A Guide To Cherry Blossom in Japan 2025
As March approaches, the cherry blossoms in Japan are set to bloom. According to the 2025 Sakura forecast released on February 13th, most regions across Japan will experience blooming during this time. Here’s an overview of when you can expect this year’s blossoms in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo, and other cities.
What is Cherry Blossom and Hanami?
Sakura or Cherry blossom in Japan begins in southern Okinawa in February and reaches northern Hokkaido in May. Numerous factors can affect the blooming of cherry blossoms, such as a snowy winter, which can push the cherry blossom season to April. The Japanese celebrate this time of the year enthusiastically with Japanese cherry blossom viewing parties.
Hanami – Art of Springtime Flower Watching
Hanami is the Japanese tradition of enjoying spring flowers, especially during the cherry blossom festival. This vibrant celebration brings people together in parks to admire the stunning blossoms while savouring seasonal sweets and fruit wines. Older generations may opt for quieter plum and peach blossoms. Friends and family gather under the pink trees to sing, chat, and appreciate the beauty around them.
When is cherry blossom season in Japan?
| City | Expected Flowering Date | Full Bloom Date |
| Tokyo | March 25 | April 1 |
| Kyoto | March 30 | April 7 |
| Osaka | March 30 | April 6 |
| Sapporo | April 28 | May 2 |
The cherry blossom is also popularly known as the Sakura festival. In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms are expected to begin flowering on March 25, with full bloom anticipated by April 1. In Kyoto, the blossoms are forecasted to open on March 30 and reach full bloom by April 7. Similarly, Osaka is also looking at March 30 for its initial flowering, with full bloom expected by April 6. Moving further north, Sapporo will be the last to see the cherry blossoms, with the anticipated flowering date on April 28 and full bloom by May 2.
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Significance of Cherry Blossoms
Image Credit: Qnaveedm for Wikimedia Commons
Viewing Sakura or Cherry Blossoms in Japan has been an adored national pastime since the 8th century. Cherry blossoms are not native to Japan. There are many species of cherry now, as opposed to the medieval era, some of which have been cultivated through cross-breeding. They were cultivated as an ornamental flower in the 14th century, and since then, the cherry blossom festival has picked up steam.
In the 19th century, a cherry blossom variant, whose non-scientific name is Somei-yoshino, was introduced to Japan. From the 20th century onward, its cultivation spread across Japan, becoming the most abundant cherry tree species.
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The best places to see the cherry blossoms in Japan
There are countless incredible hanami spots all across Japan for the ultimate Sakura fever, and everybody has their own personal favourite. We’ve tried to put together a few of our top choices for the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan.
- Shinjuku Gyoen: If you’re in Tokyo, you can wander off to Shinjuku Gyoen. This park is a brief walk from Shinjuku Station. In the cherry blossom season, more than 1,000 flowering trees come alive.
- Yoyogi: Another park in the vicinity, Yoyogi, has fewer cherry blossom trees than other parks in Tokyo, but its expansive lawns and forests make it a favourite haunt among young couples.
- Nakaragi no Michi Path: In Kyoto, stroll the famous Nakaragi no Michi path, where you can walk by the side of the lake shaded by pink and white flowers. The path lies on the way to the Kyoto Botanical Garden. You can alternatively book a boat ride on the magnificent Lake Biwa Canal.
- Maruyama Park: Are you eager to see a weeping cherry tree? You can stop by Maruyama Park, which is next to Yasaka Shrine. Maruyama gets lit up in the evenings during cherry blossoms in Japan.
Conclusion
If you’re planning a trip around cherry blossom in Japan, make sure you stop by supermarkets and bring seasonal products to your family picnic, such as tightly packed rice balls that are dyed pink, red bean treats and sweet, sticky rice cakes dyed pink and wrapped in a pickled cherry leaf, to name a few. Sounds appetizing, right? Plan your trip to Japan and witness the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
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