Hi all,
As someone who lived in Japan for several years, I thought I’d share my experience with cherry blossoms in Japan, as most people tend to book their trips around that time.
There are hundreds of blossom varieties in Japan, but most people tend to want to see sakura (cherry blossoms). Sakura bloom in full for about a week, however, the last several years have been really wet, which means the sakura haven’t lasted as long and it makes hanami (cherry blossom viewing) much less fun.
Sakura start to bloom from southern Japan upwards, as the weather warms up. Government and news agencies in Japan tend to release forecasts for full bloom (usually only for sakura, as it’s the most popular), however these should only be used as a guide as temperature fluctuations and weather changes can alter the dates.
This can lead to quite a bit of disappointment, especially as cherry blossom season tends to be more expensive, with people booking their trips in advance to secure great deals.
On a personal note, to avoid the disappointment of booking a trip a year in advance, only to arrive and notice the blossoms have been rained out, I would recommend autumn or winter as an alternative. The autumn leave are stunning in Japan, especially the ginkgo trees (I recommend visiting Meiji Jingu Gaien in Tokyo during late October through to November), and the snow in winter is next level.
Hope this helps for those wanting to book their trips to Japan to coincide with the cherry blossoms!
I’ve always dreamed of seeing sakura in full bloom, but I didn’t realize how much the weather can affect it. You suggestion about visiting in autumn or winter is super helpful. Definitely adding Meiji Jingu Gaien to my list for a future trip!