When to Visit Japan for Cherry Blossom Season

Discover stunning sakura blossoms at the perfect time of year.

Cherry blossoms, also known as sakura, have become an enduring image of Japan, with locals and international travelers fixated on their incredible beauty and symbolic portrayal of hope and renewal. Adorning countless parks, canals, and backstreets throughout the country for just a few short weeks, timing your visit to Japan for cherry blossom season will leave you with extraordinary memories.

The iconic cherry blossom is the national flower of Japan. However, you might be surprised to learn that it’s not just a single striking plant. The country is home to around 200 species of cherry blossom trees with varying shapes and colors that bloom at slightly different times of the year.

Alongside centuries-old traditions that celebrate this alluring flower, the cherry blossom season typically runs from late March to the middle of April, although some seasons may continue into May. While that only leaves you with a relatively brief window to arrive in Japan, coinciding your visit with these dates ensures you explore the country at its prettiest.

The best reasons to visit Japan during cherry blossom season

Sakura blossoms offer astonishing natural beauty, but this time of year presents even more reasons to plan your next vacation in Japan. As the arrival of cherry blossoms invigorates the country from top to bottom, a host of cultural festivals and foodie treats help celebrate this extraordinary annual occasion.

Sakura festivals are held across the country

Exploring Japan when the sakura trees bloom ensures you have a striking cherry blossom festival to attend. Also known as sakura matsuri, these vibrant communal events occur around the country in peaceful parklands and ancient castle gardens. These outdoor spaces become even more gorgeous than usual, with local musicians, food stalls, and enchanting lanterns hanging in the trees producing an incredible ambiance.

For example, the Goryokaku Park Cherry Blossom Festival sees thousands of lights illuminate the cherry blossom trees in this remarkable star-shaped park after sunset. Meanwhile, the Kitakami Tenshochi Cherry Blossom Festival presents an array of folk performances and evening shows from talented artists as colorful carp streamers decorate the Kitakami River.

Sakura-flavored treats are everywhere

Millions of travelers journey to Japan to experience the country’s wonderfully fresh and inventive cuisine. However, timing your visit with the sakura blossoms presents encounters with an alluring array of cherry blossom-flavored snacks. With local vendors getting into the festive spirit, there's an enormous variety of fascinating treats to experience.

Cherry blossom chocolate and candy are always popular, with sakura-inspired sweets providing the ideal snack to enjoy during a laid-back stroll through the gardens. For something a little more adventurous, try sakura mochi – a toothsome pink rice cake wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom leaf – or sip on delicately floral sakura tea.

Temple and castle views are at their best

Japan is home to thousands of picturesque castles and temples, but they become even more beautiful when the surrounding sakura trees ‌bloom. As serene parks and rivers border many of these captivating destinations, search for the perfect angle to make your travel photography even more impressive.

Whether you’re exploring a famous destination like Osaka Castle or a little-known shrine in the distant countryside, witnessing the cherry blossoms envelop these locations is simply breathtaking. Plus, as many temples and castles host upbeat cultural events, you have a rare opportunity to elevate your visit.

Picnics are happening everywhere

With parks and gardens across the country enriched by pink-colored flowers, it’s the perfect time to engage in hanami – a long-standing cultural practice where people gather underneath the trees for a picnic. Originating in the Nara period over a thousand years ago, people hold hanami celebrations during the sakura season with their friends, family, and colleagues.

Make the most of the springtime weather by loading your picnic basket with seasonal treats. Many people pack savory snacks like miso soup and tamagoyaki alongside sakura-themed desserts such as sakura mochi, hanami dango, and fresh strawberries. However, don't forget to bring along a fine sake to enjoy beneath the flower petals.

When is cherry blossom season in Japan?

As this marvelous time of year approaches, the anticipation that grows until the cherry blossoms finally bloom is part of the occasion. Yet depending on where you plan to visit, the precise moment the trees burst into flower can differ by days or even weeks. Fortunately, as the warm weather gets closer, the Japanese Meteorological Agency releases regular updates on the cherry blossom front.

In January, about 1,500 kilometers south of Tokyo, the Ryukyu Islands are the first place to bloom. Yet it usually takes another two months for the ideal climate to reach cities such as Kyoto and Tokyo. In fact, cherry blossoms rarely achieve full bloom on the northern island of Hokkaido until early May. Although you have to time your visit carefully, there are numerous chances to see cherry blossoms as they sweep across the nation. 

Strong wind and heavy rain can also affect how and when sakura trees bloom. However, their arrival in Tokyo usually happens between March and April, with a vast collection of festive events celebrating the occasion. While there might be sizable crowds to navigate, these exciting once-yearly encounters ensure you stumble upon countless memorable experiences.

Where are the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan?

While cherry blossoms only bloom for about two weeks, there’s no shortage of stunning locations to enjoy when the time is right. With Japan home to hundreds of parks and castle grounds, these are just a few of the best spots to experience the magnetic appeal of sakura.

Kyoto Botanical Gardens – Explore a striking conservatory

Situated adjacent to Kitayama Station, the Kyoto Botanical Gardens are a spectacular sight during cherry blossom season. Opened in 1924 as the first botanical garden in Japan, there are more than 24 acres to explore across this sprawling green space, which features about 500 sakura trees from 130 species. 

Divided into several smaller sections, such as the Bamboo Garden, the Bonsai Exhibit, and the Camellia Garden, the Kyoto Botanical Garden is best-known for its massive conservatory that houses 4,500 plant species. During cherry blossom season, the illuminated gardens remain open until 9:00 PM, ensuring you don't have to rush when roaming the paths.

How to get to Kyoto Botanical Gardens: Ride the Karasuma Line to Kitayama Station. You can also catch the No. 205 Kyoto City Bus to the Shokubutsuen-mae bus stop and walk north along the Kamo River for 5 minutes.

• Address: Shimogamo Hangicho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0823
• Operating Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Contact Details: +81-75-701-0141

Philosopher's Path – Take a meditative stroll

Stretching for about two kilometers through Kyoto's Higashiyama district, the Philosopher’s Path is one of the city’s most scenic destinations. Running through the backstreets alongside a charming canal, hundreds of sakura trees that usually ‌bloom in early April line the separate narrow walkways.

Named after the renowned 20th-century Japanese philosophers Kitaro Nishida and Hajime Tanabe, it’s believed they wistfully strolled this path daily on their way to teach at Kyoto University. With the walk passing by several temples and shrines, the Philosopher's Path is a gorgeous place to partake in hanami.

How to get to Philosopher's Path: Ride the Karasuma Line to Marutamachi Station before catching the No. 204 or No. 93 Kyoto City Bus to the Kinrin Shako-mae bus stop. Then, walk east for three minutes.

• Address: Tetsugaku No Michi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8425
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours

Himeji Castle – Explore historic castle gardens

Built in 1333, Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited Japanese castle, featuring an incredible 83 rooms and towering defensive structures. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, the castle and its enormous grounds are also one of the most popular places to view joyous sakura trees anywhere in the country.

Set elegantly against white-stone walls and soaring traditional architecture, you won’t find many better spots to snap pictures of cherry blossoms. With around 1,000 trees planted along the castle ramparts, beside the moat, and throughout the west garden, wander around the park to find the most fascinating angles.

How to get to Himeji Castle: Take the North Exit from Himeji Station using the Central Ticket Gate and walk for 20 minutes along Otemae-dori Street. You can also catch the Himeji Park Loop Bus from the train station.

• Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo 670-0012 
• Operating Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Contact Details: +81-79-285-1146

Yoyogi Park – Enjoy sakura in the bustling city

You don’t have to travel far from central Tokyo to experience incredible cherry blossoms. As the third-largest green space in Tokyo, Yoyogi Park is wonderfully positioned near inner-city hotspots like Harajuku and Shibuya. When the sakura season arrives, approximately 730 sakura trees explode with vibrant color.

Yoyogi Park is a popular outdoor destination all year round, but springtime weather takes things to the next level. Although finding enough space for a picnic can be a little challenging near the various entrances, heading deeper into the park to its vast lake ensures you have space to roll out your blanket and relish the nearby sakura.

How to get to Yoyogi Park: Ride the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station for the nearest entrance. You can also enter the park from the western side using Yoyogi-Koen Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.

• Address: 2-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0052
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
• Contact Details: +81-3-3469-6081

Kawazu – Find coastal cherry blossoms

Set along the Izu Peninsula around two hours journey from Tokyo Station, the charming town of Kawazu is a much-loved destination during cherry blossom season. With around 8,000 sakura trees dotted throughout the landscape, the varieties planted here not only bloom early compared to many others but also remain in flower for up to a month. 

The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival is one of the best-known sakura events in Japan, with two million visitors flowing into the town to experience the bright cherry blossoms that decorate the streets and line the banks of the Kawazu River. Held from early February to early March, you’ll also find delightful souvenir stands and food stalls. 

How to get to Kawazu: From Tokyo, you can catch the Odoriko or Super View Odoriko trains to Kawazu Station. You can also take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Atami Station, then change to the Ito Line to reach your destination.

• Address: Kawazu, Kamo District, Shizuoka 413-0595

Okinawa – See the island's unique Ryukyu Kanhi-zakura blossoms

About 650 kilometers south of mainland Japan, Okinawa Island’s warm subtropical climate ensures it offers the earliest glimpse of cherry blossoms each spring. Appearing in early January, the flowers are best seen towards the end of the month as pleasant temperatures give birth to a pink landscape.

Okinawa offers hanami explorers another quirk, with the island featuring a cherry blossom variety called Ryukyu-kanhi-zakura. These flowers are noticeably darker than the subtle pink cherry blooms you’ll find in most other parts of Japan. Meanwhile, Ryukyu-kanhi-zakura blooms toward the ground with the whole flower dropping from the tree rather than just the petals.

The island’s abundant parklands and mountainsides present several outstanding spots for cherry blossom viewing. Mount Yaedake, the highest peak to the north, provides encounters overlooking Motobu town far below. The Nakijin Castle Ruins are another stunning site, with cherry blossoms spread throughout expansive 13th-century grounds.

How to get to Nakijin Castle Ruins: Ride the Yanbaru Express from Naha Airport or catch the Nago Bus Terminal to Nakijinjoshi-iriguchi. Then, it's a 20-minute walk to the ruins.

• Address: 5101 Imadomari, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0428

Hirosaki Castle Park – Paddle beneath the cherry blossoms

The exquisite grounds surrounding the 17th-century Hirosaki Castle are some of the most magnificent in Japan for cherry blossom viewing. Here, the Tsugaru samurai clan planted 25 Kasumizakura cherry trees transported from Kyoto in 1715, although around 2,500 sakura have now spread throughout the modern-day grounds.

With a million visitors making their way to Hirosaki Castle for the sakura season, you're welcome to explore the grounds late into the evening. You can find a pair of perfectly placed sakura that form a love heart in the overhead branches, while rentable rowboats allow you to paddle beneath the cherry blossoms hanging above the water's edge.

How to get to Hirosaki Castle Park: From Hirosaki Station, it's an easy 30-minute walk to the castle grounds. You can also catch the Dotemachi Loop Bus to the Bunka Center-mae stop.

• Address: Shimoshiroganecho, Hirosaki City, Aomori 036-8356
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
• Contact Details: +81-172-33-8733

Inokashira Park – Discover a peaceful sakura haven

For another top-notch destination for cherry blossoms in Tokyo, you can’t overlook Inokashira Park's untouched serenity. Just a 30-minute train ride from Shinjuku, you’ll arrive on wide-open grounds featuring 500 sakura trees. With many of these weeping species lining the banks of a large pond, this spot provides the park with an alluring focal point.

During cherry blossom season, bright flood lights showcase the sakura trees long after dark. Meanwhile, it’s also possible to rent swan-shaped pedal boats that ensure you experience the lakefront at your own pace. Alongside a zoo, an aquarium, and the nearby Studio Ghibli Museum, Inokashira Park is a stellar spot to soak up cherry blossom season.

How to get to Inokashira Park: The closest station to Inokashira Park is the JR Kichijoji Station via the JR Chuo Line. You can also ride the Keio Inokashira Line to Inokashira-koen Station.

• Address: 1-18-31 Gotenyama, Musashino City, Tokyo 180-0005
• Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
• Contact Details: +81-422-47-6900

Travel to Japan for Cherry Blossom Season

Cherry blossom season is one of the most exciting times to visit Japan, featuring gorgeous scenery, special events, nightlife activities, stellar cuisine, and more. With the iconic sakura trees bringing a dynamic atmosphere to virtually every region, there’s no better time to head along and experience what makes this occasion so momentous.

Whether you’re looking to explore sakura in a major city or a charming countryside town, Japan Airlines can help you reach your destination with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass. Featuring exceptional airfares for 30 cities across our domestic network, international travelers can roam every corner of the country for less. Touch down in time for the next cherry blossom season with JAL.