Japan Cherry Blossom Season: Regional Dates and Forecasts

JGO! editorial team — WEBMARKS Inc. (Fujisawa, Kanagawa)

Japan's cherry blossom season is not one date. It moves across the country from January to May. In 2026, the first blossoms opened in Okinawa in January. Tokyo and Kyoto bloomed in March. Hokkaido bloomed from mid-April to early May ⓘ Japan Meteorological Agency. To plan well, pick a region, check the latest forecast, and keep a few flexible days.

1How Japan's cherry blossom season moves across the country

Cherry blossoms do not open everywhere at once. Warm places bloom first. Cold places bloom later. JNTO says you can see blossoms early in spring in Kyushu and Shikoku. You can still see them late in spring in the mountains, Tohoku and Hokkaido ⓘ JNTO.

In 2026, the first official bloom was on Miyakojima, a small island in Okinawa, on 9 January. The tree there is called hikanzakura, an early, deep-pink cherry. In the far north, Kushiro in Hokkaido bloomed on 3 May. That tree is ezoyamazakura, a wild mountain cherry ⓘ Japan Meteorological Agency.

Most big cities track somei yoshino. This is the pale pink cherry you see in most photos. It is the tree most forecasts talk about.

Japan Guide's video "When to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan" explains the timing of the season.

22026 bloom dates by city (comparison table)

Here are the real 2026 bloom dates from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The "average" date is based on 1991–2020 records (Morioka Local Meteorological Office). Use this table to see the general pattern. Next year's dates will be different.

Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency; Morioka data from Morioka Local Meteorological Office.

Notice something surprising. Fukuoka and Kagoshima are in the warm south. But in 2026 they bloomed after Tokyo and Nagoya. "South first" is a general rule, not an exact one.

3What "bloom" and "full bloom" really mean

The JMA watches special "sample trees". These are chosen by local weather offices (Morioka Local Meteorological Office).

The JMA calls it "bloom" (kaika) when five or six flowers are open on the sample tree. It calls it "full bloom" (mankai) when about 80% or more of the flowers are open (Morioka Local Meteorological Office). So "bloom day" is only the start. The trees look best around full bloom.

How long is the gap? In Kochi, the average is about eight days. But in 2026, Kochi bloomed on 16 March and reached full bloom on 31 March, 15 days later ⓘ Japan Weather Association. In Morioka, the gap was five days: bloom on 7 April, full bloom on 12 April (Morioka Local Meteorological Office).

The REAL JAPAN by YamaTrips video "The Problem With Japan's Cherry Blossom Forecast Maps" talks about the limits of these forecast maps.

4How to read cherry blossom forecasts

The JMA stopped making cherry blossom forecasts in 2009. The Morioka office now points people to forecasts from private weather companies (Morioka Local Meteorological Office). JNTO's forecast page uses the Japan Weather Association as its source. It also says forecasts can change with the weather ⓘ JNTO.

Forecasts and real dates often do not match. On 1 April 2026, the Japan Weather Association forecast Sapporo for 22 April ⓘ Japan Weather Association. The real bloom came on 18 April ⓘ Japan Meteorological Agency. JNTO's table listed 19 April, as an estimated date ⓘ JNTO.

For real dates, look at the JMA's national bloom table. It updates from December to June, three times a day: around 8:30, 11:30 and 17:30 ⓘ Japan Meteorological Agency.

The Tokyo Cheapo video "When to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan" gives travelers an overview of timing.

5How to plan your cherry blossom trip, step by step

1. Choose your region first. Use the table above to see when each area usually blooms.
2. Look at average dates, then recent years. Averages are a guide. In 2026, Sapporo bloomed 13 days early ⓘ Japan Meteorological Agency.
3. Plan a "bloom window", not a single day. Bloom to full bloom took five to 15 days in 2026 ⓘ Morioka Local Meteorological Office; Japan Weather Association.
4. Choose a route that can move. If the south is finished, go north. If the north is not ready, go south.
5. Book hotels with flexible dates if you can. Rules depend on the hotel, so check each booking.
6. Check the forecast often. Start when private forecasts are published. Check again a week before, and daily during your trip.
7. Check real bloom reports. Use the JMA table and local official sites once you are in Japan.

The Lovers Passport video "Ultimate Guide to Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Japan" shares tips for following the bloom across the country.

6Early and late blossoms: Kawazu, Unnan and Hirosaki

Kawazu (Shizuoka) – the early one. Kawazu cherry trees usually bloom from early February until about early March ⓘ Kawazu Town Tourism Association. Buds can start to open in late January, and the flowers are pale pink (Kawazu Town). The town says this tree is a natural cross between hikanzakura and an early Oshima cherry (Kawazu Town). There are about 850 trees along the Kawazu River and about 8,000 in the whole town ⓘ Kawazu Town Tourism Association. The tourism association lists a bloom information phone service from January to March.

VIRTUAL JAPAN's video "4K HDR Japan Cherry Blossoms - Kawazu Sakura" shows the Kawazu cherry trees.

Unnan (Shimane) – the long one. In Unnan City, different types of cherry bloom from late February to late April ⓘ JNTO. Kawazu cherries along the Akagawa River are best in mid-March. A cherry called gyoiko blooms about two weeks after somei yoshino ⓘ JNTO.

Hirosaki (Aomori) – the northern classic. Hirosaki Park has about 2,600 trees of 52 types ⓘ Hirosaki City. In March 2026, the city forecast bloom on 13 April and full bloom on 18 April. Then the season came early. The festival was planned for 17 April to 5 May, but actually started on 10 April ⓘ Hirosaki City. Somei yoshino in the park reached full bloom on 17 April. Double pink weeping cherries reached full bloom from 21 April ⓘ Hirosaki City.

7Hanami manners and park rules

Hanami means "flower viewing". People often have a picnic under the trees with friends. Each park has its own rules, so check before you go.

For example, Shinjuku Gyoen, a national garden in Tokyo, has clear rules ⓘ Ministry of the Environment: - You cannot bring alcohol. - You cannot pick, damage or climb plants and trees. - You cannot use fire, including portable stoves.

Opening hours and entry fees for parks vary. Check the official site of each park.

Abroad in Japan's video "Experiencing Japan's Biggest Annual Event" shows how big hanami is for people in Japan.

8Mistakes first-timers make

• Planning around one exact date -> Plan a window of several days, and keep a backup city.
• Trusting one forecast from months ago -> Forecasts change with the weather ⓘ JNTO. Check again just before and during your trip.
• Thinking "bloom day" means "best day" -> Bloom means only five or six flowers are open. Full bloom (80%+) comes later (Morioka Local Meteorological Office).
• Assuming the south is always earlier -> In 2026, Fukuoka bloomed after Tokyo ⓘ Japan Meteorological Agency. Look at each city's dates.
• Bringing drinks or a stove to every park -> Rules differ. Shinjuku Gyoen bans alcohol and fire ⓘ Ministry of the Environment.

9FAQ

When is cherry blossom season in Japan? From January in Okinawa to May in eastern Hokkaido. Most big cities on Honshu bloomed from mid-March to mid-April in 2026 ⓘ Japan Meteorological Agency.

When do cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo and Kyoto? In 2026, Tokyo bloomed on 19 March and Kyoto on 23 March. Their averages are 24 and 26 March ⓘ Japan Meteorological Agency.

Is there a 2027 forecast yet? Not on JNTO's page as of 3 November 2026 ⓘ JNTO. Check the official page again closer to spring.

How long from bloom to full bloom? It varies. It was 5 days in Morioka and 15 days in Kochi in 2026 ⓘ Morioka Local Meteorological Office; Japan Weather Association.

I am visiting in February. Can I see cherry blossoms? Yes, in some places. Kawazu cherries usually bloom from early February to early March ⓘ Kawazu Town Tourism Association.

I am visiting in late April or May. Is it too late? Not in the north. In 2026, Sapporo bloomed on 18 April and Kushiro on 3 May ⓘ Japan Meteorological Agency.

10Related guides

• Best time to visit Japan
• Hokkaido travel guide
• Kyoto travel guide
• Tokyo travel guide
• Japan Rail Pass: is it worth it?
• Japan autumn leaves

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