The Ultimate Guide to Chasing Japanese Cherry Blossoms (Sakura)
- Katina
- Apr 11, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 16, 2020
Why is it that whenever someone mentions travelling to Japan, they’re usually given the advice to “go for cherry blossom season”?
It’s because Japan transforms into one of the most magical places in the world when the cherry blossoms (also known as sakura) are in full-bloom! For a very brief time each year, the whole country of Japan transforms from a concrete jungle of bright lights & loud sounds into a dreamy garden of festivities. The grey concrete is replaced by beautiful, delicate pink & white flowers and the serious businessmen/women faces are replaced by friendly party-going smiles. The year-round Japanese charm will still be there (if you seek it), but there’s so much more to see, do & eat in Japan during cherry blossom season.
Below, you’ll find all of my tips & tricks to chasing Japanese cherry blossoms.
When Is Cherry Blossom Season in Japan?
Cherry blossoms are spring flowers. Their exact bloom dates will vary depending on where you are in Japan but the Japanese cherry blossom season typically runs from late-March/mid-April to mid-April/early-May. Upon blossoming, the flowers will only remain on the branches for about two weeks *.
* please note: cherry blossoms are extremely temperamental flowers - temperature, rain & wind can accelerate, delay or shorten the cherry blossom season.
For the most accurate cherry blossom forecast, visit https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/.
The Best Time to Start Booking Flights, Transportation & Accommodations
In a regular cherry blossom season, Japan welcomes over two million tourists over March, April & May - making flights, transportation & accommodations hard to come by or overly expensive if available . You may be tempted to start booking your trip to Japan a year in advance to avoid the stress of not finding flights, transportation & accommodations but it isn’t recommended - the weather can be so unpredictable & cherry blossoms are so temperamental that the slightest temperature, rain or wind changes can accelerate, delay or shorten the cherry blossom season. You may also be tempted to start booking your trip to Japan after the cherry blossom forecast is released in mid-March but that’d already be too late - flight, transportation & accommodation costs will have doubled, if not tripled the moment the forecast was released. To ensure you get the best flight, transportation & accommodation options possible, aim to start booking your trip around late-February to early-March.
The Best Places for a Cherry Blossom Picnic (Hanami) in Japan
The century-old Japanese tradition of picnicking beneath cherry blossom trees (also known as hanami) is still practiced to this day. For two weeks of the year, every park lawn in Japan becomes a patchwork of picnic blankets & tarps, as family, friends & coworkers get together underneath the cherry trees to eat fried & grilled meats, drink beer & sake and celebrate the arrival of the cherry blossoms & spring.
There will be hanami at every park across the country, but some parks are more festive than others. Here’s a list of my top (5) Japanese parks for hanami:
(5) Ueno Park - Tokyo
Ueno Park is incredibly festive & crowded during the cherry blossom season. The festivities begin around 9:00 & don't stop until 19:00 - 20:00. There are food vendors conveniently located right behind the Gojoten Shrine & the park is surrounded by 7/Elevens & Family Mart Convenience Stores, making it easy to stock up on food & beer before you head into the park. Be sure to arrive earlier in the day if you're going with a larger group - this park gets crowded fast.
(4) Sumida Park - Tokyo
Sumida Park is less festive & crowded than Ueno Park during the cherry blossom season but still worth a visit. The waterfront festivities begin around 9:00 & end around 17:00-18:00. There are no food vendors in Sumida Park but luckily, you won't have to go far to pick up food & drinks - there's a Matsuya Department Store with an incredible cafeteria right across the street. Arrive whenever you'd like, there's plenty of room for everybody at this park.
(3) Meijo Park - Nagoya
Meijo Park is less crowded but just as festive as any of the parks in Tokyo. The festivities begin around 10:00 & end around 16:00-17:00. There are food vendors conveniently located at the Nagoya Castle entrance, making it easy to stock up on food before you settle down for hanami. Arrive whenever you'd like, there's plenty of room for everybody at this park.
(2) Meguro River Park - Tokyo
Hanami at Meguro River Park is more like a block party than a picnic but these cherry blossom festivities cannot be missed! The festivities typically begin after 20:00 & don't stop until well-into the morning hours. There are food & drink vendors conveniently located around the Bessho bridge, making it easy to settle down for hanami. Be sure to arrive earlier in the evening if you're going with a larger group - this park gets crowded fast.
(1) Maruyama Park - Kyoto
Maruyama Park is the ultimate park for hanami! It's festive & crowded with families during the day and large groups of friends/coworkers & couples at night. There's food & drink vendors as far as your eyes can see. & It's the only park that also has a variety of fair games & a haunted house! (Check out the haunted house, I promise you won't regret it.) Be sure to arrive earlier in the evening if you're going with a larger group on the weekend - this park gets crowded fast.
I hope these tips & tricks help to bring you one step closer to seeing the Japanese cherry blossoms!
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Coming Next:
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Around Japan: Car, Bus, Train or Plane?
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