The Kigo 季語 Cherry blossom · 桜 · Watch the front move north

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     EN 日本語

    Cherry blossom 桜

    Typical season

    MAR – MAY

    さまざまの事おもひ出す桜かな

    Kigo · 桜 · sakura · spring

    So many things they bring back to mind — cherry blossoms.

    Matsuo Bashō · 17th century

    Where and when

    Created by Geolonia (https://geolonia.com/). Okinawa16 JAN – 11 FEBShikoku22 MAR – 11 APRKyushu22 MAR – 12 APRKanto24 MAR – 07 APRTokai24 MAR – 09 APRChugoku25 MAR – 10 APRKansai26 MAR – 11 APRHokuriku &Koshinetsu03–23 APRTohoku08 APR – 03 MAYHokkaido01–13 MAY
    Earlier to later
    1. Okinawa16 JAN – 11 FEBNaha
    2. Shikoku22 MAR – 11 APRTakamatsu · Kochi
    3. Kyushu22 MAR – 12 APRFukuoka · Kagoshima
    4. Kanto24 MAR – 07 APRTokyo
    5. Tokai24 MAR – 09 APRNagoya
    6. Chugoku25 MAR – 10 APRHiroshima
    7. Kansai26 MAR – 11 APROsaka · Kyoto
    8. Hokuriku & Koshinetsu03–23 APRNiigata · Nagano · Kanazawa
    9. Tohoku08 APR – 03 MAYAomori · Sendai
    10. Hokkaido01–13 MAYSapporo

    From average first bloom to a week after average full bloom · averages 1991–2020, Japan Meteorological Agency · a given year runs up to ten days either way

    How to time it

    The date of cherry blossom depends on the species and the place. The Japan Meteorological Agency watches one sample tree in each city: it records first flowering when 5–6 flowers have opened and full bloom when about 80% of the buds are open. Those dates describe that tree, not every tree in a park.

    How long it lastsFrom first flowering to full bloom takes about a week in most cities: on average over 2017–2026 it was 7.7 days in Tokyo and in Kyoto, 8.6 in Fukuoka and 4.4 in Sapporo.

    If you are earlyLook for early varieties before changing region: Shinjuku Gyoen lists Kawazu-zakura in February, a month ahead of Somei-yoshino. Naha's normal first flowering is 16 January, but that is a different species of cherry in a different climate.

    If you are lateDouble-flowered cherries such as Ichiyo flower in April at Shinjuku Gyoen, and Ninna-ji in Kyoto is known for its late Omuro cherries. Further north, Kushiro's normal full bloom is 19 May.

    Sources · checked 21 Sep 2026
    1. JMA thresholds for first flowering and full bloom
    2. Full bloom by year and normals (table 005), first flowering (table 004); 2026 values from the current tables; intervals are our calculation
    3. Current first-flowering and full-bloom tables, with normals for Naha and Kushiro
    4. Dates of the forecaster's first releases
    5. Shinjuku Gyoen flower calendar
    6. Shinjuku Gyoen hours and spring opening
    7. Shinjuku Gyoen rules
    8. Omuro cherries at Ninna-ji
    1. MAR

      24 MAR – 08 APR

      千鳥ヶ淵

      Cherries leaning over the Imperial Palace moat, seen from a rowing boat

      Tokyo Google Maps

      Cherry blossom on the branches above the Chidorigafuchi promenade at the end of MarchRowing boats under the cherry blossom on the Chidorigafuchi moat at the end of March

      Photos · Guilhem Vellut · CC BY 2.0

      24 MAR – 08 APR · Nature · Cherry blossom

      Cherry blossom — Chidorigafuchi 千鳥ヶ淵

      Tokyo

      Cherry blossom on the branches above the Chidorigafuchi promenade at the end of March
      Rowing boats under the cherry blossom on the Chidorigafuchi moat at the end of March

      A 700-metre promenade along the moat of the Imperial Palace, lined with about 140 cherry trees that lean out over the water. Rowing boats go out from the pier at the northern end, so the blossom is seen from below as much as from the path. Tokyo’s normal first flowering is 24 March, full bloom 31 March.

      Dates
      24 MAR – 08 APR
      Where
      TokyoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. The path is made one-way at the peak and the boat queue runs to hours at weekends: come on a weekday before 10:00, or walk it after dark in the festival weeks, when the trees are lit.
      Access
      10 min on foot from Kudanshita Stn, exit 2; Hanzomon Stn is 5 min from the southern end of the promenade.
      Source
      Official siteCherry blossom page · checked 2026-09-24
      Photos
      2 photos · credits
      1. Guilhem Vellut · CC BY 2.0
      2. Guilhem Vellut · CC BY 2.0

    2. 24 MAR – 06 APR

      舞鶴公園

      1,000 cherries on the ramparts of Fukuoka Castle, lit after dark

      Fukuoka Google Maps

      Cherry trees in full bloom along the stone ramparts of Fukuoka Castle, with picnic sheets laid out under themCherry trees in bloom above the castle moat at dusk

      Photos · STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0

      24 MAR – 06 APR · Nature · Cherry blossom

      Cherry blossom — Maizuru Park, Fukuoka Castle 舞鶴公園

      Fukuoka

      Cherry trees in full bloom along the stone ramparts of Fukuoka Castle, with picnic sheets laid out under them
      Cherry trees in bloom above the castle moat at dusk
      A large cherry tree in full bloom against a blue sky in Maizuru Park, with people sitting under it

      About 1,000 cherry trees on the stone ramparts of Fukuoka Castle, the seat the Kuroda built from 1601, in the middle of the city. During the Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival the walls and the trees are lit after dark, historic buildings are opened and food stalls fill the old baileys. Fukuoka is one of the first big cities in Japan to flower: on average the blossom opens on 22 March and is full on the 31st.

      Dates
      24 MAR – 06 APR
      Where
      FukuokaGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. The park itself is free and always open. In 2026 the festival ran 25 March – 8 April, 11:00–22:00; the three lit enclosures, open 18:00–22:00 with last entry at 21:45, cost ¥600 each or ¥1,500 for all three, free for high school students and younger. Leaving a ground sheet unattended to hold a spot is banned.
      Access
      Subway Kuko Line to Ohorikoen or Akasaka, then under 10 min on foot.
      Source
      Official siteCherry blossom page · checked 2026-09-20
      Photos
      3 photos · credits
      1. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0
      2. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0
      3. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0

    3. 24 MAR – 20 APR

      新宿御苑

      900 cherries of 70 varieties on the lawns of a former imperial garden, late March into mid-April

      Tokyo Google Maps

      Deep-pink double cherry blossom close up at Shinjuku Gyoen at the end of MarchCherry trees around the great lawn of Shinjuku Gyoen in April, with the Docomo tower behind

      Photos · Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0 · Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0

      24 MAR – 20 APR · Nature · Cherry blossom

      Cherry blossom — Shinjuku Gyoen 新宿御苑

      Tokyo

      Deep-pink double cherry blossom close up at Shinjuku Gyoen at the end of March
      Cherry trees around the great lawn of Shinjuku Gyoen in April, with the Docomo tower behind

      A former imperial garden of 58 hectares in the middle of Shinjuku, with about 900 cherry trees of some 70 varieties, so the season runs long: early kanzakura from February, Somei-yoshino from late March, then the double-flowered yaezakura into mid-April on the wide lawns of the English garden. Tokyo’s normal first flowering is 24 March, full bloom 31 March.

      Dates
      24 MAR – 20 APR
      Where
      TokyoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. No alcohol and no bicycles inside, and the gates may switch to advance booking at weekends in the cherry weeks. Go on a weekday at the 9:00 opening; the yaezakura of mid-April draw half the crowd of the Somei-yoshino.
      Access
      Shinjuku Gate is 5 min from Shinjuku-gyoemmae Stn on the Marunouchi line and 10 min from JR Shinjuku Stn; Sendagaya Gate is 5 min from JR Sendagaya Stn.
      Source
      Official siteCherry blossom page · checked 2026-09-24
      Photos
      2 photos · credits
      1. Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0
      2. Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0

    4. 27 MAR – 07 APR

      秋月

      A Kuroda castle town: a cherry tunnel in spring, maples at the black gate in autumn

      Fukuoka Google Maps

      The cherry avenue of Sugi-no-baba in Akizuki closing over the road in early AprilCherry trees meeting over Sugi-no-baba street in Akizuki, with a car passing under them

      Photos · STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0

      27 MAR – 07 APR · Nature · Cherry blossom

      Cherry blossom — Akizuki castle town 秋月

      Fukuoka

      The cherry avenue of Sugi-no-baba in Akizuki closing over the road in early April
      Cherry trees meeting over Sugi-no-baba street in Akizuki, with a car passing under them
      Maples in autumn colour over the Notori river in Akizuki, beside an old house
      The Nagayamon gate of Akizuki Castle on its stone steps in late November

      A small castle town in a side valley of Asakura, once the seat of a branch of the Kuroda. Sugi-no-baba, the 500-metre avenue to the castle, was a cedar-lined riding ground until it was replanted with cherries to mark the victory over Russia: about 200 Somei Yoshino now close over it as a tunnel. In late November about 20 maples redden around Kuromon, the black gate that was the main entrance of the castle.

      Dates
      27 MAR – 07 APR
      Where
      FukuokaGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. The avenue is not closed to traffic, so watch for cars under the trees, and on blossom weekends the road in jams: come early or by bus. The spring festival is usually on the first Sunday of April. Nothing is lit in autumn, so come in daylight. Akizuki car park, ¥400.
      Access
      From JR Kiyama on the Kagoshima Main Line, the Amagi Railway to its terminus, Amagi, then the Amagi Kanko bus, Akizuki line, about 20 min. By car about 20 min from Amagi IC on the Oita Expressway.
      Heritage
      Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings · 1998 朝倉市秋月 重要伝統的建造物群保存地区
      Source
      Official siteCherry blossom page · checked 2026-09-20
      Photos
      4 photos · credits
      1. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0
      2. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0
      3. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0
      4. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0

    5. 27 MAR – 10 APR

      大阪城公園

      Two windows inside one moat: 1,245 plums, then 300 cherries under the keep

      Osaka Google Maps

      The keep of Osaka Castle above the stone walls of the moat, with cherry trees in bloomLit cherry trees at night in the Nishinomaru garden, below the illuminated keep of Osaka Castle

      Photos · Midori · Public domain · Reginald Pentinio · CC BY 2.0

      27 MAR – 10 APR · Nature · Cherry blossom

      Cherry blossom — Osaka Castle Park 大阪城公園

      Osaka

      The keep of Osaka Castle above the stone walls of the moat, with cherry trees in bloom
      Lit cherry trees at night in the Nishinomaru garden, below the illuminated keep of Osaka Castle
      Red plum blossom in the Osaka Castle plum grove, with the castle keep behind
      The plum grove of Osaka Castle Park seen from above, with the towers of Osaka Business Park behind

      Two windows inside one moat. The plum grove east of the inner moat has about 1,245 trees of 105 varieties, from wintersweet in January to the late Bungo plums in March, free and always open. Then Nishinomaru Garden, the lawn west of the keep, flowers with about 300 cherry trees under the castle tower, and stays open after dark in the blossom weeks. Normal first flowering in Osaka is 13 February for plum and 27 March for cherry, with full bloom on 4 April.

      Dates
      27 MAR – 10 APR
      Where
      OsakaGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. The plum grove is at its best from mid-February to early March. In the cherry weeks of 2026 Nishinomaru charged ¥350 and stayed open until 21:00, lit from 18:00: go at opening time for the lawn without the crowd.
      Access
      Osakajokoen Stn on the JR Loop Line or Tanimachi 4-chome on the metro, each 10 min on foot to Nishinomaru Garden; the plum grove is on the far, eastern side of the keep.
      Heritage
      Special Historic Site · 1953 大坂城跡 特別史跡
      Source
      Official siteCherry blossom page · checked 2026-09-19
      Photos
      4 photos · credits
      1. Midori · Public domain
      2. Reginald Pentinio · CC BY 2.0
      3. Mc681 · CC BY-SA 4.0
      4. Mc681 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    6. APR

      05–20 APR

      高遠城址公園

      1,500 pink Takato-kohigan cherries that grow nowhere else

      Nagano Google Maps

      Takato Castle Park in full cherry blossom, seen from the Hakusan Kannon hillThe wooden bridge at Takato Castle Park under the cherry trees

      Photos · MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0

      05–20 APR · Nature · Cherry blossom

      Cherry blossom — Takato Castle Park 高遠城址公園

      Nagano

      Takato Castle Park in full cherry blossom, seen from the Hakusan Kannon hill
      The wooden bridge at Takato Castle Park under the cherry trees
      A wooden bridge over the dry moat at Takato Castle Park, framed by red maples
      Red maples covering a slope of Takato Castle Park, with the valley and distant mountains beyond

      1,500 Takato-kohigan cherry trees — a variety that grows only here, with smaller and markedly pinker flowers than the usual Somei-yoshino. The park sits on the ruins of the castle of the Takato clan, vassals of the Takeda.

      Dates
      05–20 APR
      Where
      NaganoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Opens at 06:00 specifically because of the crowds. After 10:00 there are queues for both the entrance and the car park. Admission is charged only in season.
      Access
      JR Ina-shi Stn, then 25 min by bus. Direct buses run from Shinjuku during the blossom season.
      Heritage
      Historic Site · Takato Castle ruins, 1973 高遠城跡 史跡
      Source
      Official siteCherry blossom page · checked 2026-09-22
      Photos
      4 photos · credits
      1. MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
      2. 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0
      3. Ina City Tourism Association · ⓒ伊那市観光協会
      4. Ina City Tourism Association · ⓒ伊那市観光協会

    7. 08–20 APR

      仁和寺

      Kyoto’s last cherry blossom, at eye level under the pagoda

      Kyoto Google Maps

      The five-storey pagoda of Ninna-ji rising above the Omuro cherries in full bloomWhite cherry blossom at Ninna-ji in mid-April, when the late Omuro cherries flower

      Photos · Bergmann · CC BY 3.0 · KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0

      08–20 APR · Nature · Cherry blossom

      Cherry blossom — Ninna-ji 仁和寺

      Kyoto

      The five-storey pagoda of Ninna-ji rising above the Omuro cherries in full bloom
      White cherry blossom at Ninna-ji in mid-April, when the late Omuro cherries flower

      The last cherry blossom in the city. The Omuro cherries, about 200 trees, most of a variety called Omuro-ariake, grow only about two metres tall, so the blossom hangs at eye level with the five-storey pagoda behind it. They reach full bloom in mid-April, after the rest of Kyoto has finished.

      Dates
      08–20 APR
      Where
      KyotoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. During the Omuro flower festival, 27 March – 6 May in 2026, the grounds charge ¥800; high school students and younger are free. Mid-April weekends queue at the gate from opening.
      Access
      Randen tram to Omuro-Ninnaji, 3 min on foot; or city bus 26 from Kyoto Stn, about 40 min.
      Heritage
      World Heritage · Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, 1994 古都京都の文化財 世界遺産National Treasure · Kondo hall 仁和寺金堂 国宝
      Source
      Official siteCherry blossom page · checked 2026-09-20
      Photos
      2 photos · credits
      1. Bergmann · CC BY 3.0
      2. KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0

    8. 09–15 APR

      造幣局 桜の通り抜け

      One week a year: 331 late cherries of 140 varieties on the Mint’s river path

      Osaka Google Maps

      Visitors under pink double cherries and paper lanterns in the Japan Mint cherry passageA pale, green-tinged cherry variety with its name board, one of the many kinds along the Japan Mint passage

      Photos · Mc681 · CC BY-SA 4.0

      09–15 APR · Nature · Cherry blossom

      Cherry blossom — Japan Mint cherry passage 造幣局 桜の通り抜け

      Osaka

      Visitors under pink double cherries and paper lanterns in the Japan Mint cherry passage
      A pale, green-tinged cherry variety with its name board, one of the many kinds along the Japan Mint passage

      For one week in April the Japan Mint opens the 560 m riverside path through its grounds: 331 trees of 140 varieties, most of them late double-flowered cherries that bloom after the rest of Osaka has finished. The custom dates from 1883. The week is set each winter; in 2026 it was 9–15 April.

      Dates
      09–15 APR
      Where
      OsakaGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. Free, but entry is by timed online reservation only, first come first served; in 2026 booking opened on 18 March at 9:00. Seven days a year: fix this date first and build the trip around it.
      Access
      Temmabashi Stn on the Keihan and Tanimachi lines, about 15 min on foot to the south gate. The path is one-way, south to north.
      Source
      Official siteCherry blossom page · checked 2026-09-19
      Photos
      2 photos · credits
      1. Mc681 · CC BY-SA 4.0
      2. Mc681 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    9. 28 APR – 08 MAY

      五稜郭公園

      1,600 cherries round the moat of a star fort, five weeks after Tokyo

      Hokkaido Google Maps

      The star fort of Goryokaku ringed with cherry blossom, seen from Goryokaku TowerCherry trees in full bloom in Goryokaku Park, with the tower behind

      Photos · Goryokaku-Tower · CC BY 4.0

      28 APR – 08 MAY · Nature · Cherry blossom

      Cherry blossom — Goryokaku Park 五稜郭公園

      Hokkaido

      The star fort of Goryokaku ringed with cherry blossom, seen from Goryokaku Tower
      Cherry trees in full bloom in Goryokaku Park, with the tower behind

      About 1,600 cherry trees ring the moat of Japan’s first Western-style star fort, finished in 1864 and the last stand of the shogunate’s forces in 1869. From the observation deck of Goryokaku Tower the whole star shows pink. Normal flowering in Hakodate is 28 April and full bloom 2 May: cherry blossom for Golden Week, five weeks after Tokyo.

      Dates
      28 APR – 08 MAY
      Where
      HokkaidoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. Full bloom usually falls inside Golden Week, 29 Apr – 5 May, when all of Hakodate is busy: expect a queue for the tower at midday and go up at 9:00 or near closing.
      Holidays
      Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, Children's Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      Tram to Goryokaku-Koen-mae, then 15 min on foot.
      Heritage
      Special Historic Site · 1922 五稜郭跡 特別史跡
      Source
      Official siteCherry blossom page · checked 2026-09-19
      Photos
      2 photos · credits
      1. Goryokaku-Tower · CC BY 4.0
      2. Goryokaku-Tower · CC BY 4.0

    10. —

      41 prefectures awaiting field notes

      Field research continues across the country. Updates published as verified.

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