When and where to see cherry-blossom in Japan

Where are the best spots?

Wherever you are in Japan during spring there will be blossom, so you won’t miss out! However, the debate about the best places in Japan to see the spectacle rages on, and an official list identifies prime spots in each prefecture. We’ve broken it down and selected a few favourites.

Early bird – The earliest flowers bloom in early February on the subtropical Okinawa archipelago, about 400 miles south of mainland Japan. Take a romantic walk through a tunnel of cherry trees at Nakijin Castle, lit-up at night by lanterns that mark out the path.

Last ‘sakura snow’ – Late spring visitors can join the celebrations on Hokkaido where the last blossom doesn’t fall, or ‘snow’, until May. Stay in Sapporo and enjoy the region’s famous seafood with a picnic in Maruyama Park under the cherry-tree avenue leading to Hokkaido Shrine.

Biggest – The famous Issingyo ‘Big Cherry’ in Kumamoto Prefecture is over 400 years old and stands an impressive 14 metres tall. This grand specimen transforms into a giant candyfloss-like cloud of pink from the end of March to mid-April, contrasting against the bright-yellow oil-seed below for stunning Instagram-worthy snaps.

Worth the hike – From Osaka or Kyoto, you can easily take a day trip to Mount Yoshino where hundreds of different cherry trees spill, waterfall-like, down the mountainside. Enjoy locally-made cherry mochi en route, and stay at the Hoshinoya, Kyoto where you can enjoy the stunning blossom displays in secluded riverside surroundings after an energetic day’s hiking.

Romantic – Treat yourself to a stay at a relaxing ryokan-style hotel in Hakone at the chic Gora Kadan or Aura Tachibana, which both have stunning views over the forested landscape. Explore the many bloom-filled parks, and get that iconic view of Mount Fuji through the blossom from the Five Lakes region.

Timewarp – See the spring countryside in old-school style at the Oigawa Railway in Shizuoka Prefecture. Take a mainline train from Tokyo, grab a seasonal bento from the local station and hop aboard to soak up the charm of seeing the cherry blossom from a steam train.

Big city – Tokyo really turns hanami up to 11! Enjoy the Nakameguro Cherry Blossom Illuminations along the riverside as the bubbles of the sakura-pink sparkling wine go to your head. If you don’t mind the crowds, head for Uena Park and soak up the festive atmosphere, or find a bit more peace and quiet at Asukayama Park which boasts a family-friendly monorail and play area among the blossom trees.

These recommendations are just the tip of the iceberg, as there are so many other beautiful places to see the blossom: Kanazawa castle, Takayama Spring Festival, Shikoku… too many to list! Ask our Destination Specialists for their personal favourites.

Caught the blossom bug?

Cherry-blossom season may be relatively short, but if it has fired your imagination for more there are further celebrations of nature in Japan throughout the year.

Umemi – Before the cherry blossoms arrive, the plum, or ume, trees bloom with delicate white blossom which can be seen from early February. Umemi festivals are generally quieter affairs than their rowdy cherry sisters, where you can drink umeshu (plum wine) and snack on pickled plums as you wish each other good fortune for the year ahead.

Oshima Camellia festival – This two-month long festival celebrates the blossom of tsubaki (Camellia). It takes place between January and March each year on Izu Oshima, the ‘Isle of Camellias’, a small island 2-hours from Tokyo by boat. The camellia blooms are stunning and there’s local folk art and music to get involved with too.

Peach Blossom Festivals – In Yamanashi Prefecture, the peach blossom gets almost as much attention as the cherry, and rightly so. There are three main festivals during April which celebrate these vivid pink flowers, but the most picture-perfect has to be in Nirasaki City with Mt. Yatsugatake in the background.

Mt Katsuragi Azalea Festival – Bigger and bolder than the delicate cherry blossom, the azaleas that bloom on Mt Katsuragi cover the mountainside in a blanket of deep, velvety pink during May. Hike up to the summit, breathe deep and enjoy the view.

Sapporo Lilac Festival – For northern Hokkaido, where the cold weather lasts the longest, the lilac festival marks the much-awaited return of summer. Celebrated in late May, this joyful festival is a chance to picnic in the sunshine enjoying the intoxicating scent of the lilacs.

Momijigari – When the seasons begin to turn towards winter again, the autumnal custom of momijigari, or ‘leaf peeping’ bookends the year’s celebration of trees. The maple trees put on a stunning display throughout the Japanese countryside, in every shade from deepest crimson to palest gold with flame and scarlet in between.