The cherry blossom festival in Japan, typically witnessed around late March or early April, marks the onset of spring and paints the landscape in exquisite tones. Plan your Japan vacation to coincide with this festival for a truly unique experience.
This is the time when cherry blossoms – called “sakura” in Japanese – make for a charming sight with their fleeting presence in various parts of the country. White or pale pink, sometimes dark pink or yellow, and sometimes changing color as the blooming period progresses, they symbolize the delicate and ephemeral nature of life and attract locals and tourists alike.
It’s no wonder then that there’s a word called “hanami” in the Japanese lexicon. It refers to “cherry blossom viewing” or the centuries-old practice of enjoying a picnic or party under a cherry tree in bloom. In some places, you can even enjoy a late-night hanami picnic with pretty paper lanterns to heighten the ambiance.
What Is The True Meaning Of Japan's Sakura Cherry Blossom?
While the blooming period can last up to 14 days, there are some varieties that are in peak bloom for just a couple of days.
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Follow The Cherry Blossom Trail: Tokyo's 10 Best Sakura Viewing Spots
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Japan has a special connect with the cherry blossom, to the extent that some would even call it the country’s national flower. It is home to over a hundred varieties of cherry trees, including wild varieties and cultivated ones.
The trees are also differentiated in terms of the number of petals, the color of the petals, the shape of the tree, the color of the leaves, and whether the leaves arrive along with the blossoms or after the blooming period. Trees with blossoms of more than five petals are called yaezakura. Weeping cherry trees – the ones with drooping branches – are called shidarezakura. The Somei Yoshino with five-petal blossoms of white or pale pink color is among the most commonly found cherry trees in Japan. The Ukon variety is known for its pale yellow blossoms. While the blooming period can last up to 14 days, there are some varieties that are in peak bloom for just a couple of days. A great way to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossom in Japan is to observe how it keeps changing as the days pass by.
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The arrival of cherry blossoms in Japan varies slightly each year depending on weather conditions. The earliest blooms appear in tropical Okinawa in January, the last on the northernmost island of Hokkaido in early May. The flowers are estimated to bloom between late March and early April in most destinations. However, accurate estimates of cherry blossom dates are available only by early March.
So if you already plan to be in Japan around this time in 2023, you are in for a visual treat! The cherry blossom season usually extends into the months of April and May. And in case you miss this beautiful spectacle, don’t worry. From around mid-September till early December, is
If you’re wondering where to see cherry blossoms in Japan, read on. We’ve prepared a guide to the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan. And to make things easier, we have also included our favorite hotels in each city that you can visit for your cherry blossom tour.
Best Cherry Blossom Festivals & Viewing Locations
With its urban, edgy vibe and manga and anime culture, Tokyo is one of the top cities to view cherry blossoms in Japan. The best hanami spots here include Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno Park and Chidorigafuchi. While Chidorigafuchi doesn’t allow for picnics, you can always rent a boat and go around the moat of Edo Castle to view the blossoms; this place also looks great at night when the trees are lit up with lanterns.
While in Tokyo, you could stay at the Mandarin Oriental, a luxurious hotel set inside the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower. You could also consider the Imperial Hotel which is walking distance from the city’s famous Imperial Palace.
A manufacturing, shipping and entertainment hub in Aichi Prefecture, Nagoya is also known for the delightful hues it takes on during the cherry blossom festival in Japan. Yamazakigawa Riverside is one of the best places for cherry blossom viewing.
Cherry Season Japan
With its 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, shrines, tea rooms and ryokans, Kyoto offers plenty of options if you’re on a cherry blossom tour. The best known of these include the Philosopher’s Path, Maruyama Park and Arashiyama district.
While in Kyoto, you could stay at Gion Yoshi-Ima, a traditional lodge with minimalist rooms, tatami flooring and futon beds. Alternatively, you could stay at the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto that is set on the banks of Kamogawa river providing fabulous views of the Higashiyama mountains.
A city known for its gourmet street food and the Osaka Castle among other things, this is a fantastic destination for cherry blossom viewing. Among the favored hanami spots here is the Kama Sakuranomiya Park, with its vast lawn for picnics and cherry trees set along the Okawa Riverside. The other great hanami spot is, of course, Osaka Castle.
Cruise Japan During Cherry Blossom Season: The Best Places To See Them
While in Osaka, stay at Hotel Granvia Osaka that offers luxury accommodation with bright, airy rooms and specialty restaurants. Or you could stay at St Regis Osaka, another luxurious hotel situated near Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan.
A harbor city on Kyushu island possessing a cosmopolitan vibe, Fukuoka is another great place to visit during the cherry blossom festival in Japan. The best hanami spot here is Maizuru Park within the premises of Fukuoka Castle. While it is known for hanami parties, there is also an observation deck in the main citadel of the castle that makes for a great vantage point to view cherry blossoms.
While in Fukuoka, stay at Nikko Fukuoka which offers easy access to train stations as well as the international airport. Alternatively, you could stay at Grand Hyatt Fukuoka.
Discovering The Pink Petal Land Of Japan
Experience the best of the cherry blossom festival in Japan with a completely tailor-made private tour. Get in touch with us for your obligation-free itinerary.Magical Cherry Blossom Experience off the Beaten Path The best way to enjoy spring - Japan’s Best Hot Spring Town, Kinosaki Onsen
In Kinosaki Onsen (Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan), you can enjoy a magical cherry blossom experience while enjoying the town's seven public onsen and traditional atmosphere. From the end of March to the beginning of April, visitors marvel at sakura trees lining the canals of Kinosaki Onsen and decorating the base of the Izushi Castle ruins.
In Kinosaki Onsen and its surrounding towns, while enjoying Japan's best onsen town*, you can experience the magic of the cherry blossom season. This includes the contrast of cherry blossoms from day to night, the ensemble of sakura and traditional landscapes, and the beauty that comes from both the start and the end of the blooming period.
What Does
At the season's peak, one can fully appreciate the cherry blossoms in the area. During the daytime, the delicate pale pink of the cherry blossoms stands out against the town's green willow trees and red bridge. At night, the sakura glows among the lanterns that run along the river.
At the end of the season, it is customary in Kinosaki Onsen to watch the petals fall off the trees, dance in the air, and then float down the Otani River. Sakura petals floating down the river is a popular phenomenon called hana ikada. Hana Ikada, meaning floral raft, occurs at the end of the sakura season when clusters of cherry blossoms cover the river's surface. The clusters of petals resemble a raft floating down a river.
Kinosaki Onsen: One great place to see the sakura both during the day and at night is in Kinosaki Onsen along Kiyamachi Street near Ichino-Yu, one of the town's seven public onsen. Sakura line the small canal and create a soft pink canopy for nearly 1 kilometer, stretching all the way back to the ropeway. At night the pink lanterns glow softly, creating a romantic atmosphere perfect for an evening stroll between onsen and shop visits.
When Do Cherry Blossoms Bloom In Japan
Izushi: To spread out a sheet under the cherry blossom trees and enjoying the flowers while eating a packed lunch is a traditional pastime in Japan, and is called hanami or flower-viewing. One excellent place to partake in this hanami tradition is in Izushi, our castle town. The sakura trees decorate the perimeter of the Izushi Castle ruins. Participating in hanami under the sakura trees at the foot of castle ruins is a uniquely Japanese experience that you will never forget.
Other locations: If you miss the ones in Kinosaki Onsen or Izushi, you can try your luck and timing with the ones in Kannabe, as they tend to bloom slightly later.
Kinosaki Onsen is a town of time-honored
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