blooms in Kyoto is the Philosopher’s Path, a two-kilometre stretch lined with hundreds of cherry trees.
Walking from end to end of the path takes about 30 minutes, but there’s no need to rush. With many temples and shrines along the way, you can capture images of the buildings alongside the blooms, or stop to rest and enjoy the views in a cafe or restaurant.
Togetsukyo Bridge in Kyoto
The Philosopher’s Path offers an intimate experience of cherry blossom, but to capture the essence of the season you will also want to experience a panorama of blossoms. This is possible from the Togetsukyo Bridge in April to May. From this vantage point, you can see Arashimaya Mountain’s cherry trees in bloom en masse.
Osaka’s Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle, the largest castle in Japan, has over a thousand cherry trees planted around the grounds.
Nearby you find the artfully designed Kokoen Gardens, a set of nine smaller landscapes, which offer an opportunity to see different blooms in season.
Hiroshima
At Hiroshima, the cherry blossoms bloom in early April, bringing a wash of delicate colour to Hiroshima Peace Park and Hiroshima Castle.
Mount Tsurimi Beppu Ropeway
Overlooking Beppu, the ‘spa city’ of Japan, is Mount Tsurimi, where over 2,000 cherry trees bloom in early to mid-April. Visitors can take a gondola up the ropeway to view the cherry blossoms from above or hike one of the many trails up the mountainside. Yoshino cherry trees surround the lower station of the ropeway, bloom in early April, and later in April, Fuji cherry blossoms bloom along the walking paths at the top of the mountain. In May, this area flowers with thousands of pink rhododendrons native to Southern Japan.
How to view cherry blossoms
Japanese celebrate cherry blossom viewing with parties (hanami) under the trees. This tradition began with the first Emperor. The art of Hanami, or ‘flower-viewing’, can be as simple as strolling under the blooming trees, but for a traditional experience, you can plan a picnic party under the trees. In the most popular areas, you might need to book a spot or arrive early with a blanket and reserve your picnic patch.
Respect informs Hanami viewing, as for many Japanese traditions. Make sure to take your rubbish with you, and respect local rules (check ahead of time if alcohol is permitted in the park). Be mindful of any curfews at the park, and while enjoying the view remember not to touch, shake or pick the blossoms. Photographs are welcome, but be mindful of the people around you and be careful not to step on the roots of the trees.
Varieties of cherry blossom
With over 100 varieties of cherry trees in Japan, wild varieties mix with those cultivated for decorative use in parks and gardens. Here are a few things to look for to identify the cherry trees in bloom:.
1. Number of petals
Most wild cherry varieties have five-petal blossoms. Some species have more and may have ten, twenty, or more petals - these trees are called “yaezakura”, and these are often last to bloom, as late as two to four weeks after the five-petal varieties.
2. Colour of the flowers
Cherry blossoms are most often light pink to white, but you may also see dark pink, yellow or green blossoms. The colour of the flower may change from white to pink over a few days..
3. Timing of leaves
Early-blooming cherry trees produce leaves after flowering while late-blooming trees produce leaves before blossoming. The colour of the leaves may vary from green to coppery brown.
4. Shape of the tree
Cherry trees may grow into columns, triangular shapes, V-shapes, weeping or flat-topped.
Japan’s variety of cherry trees makes the viewing season longer
For visitors from overseas, timing your trip to align with the cherry blossoms can involve a little luck with the weather. When you travel to Japan in the springtime for a couple of weeks or longer, there’s plenty of time to see different regions of this vibrant country and you are bound to catch some cherry blossoms during your visit.
Frequently asked questions
How long do cherry blossoms last in Tokyo?
Cherry blossoms last up to two weeks from the beginning of blooming, with different varieties following each other and blossoming sequentially.
Where is the best place to see cherry blossoms in Japan?
Hirosaki Castle in the north of Japan is set in a 600,000 square metre park with different cherry blossom viewing areas. The park has large picnic areas amidst the cherry trees and features Japan’s fattest cherry blossom tree.
Is it still cool in April in Japan?
In April temperatures can range from 2 degrees to 24 degrees. In cities like Tokyo and Osaka, a light coat will suffice, but for travelling north you will want some warmer clothing as temperatures drop to between 2 and 10 degrees Celsius.