Cherry Blossom Season (Hanami)

When: Late March to April each year, with exact timing shifting by region and weather.

Where: nationwide, Japan - major displays in city parks, riversides and temple grounds across the islands.

Cost: Mostly free to view in public parks; expect paid options for boat rides, guided tours and special illuminated displays.

Don’t miss: Nighttime “yozakura” illuminations and picnic hanami under peak bloom at spots like Ueno Park or along the Meguro River.

Japan’s cherry blossom season, known as hanami, is a centuries-old custom that celebrates the brief peak of sakura flowering; aristocrats held blossom-viewing parties in the Heian era and the practice spread to the wider population over time.

Today hanami is informal and social: people gather under rows of cherry trees for daytime and lantern-lit evening picnics, street food from yatai, riverboat cruises beneath tunnel-like blossoms and special temple or castle illuminations in cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto. Popular urban sites fill early with groups laying out mats, while quieter out-of-city locations offer a more contemplative experience - some travelers travel north or south to chase the bloom window from island to island.

Japan’s bloom season moves northward each spring: it typically reaches central Honshu (including Tokyo and Kyoto) in late March to early April, while southern Okinawa blooms much earlier and Hokkaido can peak as late as May. The season is driven entirely by weather and temperature rather than fixed calendar dates.

The key rhythm is the forecasted opening, the few days around full bloom (mankai) - often only a week or so of prime viewing - and then a rapid fall of petals; consult the yearly sakura forecasts and local bulletins to time your visit to peak days.

Tokyo is the main international gateway via Narita Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND), while travelers to western Honshu typically use Kansai International Airport for Osaka and onward trains to Kyoto. Domestic travel between regions is fastest by Shinkansen (bullet train) and local services; metros and buses connect major parks.

Aim to arrive 1 - 2 days before the predicted full-bloom in your chosen city and book accommodation and any popular boat or guided hanami experiences well in advance.

• Japan etiquette: clean up after your group - many parks expect you to take your trash with you and recycling is important.
• Bring a waterproof picnic mat, hand wipes and small trash bags; some parks reserve the best spots early in the morning so lay your mat before peak crowds.
• Expect large crowds on popular sites and on trains; avoid peak commuting times and allow extra time for travel to and from parks.
• Nights can be chilly even in April, so pack layers for yozakura; also bring a small umbrella for sudden spring rain.
• Book hotels and any guided hanami tours or special restaurant reservations weeks to months ahead for Tokyo and Kyoto during peak bloom.
• If you have pollen allergies, take antihistamines - sakura pollen is lighter than cedar but can still affect sensitive visitors.