News
Latest Cherry Blossom Forecast - Update March 22, 2013
2013-03-21Temperatures in recent weeks have been far above average across most parts of the country, especially in theKanto Region around Tokyo, causing a dramatic speed-up in the pace of the cherry blossoms. In Tokyo, the trees started opening on March 16, the earliest date on records, and are expected to reach full bloom before the end of the week. By the end of the month, the peak of the season is likely to approach its end already. Visitors to Tokyo caught by the early blooming, see ww.japan-guide.com on how to see some blossoms if you arrive late.
The cherry blossoms are similarly fast paced in Kyushu's major cities, where the trees started opening in the first half of March and will likely approach the end of the flowering season before the month is over. The pace of the trees is not as dramatic in the Kansai Region around Kyoto where the peak of the season is still expected to take place in early April. The temperatures in northern Japan, meanwhile, were not as unseasonal as elsewhere, and the trees there are forecast to open more closely according to their average year's schedule.
Below are the forecast dates of cherry trees opening their blossoms this year (according to the Japan Weather Association, except Yoshino) and the estimated best viewing periods (estimated by japan-guide.com based on the association's forecast). Rain, wind and temperatures can have a strong effect on the process of the season, for example, they can accelerate, delay or shorten it considerably. Therefore, use the forecasts on your own risk.
<Data from www.Japan-Guide.com>
| Location | Opening | Estimated Best Viewing |
| Tokyo |  Opened March 16 |
March 22 to 31 |
| Kyoto | Opened March 22 |
March 30 to April 8 |
| Kagoshima | Opened March 15 |
March 23 to 31 |
| Kumamoto | Opened March 16 |
March 20 to 28 |
| Fukuoka | Opened March 13 |
March 20 to 28 |
| Hiroshima | Opened March 22 |
March 29 to April 6 |
| Takamatsu | March 24 | March 31 to April 8 |
| Osaka | Opened March 21 |
March 29 to April 7 |
| Nara | March 26 | March 31 to April 8 |
| Yoshino | April 3 | April 8 to 20 |
| Nagoya | Opened March 19 |
March 27 to April 4 |
| Yokohama | Opened March 18 |
March 24 to April 1 |
| Kanazawa | April 1 | April 5 to 12 |
| Takayama | April 13 | April 17 to 24 |
| Matsumoto | April 4 | April 9 to 15 |
| Fukushima | April 6 | April 10 to 17 |
| Sendai | April 8 | April 13 to 20 |
| Kakunodate | April 22 | April 24 to May 3 |
| Hirosaki | April 21 | April 26 to May 5 |
| Hakodate | May 1 | May 5 to 12 |
| Sapporo | May 4 | May 7 to 14 |
