Spring has officially begun, despite a rare snowfall in Tokyo in late January, as the Meteorological Society declared the start of cherry blossom season on Saturday, March 17.
The bloom started on March 17 this year, five days earlier than in 2017. A full bloom in the Tokyo area is expected on March 25. Just a brief trek outside the city, Shizuoka’s first bloom happened over the weekend, while a full bloom is anticipated on March 28.
Several cities in southern Japan have also seen trees fully bloom, while northern prefectures might have to wait until May.
JAPAN Forward has created its own list of suggested sakura viewing sites, where both visitors and locals can partake in the viewing, commonly known as o-hanami, of this iconic symbol of spring.
We are updating the 2018 Cherry Blossom Viewing Guide page as new forecasts are made throughout the cherry blossom season, so please check back when planning your travels.
