Japan Cherry Blossom Tours

When booking your cherry blossom tour of Japan, you should plan and reserve your trip approximately 6 to 9 months in advance.

Cherry blossom season in Japan is a popular time for visitors not only for international travelers but also for Japanese tourists who are eager to view the dazzling display of natural beauty. Whether participating in the festivals or merely enjoying a private picnic under the blossoms in spring, you will want to book your trip sooner rather than later because hotels and transportation fill quickly with travelers who plan their trip early in order to guarantee their accommodations in popular areas that are known for the cherry blossoms. Zicasso often receives inquiries approximately three months in advance of a trip to Japan for the cherry blossom season. In the past, we have been able to accommodate guests who are eager to participate in Hanami. However, booking late or last minute can result in booked accommodations, full trains, or other modes of transportation in addition to a spike in prices.

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Japan cherry blossoms typically start blooming in in late January or early February in the Southern part of Japan across islands like as Okinawa. The season grows later along the Northern areas of Japan due to the weather in cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, which hosts blossoms around early April. The cherry trees of Hokkaido often bloom in May.In other words, the cherry blossom season begins in Japan around different intervals, depending on the location of the region: the south begins between January and February, mid-Japan is generally between March and April, and Northern Japan experiences the season in May.

The cherry blossoms in Japan most commonly reach a full bloom between March and April during the peak of the spring season. The best opportunity for finding the white and pink flowers at their most prominent is often four to seven days after their peak bloom with some blossoms lasting up to 14 days under ideal weather conditions.

The cherry blossom season in Japan typically ends around late April. The earlier the cherry blossoms bloom during the season in Japan, the sooner the flowers will wilt and fall from the trees. Okinawa’s season in 2019 ended by the first week of February while Sapporo’s season in 2019 did not end until early May.

For further explanation or insight into the expected opening and closing dates of the cherry blossom season in Japan based on the city or district, you can use the following link, which will lead you to a website that is devoted to providing users with insights into the expected first blossom dates across Japan in addition to the best opportunities for viewing the cherry blossoms once the season has begun. Check out the Japan National Tourism Organization for more information on the projection of the future cherry blossom season in Japan and reflections on the past opening and closing dates of the season.

The best time to visit Japan for cherry blossom season is between March and April, which encompasses the densest timeframe for blooming cherry blossoms across the country. While focusing on a broad timeline or space may seem better for viewing the cherry blossoms in Japan, you have a better chance of focusing on specific cities or regions in which you wish to travel based on the dates that the blossoms bloom in these cities. Focusing on specific cities will also provide you with the best chance of enjoying the festivals and partaking in Hanami.

The foothills of Mount Yoshino in Nara possess over 30,000 cherry trees, which flicker with a variety of colors that derive from the different species of tree. When visiting Mount Yoshino during cherry blossom season, you can find the illustrious flowers blooming above idyllic shrines, peaceful temples, and luscious parks in one of Japan’s most iconic destinations. Due to the change in elevation along the base and foothills of the mountain, the cherry trees do not all blossom at the same time, which allows visitors a broader range of opportunity for viewing the vibrant spring. The best time to visit Mount Yoshino for the cherry blossoms is between late March and early May.

The luster of Takata Castle Park in Nagano originates from the 1,500 pink Kohigan cherry trees that have become a quintessential element of the popular destination, earning the renowned title as one of the top three places in Japan to view the cherry blossoms during the season each year. Lively festivals provide fantastic ambiance beneath the flowering petals with stalls that host local cuisine and fun activities.  Lights are even strung throughout the trees for night viewings that are set beneath the looming presence of the Takata Castle ruins. The best time to visit Takata Castle Park for cherry blossoms is in April.

The natural grandeur of Chureito Pagoda boasts exquisite views of Mount Fuji and is graced with the colorful, flowing petals of the cherry blossom trees during the season. The pagoda rises into the sky between the far-reaching branches of different cherry trees, and the early mornings often attract serious photographers who are eager to capture the blossoms, pagoda, and Mount Fuji in the early light. The month of April offers the best time to visit Chureito Pagoda during the cherry blossom season.

No matter the month of spring, Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo is a fantastic place for experiencing the cherry blossom season in Japan. The park is known for hosting over 1,000 cherry trees that bloom both early and late during the celebrated season, making it a fabulous destination for viewers who are visiting the heart of Tokyo. Amid the high-rise buildings and bustling streets, Shinjuku Gyoen offers a peaceful respite from the futuristic ambiance with fantastic opportunities to participate in Hanami throughout March and April in addition to the main viewing festival that takes place from late-February to early May.

The charming Kawazu River runs through the city of Shizuoka with approximately 8,000 Kawazu-sakura cherry trees that decorate the banks for up to 2.5 miles. Locals help to celebrate the annual spring with a large festival that acts as one of the earliest cherry blossom festivals in Eastern Japan. Due to the festival and the nature of the specific trees, Kawazu attracts up to 1 million visitors each year during the season who are eager to view the vivid pink petals that dangle from the trees with hints of pink and white. The colorful blossoms of the cherry trees occur between mid-February to mid-March.

The Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto remains a quiet and charming stone walkway throughout the year but brims to life during the cherry blossom season as the white and pink hues of the flower petals bloom above the tranquil canals. The path runs for half a mile along the route where the famous Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitaro walked when practicing meditation. The best time to wander along the Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto, during the cherry blossom season, is in early April when the trees erupt in spectacular colors.

Different cities and towns host their own particular cherry blossom festivals and events across Japan during the cherry blossom season. The locals celebrate with homecooked food, sake, and loved ones. The main attraction remains the spectacular flowers that blossom in the trees from February to May, especially during the Golden Week, which takes place between the end of April and the first week of May. This is when many cherry blossom trees between Tokyo and Kyoto bloom in concurrence with four consecutive Japanese holidays. The festivals consist of locals who sip sake and snack on homecooked cuisine in addition to the various food and souvenir stalls that offer regional specialties such as umibudo in Okinawa or freshwater eel over rice, which is known as unaju in Tokyo.

Visiting the Meguro River during the cherry blossom season allows you to wander along a number of local food stalls, cafes, restaurants, and bars throughout the day amid the 800 cherry trees that line nearly two miles of the riverbanks. The evening lighting events at Gongendo Park in the Kanto Region showcase the contrasting pink of the cherry blossoms and yellow rapeseed flowers alongside 100 specialty stalls.