Cherry Blossom in Japan
2019 forecast and everything you need for sakura seaosn

Cherry Blossom in Japan

2019 Hanami Forecast

Cherry Blossom
Forecast 2019

Japan's cherry blossom forecast is out for 2019, with the main sakura bloom expected to start a little earlier this year compared to average.

The cherry blossom bloom arrives in Tokyo by March 22nd and Kyoto by March 24th, with full bloom expected in the following weeks.

Plan the perfect trip around these sakura dates and experience the arrival of spring in spectacular style!

Forecast

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Current state Opening Best timing
Tokyo Finished March 22 March 29 to April 6
Kyoto Finished March 24 March 31 to April 8
Osaka Finished March 26 March 31 to April 8
Nagoya Finished March 23 March 30 to April 7
Fukuoka Finished March 19 March 27 to April 4

Cherry blossom by region

Discover the top cherry blossom spots in Japan, from Hokkaido in the north, to Okinawa in the south. Learn more with our regional cherry blossom guides or take a closer look at the 2019 forecast for each area.

Cherry Blossom in Kanto

Japan's Kanto region is home to Tokyo prefecture, with Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen and Nakameguro famed for their cherry blossom blooms in the Spring, but further afield Kamakura, Hakone and parts of Saitama, Chiba and Ibaraki are worth exploring.

Cherry blossom spots in Kanto

Forecast

Area Current state Opening Best timing
Tokyo Finished March 23 March 30 to April 7
Yokohama Finished March 24 April 1 to 8

Cherry Blossom in Kansai

Enjoy the best cherry blossom spots in Kansai, with Kyoto looking extra stunning during this time of year, such as the Arashiyama area and its yozakura tradition of evening light-ups and hanami events amid the pink foliage. Nara's Mount Yoshino and Osaka's castle area also promise beautiful cherry blossom foliage to admire.

Cherry blossom spots in Kansai

Forecast

Area Current state Opening Best timing
Kobe Finished March 27 April 5 to 12
Kyoto Finished March 24 March 31 to April 8
Osaka Finished March 26 March 31 to April 8
Nara Finished March 25 March 31 to April 8

Cherry Blossom in Tohoku

Enjoy the best cherry blossom sights in Tohoku, which sees a later bloom than most of Japan. The castle moat in Aomori's Hirosaki is one highlight, with Fukushima's Hanamiyama, Iwate's Takamatsu Park, and Miyagi's picturesque Hitome Senbon Zakura also worth stopping by.

Cherry blossom spots in Tohoku

Forecast

Area Current state Opening Best timing
Aomori Finished April 23 April 27 to May 4
Kakunodate Finished April 17 April 22 to 29
Fukushima Finished April 7 April 10 to 18
Miyagi Finished April 9 April 14 to 22

Cherry Blossom in Chubu

Enjoy the best cherry blossom sights in Chubu, from Ishikawa's Kenroku-en Garden to the Fuji Reien Cemetery in Shizuoka.

Cherry blossom spots in Chubu

Forecast

Area Current state Opening Best timing
Nagoya Finished March 23 March 30 to April 7
Nagano Finished April 8 April 13 to 20
Niigata Finished April 7 April 12 to 19
Shizuoka Finished March 24 April 2 to 9
Yamanashi Finished March 24 April 2 to 9

Cherry Blossom in Hokkaido

Hokkaido's cherry blossom blooms later than the rest of Japan, but promises highlights such Goryokaku's surrounding park enveloped in pink blossom (admire from the Goryokaku Tower), or Sapporo's many parks, such as Moerenuma Park, Maruyama Park and Makomanai Park, as well as spots around Asahikawa (Asahikawa Park), Furano and Otaru.

Cherry blossom spots in Hokkaido

Forecast

Area Current state Opening Best timing
Hakodate Finished April 29 May 2 to 9
Obihiro Finished May 1 May 4 to 11
Sapporo Finished April 30 May 4 to 11

Cherry Blossom in Chugoku

Popular hanami hotspots here include the Kintaikyo in Yamaguchi's Iwakuni, Okayama's Korakuen Garden and Tsuyama Castle, Hiroshima's Senkoji Park and Tottori's castle park.

Cherry blossom spots in Chugoku

Forecast

Area Current state Opening Best timing
Hiroshima Finished March 24 March 30 to April 7
Matsue Finished March 27 April 3 to 10
Okayama Finished March 26 April 1 to April 9
Shimonoseki Finished March 25 April 3 to 10

Cherry Blossom in Shikoku

Shikoku enjoys some spectacular cherry blossom spots, as the bloom arrives in late March. As well as the view of sakura against the Seto Inland Sea from atop Shiudeyama, Ehime's Matsuyama Park and Kochi's Hyotan Zakura—a 500 year old tree—are considered cherry blossom highlights.

Cherry blossom spots in Shikoku

Forecast

Area Current state Opening Best timing
Kochi Finished March 19 April 3 to 10
Matsuyama Finished March 23 March 30 to April 7
Takamatsu Finished March 26 April 3 to 10

Cherry Blossom in Kyushu

The southern island of Kyushu is full of natural beauty, with many stunning cherry blossom spots to be discovered, from Kumamoto's Suizenji Garden to Maizuru Park at Fukuoka's castle ruins.

Cherry blossom spots in Kyushu

Forecast

Area Current state Opening Best timing
Fukuoka Finished March 19 March 27 to April 4
Kagoshima Finished March 26 April 4 to 11
Kumamoto Finished March 21 March 31 to April 6
Miyazaki Finished March 23 April 1 to 7
Nagasaki Finished March 23 April 1 to 7

Cherry Blossom in Okinawa

Okinawa seems some of the earliest cherry blossom in Japan, thanks to its location to the far south. The bloom typically starts in mid-January and finishes by the end of January or early February. Cherry blossom festivals can be seen at various hotspots, such as Naha, Nago, Yaese, Nakijin castle ruins and Motobe Yaedake.

Cherry blossom spots in Okinawa

Forecast

Area Current state Opening Best timing
Miyakojima Finished Jan 7 Not provided
Naha Finished Jan 10 Not provided

What is Hanami?

Hanami—literally "flower viewing"—is the Japanese tradition of visiting and admiring the cherry/plum blossom each Spring.

Cue a rush to find the best seating position underneath the cherry trees, as half of Japan heads to the parks to go drinking under the trees! From midday family picnics to evening parties under sakura illuminations, expect Japan to be a little busier during this period.

Find out more about hanami with our guide.

How to hanami

Weather around Tokyo

  • Mar 5° - 12°
  • Apr 10° - 17°
  • May 14° - 21°
Spring weather in Japan

Top 20 Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan

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