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Cherry blossom season (sakura) is Japan at its most beautiful — and its most crowded. With a little planning you can catch the bloom and still enjoy it. Here’s how the season works and how to plan around it.
When do the cherry blossoms bloom?
It varies by year and region, but as a rough guide:
- Tokyo & Kyoto: late March to early April.
- Southern Japan (Fukuoka): a little earlier, from mid–late March.
- Northern Japan (Tohoku, Hokkaido): late April into May.
Full bloom (“mankai”) lasts only about a week, and rain or wind can end it fast — so build in flexibility.
How to plan around the forecast
- Watch the forecasts published each spring, but treat them as estimates.
- Chase the bloom by latitude: if you miss it in Kyoto, it may still be going north.
- Book everything early. This is peak season — hotels and flights sell out months ahead. Lock in your base via Booking.com .
Where to see them
- Tokyo: Ueno Park, Chidorigafuchi (rowboats under the blossoms), Meguro River.
- Kyoto: the Philosopher’s Path, Maruyama Park, Arashiyama.
- Beyond: Himeji Castle, Yoshino (mountains of cherry trees), Hirosaki in the north.
Hanami etiquette
Hanami (flower viewing) is a picnic tradition. Bring a mat, take your trash with you, don’t shake the trees or pick blossoms, and claim only the space you need. See our etiquette guide for the basics.
Prefer fewer crowds?
If sakura isn’t a must, autumn foliage is just as stunning with less pressure — compare seasons in our best time to visit Japan guide. Either way, plan the days with the 7-day itinerary.