UPDATED! Sakura Beautiful Cherry Blossom Festivals in Japan (2024 Edition)

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Sakura - cherry blossom - it's one of the iconic images of Japan, and spring, or haru, is a perfect time of year to travel in the country. 

Across large parts of the archipelago the weather is bright, sunny and generally free of rain.

It is also the only season in which you can catch the famous cherry blossom in its full glory. 


Sakura cherry blossom festivals The Real Japan Rob Dyer

Sakura Beautiful Cherry Blossom Festivals in Japan

by Rob Dyer

The latest sakura cherry blossom forecast

Weather forecasting company Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) release their first forecast for the year's sakura (cherry blossom) season in January each year.

This initial forecast is then updated a number of times as more current data is collected. The first 2024 prediction was released by JMC on 10 January. It shows the forecast of dates when cherry blossoms will start to flower (kaika) and reach full bloom (mankai).

JMC has estimated the flowering and full bloom dates for Somei Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry) trees in approximately 1,000 cherry blossom viewing locations in cities from Hokkaido to Kagoshima.

sakura map The Real Japan

Note: The map shows dates of flowering but not of full bloom

In Tokyo the cherry blossoms were predicted to start flowering on 23 March, reaching full bloom by 30 March – both a day earlier than in the average year.

In Kyoto the first blossoms were expected on 23 March, three days sooner than usual, with peak bloom around 1 April.

Osaka's first flowering looks to be around 25 March, with full bloom expected to match Kyoto on 1 April.

As usual, the northernmost island of Hokkaido will be the last to see cherry blossoms, with the start of the sakura in Sapporo currently expected on 2 May, with the full blooms appearing on 6 May.

The latest forecast was released on 7 March. Although the predictions for the major cities remained unchanged, the revised forecast did add more detail for Kyushu, predicting that the southern tip of the island around the city of Kagoshima would see the blooms on the 25 March. It also suggest that in Sendai the blossom would appear several days earlier than first predicted.

Japan cherry blossom sakura forecast The Real Japan

Note: The map shows dates of flowering but not of full bloom

Use the Destinations Hub on this site to help plan the places you want to include in your trip. You might also like to read my post The Best Time To Visit Japan – All You Need To Know for more tips, advice and things to be aware of year round.

Japan Meteorological Corporation's forecasting method

There's a lot of pressure every year on the JMC to get their predictions as accurate as possible. There are a lot of travel plans dependent upon their forecasts!

Explaining their method for forecasting this natural annual spectacle, here's what JMC say about their methodology: "The flowering and full bloom dates of cherry blossoms depend on the temperature patterns from autumn of the preceding year. The buds of cherry blossoms are formed during the summer of the preceding year. Before they flower, they must go through two processes: dormancy and growth."

They continue: "After breaking dormancy, the buds enter the growth stage, and grow as the temperatures increase to flowering. During this stage, the higher the temperature is, the better the growth rate will be."

The Flowering Meter: from Awakening to Full Bloom

JMC also produce a chart they call the 'Flowering Meter'.

Providing a quantitative measure of the cherry trees' progress toward flowering and onto the iconic full bloom, this 'meter' predicts the blossom development by major cities.

sakura flowering meter The Real Japan

JMC regulalry updates its predictions, publishing new forecasts every few weeks

It places the flower development into three main stages: Awakening, Growth and Full Bloom, allowing millions of sakura chasers to enjoy not only the actual flowering and full bloom of cherry blossoms but also the run-up to the flowering.

The chart helps with trip planning for optimum views of the annual spectacle. More information can be found at the JMC website HERE.

It's important when travelling across Japan to view the annual sakura that you take care to travel in a sustainable a fashion. Doing so will help ensure this spectacle of nature will continue long into the future.

SEE ALSO: 5 Insider Tips for Sustainable Travel in Japan

Japan Without Japanese Audiobook eBook bundle The Real Japan Rob Dyer

Sakura forecast app - get blossom notifications!

There is an app available from the Japan Weather Company that provides up-to-date information on the forecast of the flowering and full bloom dates of the cherry blossoms and their progress towards flowering (Flowering Meter above) all over Japan.

sakura navi cherry blossom forecast app The Real Japan

It includes a handy function, it calls the "Proximity Notification for Cherry Blossom SPOT", where you'll get a notification when you are close to a Cherry Blossom SPOT. It also features a digital "Stamp Card" for recording the sakura viewing sites you've visited.

Look for the app "Sakura Navi - Forecast in 2024" in the App Store / Google Play - it costs around $5.


Sakura-matsuri: Cherry blossom festivals

There are hundreds of regional sakura-matsuri (cherry blossom festivals) to celebrate this, which incorporate picnicking and drinking beneath the iconic, pink-flowered trees.

If you are staying in a hotel at a sakura resort at this time, they helpfully provide daily updates to the cherry blossom viewing potential - so you do not miss the best viewing opportunities.

sakura cherry blossom The Real Japan Rob Dyer

Daily sakura blooming information in Hirosaki hotel reception

The viewing season

The viewing season really begins on the main sub-tropical southern island of Okinawa. Because the climate is so much warmer here than the north of Japan, the blossom begins appearing from as early as mid January.

A little further up is the island of Kyushu – and its capital Nagasaki. Here the blossom begins to emerge in the latter half of March. Moving onto the main and biggest island Honshu, in Kyoto it typically appears in late March. Similarly in Osaka, sometimes nudging into early April. Late March is the time to see it in the capital Tokyo.

In the northern region of Honshu, Aomori it tends to be around late April. Finally, in the northern most island of Hokkaido and its capital Sapporo it is early May before the cherry blossom first blooms.

In the autumn there is an equally spectacular display by nature when leaves across the country turn red.

SEE ALSO: 6 Great Spots To See Spectacular Autumn Leaves in Japan

15-Day Sakura Cherry Blossom & Garden Tour of Japan

Japan Sakura Tour 6 Days Rob Dyer The Real Japan

Visit Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka & Hiroshima

Start in Tokyo and end in Osaka! With the In-depth Cultural tour Cherry Blossom & Garden, you have a 15 days tour package taking you through Tokyo, Japan and 14 other destinations in Japan. Cherry Blossom & Garden includes accommodation, an expert guide, meals, transport and more.


LEARN MORE: Sakura Cherry Blossom & Garden Tour of Japan

Highlights include:

  • Marvel in the cherry blossom-framed sights of majestic Mount Fuji
  • Learn of the dramatic history and pay your respects in Hiroshima
  • Capture a selfie and say hello to the friendly bowing deer of Nara

The beautiful sakura-matsuri in Aomori Prefecture

If this all sounds appealing, you could do a lot worse than experience Hirosaki's beautiful sakura-matsuri festival in Aomori prefecture on the northern most tip of (the main island) Honshu.

Hirosaki Castle sakura cherry blossom The Real Japan Rob Dyer

Sakura season at Hirosaki Castle

There's an extensive park surrounding Hirosaki castle, and it is here where the extensive and lively celebrations take place.

You can easily spend a half, or even a full day here, wending your way around the thousands of trees laden heavy with blossom. It is worth joining the queue to go inside the castle to get superb panoramic views over both the park and the city.

There are cherry trees surrounding Hirosaki Castle - so it makes for a stunning backdrop to the viewing. And, as the blossom starts to fall, the moat around the castle turns pink with all the fallen blossom. It's beautiful.

SEE ALSO: Discover Honshu (Island Guide)

sakura cherry blossom The Real Japan Rob Dyer

Relaxing with friends and a beer underneath the sakura

Planning your cherry blossom viewing

Blossom viewing is a major annual activity throughout Japan, and popular viewing locations are flooded by millions of Japanese families all seeking to gain the optimum vantage point and to soak up the carnival atmosphere.

Some foreign tourists even use the Japan Rail Pass to travel across the country following the blossom as it opens throughout the regions.

Therefore, if you're planning to visit Japan in the spring, I thoroughly recommend planning to take in some cherry blossom viewing. An essential part of The Real Japan experience. 

Cherry Blossom Viewing Tips

Book key travel and any accommodation in any destinations in advance if possible to avoid disappointment. It's not unheard of for the Japanese to book their cherry blossom viewing accommodation a year in advance. The sooner you can reserve your accommodation the better.

Every year, the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) website helpfully lists dates when the blossom is expected to be in full bloom as it tracks its way south to north.

JR Rail (and others) offer special priced train packages to the most popular blossom viewing festival locations.

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Sakura cherry blossom festivals The Real Japan Rob Dyer

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