Whether you’ve lived in Japan for awhile or you’re planning your next trip, one of the best things to do in Japan is go Sakura viewing (花見 hanami).
Ephemeral and delicate, these pale pink blooms capture the hearts of all, and herald the return of spring.
They represent new beginnings, youth, and even love.
But actually seeing them on your trip is all about timing and luck, making Spring one of the most popular times to visit Japan.
So when is the best time to see them, and where are the best places to go? I’ll do my best to give you the scoop on Cherry Blossom season in Japan.
Table of Contents
Sakura Viewing Dates From Top to Bottom:
Sapporo 4/26
Sendai 3/27
Niigata 4/2
Tokyo 3/17
Nagoya 3/18
Osaka 3/22
Fukuoka 3/19
Since the best time to come to Japan depends on many personal factors, if you want to have a quintessential Spring-in-Japan experience, seeing the sakura is non-negotiable.
So if you’re coming to Tokyo or Kyoto, here’s what to watch out for, and some of the best places to see Sakura this year.
When do Sakura Bloom
Cherry blossoms typically bloom from about mid-March to April, with variation throughout the country based on things like weather conditions and how cold the Winter has been.
In 2024, according to The Cherry Blossom Forecast, the mild Winter conditions and “slightly warmer than average” days forecasted for mid-March mean that cherry blossoms with bloom about a week earlier than previous averages.
Sakura also have different levels of bloom. “First Bloom” means five to six flowers have bloomed on observation trees, while “Full Bloom” is indicated by at least 80% of flowers having bloomed.
The more conventional Somei-Yoshino and Yamazakura trees are abundant along sidewalks and in temples and shrines. While Weeping Sakura trees are another delightful variety you may see.
Their dramatically drooping limbs similar to that of willows and wisteria trees are gorgeous with full sakura blooms.
And of course, if you plan to visit Japan a little later in the season, you can try to plan your sakura viewing by region. Since Northern Japan is typically colder, the cherry blossoms bloom later in areas like Sapporo and Sendai.
Best Places to go Cherry Blossom Viewing
Tokyo Area
Shinjuku Gyoen (Cherry Blossom Area)
This gorgeous park just Northwest of Meiji Jingu Gaien was originally a garden made for the imperial family.
However it is now a widely used public park with abundant natural features.
Seeing the sakura at Shinjuku Gyoen is incredibly popular – but its popularity means many people attend.
This year, reservations are required for the most popular dates for cherry blossom viewing at the garden: March 24th, 30th, 31st and April 6th and 7th from 10am-4pm.
However, the park is open to all from 9am-10am, and 4pm-5:30pm those days.
You can find the reservation info here (Japanese). And here (Japanese) is the reservation page itself.
About 15 minutes walking from Asakusa, Sumida Park is an eminent cherry blossom viewing site along the Sumida River.
It’s also not far from where we lived during our study abroad time!
There is a Sakura Festival just about every year, and admission is free.
Both weeping cherry trees and Somei-Yoshino cherry trees are featured at this park, which boast lots of blossoms per tree, and are bloom earlier.
Sumida Park also boasts a beautiful Plum Blossom Festival event earlier in the Spring, and several other floral events.
Ueno Park
Touted as the first Urban Park in Japan, Ueno Park celebrated its 150th year anniversary in 2023.
It’s a sprawling park with lots of space to walk, picnic, and see the cherry blossoms bloom. Its mascot is even a cherry blossom named “Uenon”.
You can walk its paths and explore its shrines while enjoying the sakura, or find a spot to take part in flower viewing with a picnic blanket, friends, and drinks.
Kyoto Area
With gorgeous weeping sakura trees accentuating this historic estate, Nijo Castle is a gorgeous place to get a few steps in while seeing the blooms.
Built in 1603, Nijo Castle was finished under the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu. And though most of the cherry trees there are only about 75 years old, some were planted as far back as 1978.
The castle hosts a Cherry Blossom Festival annually, and includes Yamazakura, Somei-Yoshino, and Satozakura cherry trees. This year it will be held from March 8th to April 7th.
At night they also illuminate the trees, creating an ethereal effect.
Toji Temple is another famous temple whose cherry blossoms are a sight, especially at night.
They illuminate the trees, resulting in a celestial atmosphere amongst the Buddhist architecture.
Interestingly, the Cherry trees planted there were planted by piling dirt since the holy grounds cannot be excavated.
Cherry Blossom Viewing Admission to the temple is ¥500 per adult (~$3.50) from 6:30pm-9:30pm. It includes the Kondo and Kodo Halls, as well as the cherry blossom garden walk.
Kodaiji Temple
Another popular temple for seeing the sakura, admission to Kodaiji is only ¥600 (~$4.00) for adults.
Its garden in particular is designated as a historical and scenic site.
While they put up illumination at all times of the year, their backlit cherry trees are especially beautiful in the Spring.
Their nighttime hours run from 5pm-9:30pm, where you can see their gorgeous cherry trees in bloom.
Seeing the Blooms in Southern Japan
When I studied abroad in Japan, we lucked out during sakura season. On our group trip to Kyoto, the blossoms were in full bloom, and almost every temple, castle, and frankly every street had sakura trees.
From Heian Jingu Shrine to Nijo Castle, and Todaiji Temple in Nara, every locale was bursting with blooms. It was unforgettable.
If you have the chance to see these amazing, historical places with sakura in bloom, I can’t recommend it enough.
That said, we had no idea that it would be cherry blossom season at this time.
Since weather conditions can effect the timing of the blooms, there’s no sure-fire way to plan for it if you’re planning far in advance.
Most forecasts come out around the end of January, which can be too late for some travelers to make their itinerary.
But if you aim for the end of March into early April, you certainly have a chance at seeing the cherry blossoms.
Other Blooms Worth Seeing
In Japan, cherry blossoms aren’t the only bloom worth seeing in Spring.
One of my favorites are actually the darker pink Plum Blossoms (梅の花 ume no hana). They are typically richer in color, and bloom earlier than sakura– around January to March
And Peach Blossoms (桃の花 momo no hana) are another popular bloom, whose petals come to a sharper point than plum blossoms.
You might even see Apricot flowers, which are similar to plum blossoms.
Of course, the most coveted are the sakura, which come in pale pinks and have signature forked petal tips.
All in all, the stone fruit blooms are majestic, and even some Japanese people can’t tell them apart easily.
Plus, the mix of rich and light pinks makes the viewing experience even more special in my opinion.
So if you can, try to see the beautiful sakura season in Japan, and enjoy flower viewing with your friends and family this year!