It’s almost impossible to articulate quite how important sakura (cherry blossom) season is in Japanese culture. It signifies so many things: birth, renewal, the end of winter and the arrival of spring, of course — but on a more spiritual level, the beauty of the natural world, the transience of earthly pleasures and the fleeting nature of existence: there’s a reason why cherry blossom features so heavily in Japanese art and literature. And in purely practical terms, it’s just a lovely time to be in Japan. Huge numbers of people head for the nation’s parks and gardens to enjoy the hanami (flower viewing), share a picnic and take pleasure in each others’ company — and perhaps sneak a shot of saké or two.
The tricky thing for overseas visitors looking to join in the fun is that prime cherry blossom season changes every year, and varies from region to region, influenced by climatic conditions and seasonal temperatures. As such, it can be frustratingly hard to pin down exactly where to be when. The sakura show usually extends across a month or so, however, slowly creeping up from the south before blooming in bands across the rest of the country. So if you can be a bit flexible on destinations, you’re pretty much certain to see some somewhere. It’s also worth bearing in mind that popular areas in Kyoto, Tokyo and Nara can be very crowded — dressing up in traditional costume to have your picture taken (especially in front of a famous temple) is a hugely popular pastime with Japanese tourists, so if you want to find your own spot, you might have to do some walking.
Generally, the blossoms are at their best in late March, April and early May — but the best idea is to pay close attention to the latest forecasts from the Japan Meteorological Corporation, which usually starts releasing its sakura forecasts sometime in January, and continues to do so right through the season. It gives dates for both the start of kaika (flowering) and mankai (full bloom).
If you’re planning a trip, here is a guide to some of the best places (and times) for sakura viewing in 2026.
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Expected full-bloom dates for cherry blossom in Japan
The Japan Meteorological Corporation (n-kishou.com) will release its first forecast in January 2026. Until then, we’ve given the peak times for each region in 2025, which are useful as an approximate guide for 2026.
• Tokyo March 30
• Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto prefecture April 3
• Yoshino, Nara prefecture April 4
• Kyoto April 5
• Kenroku-en, Kanazawa prefecture April 6
• Himeji Castle, Hyogo prefecture April 8
• Fuji Five Lakes, Yamanashi prefecture April 16
• Miharu, Fukushima prefecture April 21
• Hirosaki Castle, Aomori prefecture April 22
• Matsumae Park, Hokkaido prefecture May 5
When is cherry blossom season in Japan?
Japan’s first cherry blooms appear in Okinawa as early as January
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Every year is different and there are variations across the country. What’s more, there are multiple varieties of cherry blossom, each coming into flower at a slightly different time and lasting for a different period (most for about two weeks). The earliest blooms tend to appear in tropical Okinawa in January, the last on the northernmost island of Hokkaido in early May. For peak pink in the main tourist spots, the end of March until early April is a good bet.
When do the cherry blossom festivals start? 
Cherry blossom season in Kyoto’s Maruyama Park
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The first festival to coincide with the country’s first blooms — the Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival in Okinawa — is normally held sometime around mid-January to early February. Most festivals take place between March and May. It’s hard to predict exactly when they might fall, but a good method is to find out when they’ve occurred in the past five years and pick an average date from those. Whenever they take place, in addition to picnics and barbecues, you might expect to find live music, food and craft stalls, and tea ceremonies beneath the trees.
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What does hanami involve exactly?
Hanami is a huge social event with families, friends and colleagues — equipped with picnic boxes and blankets — gathering together under the trees to eat, drink and be merry. Popular spots will have stalls set up with snacks and drinks for purchase. In the evening, the act of viewing cherry blossoms is called yozakura, with simple lights and lanterns laced onto the branches so the flowers appear to glow in the dark.
The event gets more raucous as the moon comes up and the saké slips down. Visitors are welcome to join the celebrations. Pack a picnic blanket and swing by a supermarket to pick up a spring-themed bento box (ankake meatballs, Inari sushi, strawberries, red bean mochi) and some limited-edition, hanami-themed goodies, such as pink KitKats and Clear Asahi beer.
Where is the best place to see cherry blossom in Japan?
You’ll have no trouble finding a spot to indulge in the custom of hanami, with sakura found in locations across the country. Here are the best ones to head to.
1. Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa
Cherry blossoms at Kenroku-en Garden
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Considered one of the three great gardens of Japan (alongside Koraku-en in Okayama and Kairaku-en in Mito), Kenroku-en is unsurprisingly a hanami highlight: it contains several species of cherry which not only gives the display a variety of colour and texture, but also helps to extend the season. The views of Hisago-ike Pond and Hanami-bashi (literally the “Flower Viewing Bridge”) are stunning. Rather sweetly, the garden waives its entry fee at certain times during sakura season to make sure everyone gets to see it. The garden can easily be combined with a stroll around Kanazawa Castle Park, too, so you get two sakura spots in one.
Full bloom in 2025 April 6
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Exodus’ 14-day Ancient and Modern Japan offers a mix of cities, temples, shrines and gardens. Unusually it begins in Kyoto and ends in Tokyo; en route you will also visit the old samurai capital of Kanazawa, Kenrokuen Gardens (prime sakura territory) and the lake district of Kawaguchiko. There is currently availability for departures in March and April 2026.
2. Yoshino, Nara prefecture
The cherry blossom trees on Mount Yoshino come into full bloom in early April
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This is probably Japan’s most famous cherry blossom destination. The bloom of more than 30,000 sakura trees carpets the Kii Mountains that surround the town, with the season tending to start in late March. The star of the show is on Mount Yoshino — a huge cherry tree, whose branches bow towards the ground. It’s illuminated from dusk until midnight.
Full bloom in 2025 April 4
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Surrounded by nature on the slopes of Mount Yoshino, Miyoshino Sakuraan is a simple guesthouse near a gondola lift that takes you over the cherry blossoms.
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3. Himeji Castle, Hyogo prefecture
Himeji Castle with cherry blossom in April
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The white walls of the 14th-century (remodelled in the 17th century) Unesco-listed Himeji Castle provide the perfect backdrop for the 1,000 cherry trees that burst into life around it. The first blooms normally appear in late March, and there a lively cherry blossom viewing festival is held in front of the castle with dances, food stalls and tea ceremonies.
Full bloom in 2025 April 8
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A ten-minute walk from the sakura-lined bridge at the famous castle, the centrally located Daiwa Roynet Hotel Himeji is a smart, modern option in the city.
YellowWood Adventures hosts an in-depth, fully-guided 13-day tour of Japan’s key cultural cities, castles and temples, including Nikko, Kamakura, Kyoto, Mount Koyasan and Himeji Castle and Osaka. Their first departure is in early April — perfect sakura time.
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4. Hirosaki Castle, Aomori prefecture
Cherry blossom at the ancient Hirosaki Castle
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One of the prettiest spots for cherry blossom viewing in the country, this ancient three-storey castle is surrounded by a fortified moat and a huge tree-lined park that hosts illuminations in the evenings. Two varieties of cherry trees here mean blossoms can peak at different times. Look to visit from late April. The sakura festival usually runs from April 23 to May 5.
Full bloom in 2025 April 22
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Intrepid’s 12-day Northern Japan and Hokkaido Adventure is a great bet to get off the beaten track. It includes two days in Aomori exploring its annual cherry blossom festival, then continues north for onsen in Noboribetsu, canoeing on Lake Shikotsu, indigenous Ainu culture in Asahikawa and winter sports in Sapporo. Cherry blossom arrives late this far north too, so it can be a great bet for late bookings when other destinations are sold out.
5. Tokyo
There’s no shortage of cherry blossom in Tokyo. One of the most popular (and busy) spots is Ueno Park, home to more than 1,000 cherry trees, as well as museums, shrines and ponds. During the two-week season (from late March), a two-and-a-half-mile stretch is illuminated for a few hours in the evenings.
For a less crowded experience, head to the English garden in Shinjuku Gyoen, which has rolling lawns perfect for picnicking, or partake in some night-time viewing with a stroll along the banks of the Nakameguro canals. Don’t miss the magnificent flowering along the Chidorigafuchi Moat, near the Imperial Palace.
Full bloom in 2025 March 30
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Facing the Imperial Palace, the Palace Hotel Tokyo is a landmark property offering classic five-star service.
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6. Kyoto
Illuminated cherry blossom in Maruyama Park
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The ancient capital of Japan is the epicentre of sakura season, with blossom appearing from the end of March to early April. Try Maruyama Park, where the main event is a tall shidarezakura (“weeping cherry tree”) illuminated at night; the Philosopher’s Path (a canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees), or the tree-lined Kamo River promenade.
Want to beat the crowds? Make for Yamashina, in the southeast of Kyoto, where you’ll find nearly 700 trees lining the canals, and far fewer tourists. In Arashiyama district, a really unique way to see the cherry blossoms is to ride the (seasonal) Sagano scenic railway, which passes through a tunnel of sakura.
Full bloom in 2025 April 5
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Chourakukan is a European-style mansion in the heart of Maruyama Park, with rooms overlooking the surrounding blossoms.
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• Best things to do in Kyoto
7. Matsumae Park, Hokkaido prefecture
Matsumae Park has more than 250 types of cherry blossoms
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Matsumae Park is home to Japan’s northernmost castle and is a lovely spot for the sakura season. Its 10,000 trees include 250 varieties of cherry blossoms, which stretch long into the season from about late April. It’s especially magical at dusk when the castle is illuminated.
Full bloom in 2025 May 5
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Matsumae Park is incredibly remote so your hotel options are limited. Instead, base yourself at the Hotel & Spa Century Marina Hakodate in the nearest big city of Hakodate — sea views and a rooftop onsen (hot spring) make it particularly appealing.
Not many organised tours include Matsumae into their itinerary, so exploring Hokkaido on a self-drive tour is a great option, as it gives you freedom to explore. Bamboo Travel has a great road trip adventure which can easily be tweaked to include secret cherry blossom spots: you’ll catch the train from Tokyo to Hakodate and drive from there.
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8. Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto prefecture
Kumamoto Castle on the island of Kyushu
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One of Japan’s most southerly islands, Kyushu is a good place to head for a less crowded and thoroughly authentic hanami fix. There’s no more spectacular setting than the grounds of its Kumamoto Castle, where hundreds of trees lead up to its hilltop gates, bursting into bloom around mid-March.
Full bloom in 2025 April 3
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Koko Hotel Premier is part of the aptly named Sakura Machi shopping complex, which features a rooftop park planted with cherry trees, making it a prime hanami spot.
Explore!’s nine-day trip is dedicated entirely to exploring Kyushu, starting in Fukuoka with visits included to Kumamoto Castle, Nagasaki, Kurokawa Onsen and Beppu’s hot springs. This far south, aim for a mid-late March departure.
9. Miharu, Fukushima prefecture
Miharu’s 1,000-year-old Takizakura tree
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Stay off the beaten track and ahead of the pack by heading to Miharu, about two hours north of the capital by train. With sensational displays in April, the city’s peach, plum and cherry trees all blossom simultaneously (Miharu means “Three Springs”), and it’s the home of the astonishing 1,000-year-old Takizakura, the “waterfall cherry tree”.
Full bloom in 2025 April 21
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In the nearby city of Koriyama, Eirakukan is a traditional ryokan-style hotel with excellent set meals, views of the mountains and a pleasant onsen.
10. Fuji Five Lakes, Yamanashi prefecture
Picturesque scenes at Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji
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These striking lakes form an arc around the base of Mount Fuji and are a beautiful location for hanami. A popular way to experience the season is to visit an onsen and view the blooms while lolling in the warm waters. The resort town of Lake Kawaguchi is an excellent choice: arrive early in the morning to gaze up through the mist at Mount Fuji framed by glorious blossoms. Early to mid April is usually a good time to visit.
Full bloom in 2025 April 16
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Lakeside Shuhoukaku Kogetsu fits the bill perfectly, offering views of both the tranquil Lake Kawaguchi and majestic Mount Fuji. Plus, it has outdoor onsen baths.
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Wendy Wu’s 13-day Offbeat Japan is an intriguing itinerary, beginning with four days in Tokyo before visiting the Five Lakes in Yamanashi, Matsumoto’s snow monkeys, Takayama in the Japanese Alps, Kyoto and a temple stay on the holy mountain of Koyasan.
When is the best time to book a holiday to see the cherry blossom?
Sakura season in Japan commands high prices. For the best deals, book as soon as flights go on sale, about 11 months ahead. At other times of the year, independent travel around Japan is pretty straightforward, but cherry blossom season is an exception: hotel rooms can be scarce and prices rise steeply so it is wise to book these at least ten months in advance. If you are set on visiting Kyoto, a major hub of cherry blossom viewing, consider day-tripping from Osaka: high-speed bullet trains from Shin-Osaka station reach Kyoto in less than 15 minutes, and there are lots of lower-budget hotel options.
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Why is cherry blossom season so important in Japan?
The Meguro River, which runs through Meguro Ward of Tokyo
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Sakura has been the subject of nationwide adoration since the Heian period (794–1185). The short, enigmatic emergence of the blooms is seen as more than just a chance to admire some pretty petals: it is a meditation on life, death, renewal and the ephemeral nature of being. You’ll find it celebrated in Japanese literature, poetry and art, scrolled into the swords of samurai, and used as the symbol of fallen soldiers, new beginnings and friendship.
Which books and films will get me in the mood?
The 11th-century masterpiece The Tale of Genji is often referred to as the world’s first novel and references a fictional royal cherry blossom party, with poetry reading and dancing. Immerse yourself in the nature-focused works of Matsuo Basho, one of Japan’s most renowned poets and writers, with a copy of Basho: The Complete Haiku. Or try the Academy Award-nominated documentary The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom, in which survivors of Japan’s 2011 tsunami were interviewed shortly after the devastation as they began to rebuild their lives, just as the cherry blossom season started.
Are there any alternatives to Japan’s main cherry blossom holiday season?
A bird investigates a cherry blossom tree in Okinawa
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Plum blossoms, or ume, are the first important flowers to blossom in the spring, bursting in February and March. Hit the Mito Plum Blossom Festival in Ibaraki prefecture for mountains covered in candy-floss blooms and open-air tea ceremonies. It can be reached in just over an hour by fast train from Tokyo Ueno station.
Bookending the other side of the cherry blossom season are cascades of wisteria, often formed into tunnels. Go to Ashikaga Flower Park, about 50 miles north of Tokyo, for the Great Wisteria Festival, which runs from mid-April until some time in May, with the full purple haze occurring in early May.
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• Best places to visit in Japan
We regularly reassess and refresh this list, adding the latest advice and inspiration
Where do you think is the most beautiful place in Japan? Please let us know in the comments
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