Sakura in Japan usually bloom from late March to early April, but the exact date varies from year to year and can vary by more than a week even between regions.

The poor timing is the reason why some travelers don't see sakura at all, even if they arrive in "spring".

The good news is that if you know when to go and how to follow the flowering forecasts, the chances of success are very high.

Sakura blooms only last about 1-2 weeks, but the season itself lasts about 3-4 weeks as the bloom progresses from south to north.

When do sakura bloom in Japan - overview by city

According to the Japan Meteorological Institute, the following sakura flowering dates are expected in 2026.

Dates are approximate and may vary by up to a week depending on current conditions.

Area	First blossoms	Full bloom
Tokyo	20 March	28 March
Kyoto	March 24	1 April
Osaka	24 March	1 April
Nagoya	20 March	30 March
Hiroshima	22 March	31 March
Fukuoka	21 March	30 March
Kagoshima	24 March	5 April
Nagano	6 April	April 11
Sapporo	26 April	29 April
Sendai	April 5	April 10
Okinawa	18 January	9 February

The flowering of sakura progresses from south to north, so the differences between regions can be several weeks. The map below shows the typical progression of the season.

When to go to Japan for sakura

If you're going for the first time, in the long run the last week of March and the first week of April prove to be the safest.

This is when sakura are most likely to bloom in the most touristy regions - Tokyo and Kansai (includes Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe).

In addition, the weather is usually very pleasant with temperatures around 17 °C.

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How to increase your chances of actually seeing sakura

In practice, four simple things work:

• 👉Stay in Japan for at least 10-14 days - flowering can be delayed by a few days.
• 👉 Plan for multiple cities - the differences can be a few days or even a week
• 👉 Be flexible - it's ideal to plan a sakura trip as needed, so perhaps take an unplanned shinkansen from Tokyo further north or south
• 👉Follow the sakura forecast - 3 weeks in advance the forecasts are usually quite accurate, for example here n-kishou.com/news-contents/sakura

My experience: the most beautiful sakuras are not always on the peak day

Before my first trip, I felt like I had to hit the exact day of full bloom. In fact, it is not necessary.

Sakura are beautiful when they start to bloom, in full bloom, even when they fall

The falling petals and pink carpets in the parks are some of the most photogenic moments of the whole season.

How to plan a route to really see the sakura

The most reliable way to really see the sakura is not to limit yourself to one city. Flowering can be delayed by several days and a short move will often make all the difference.

For example, this route works well:

• Hiroshima or Miyajima (quieter atmosphere and fewer crowds)
• Kyoto + Nara + Osaka (temples, historic streets and sakura alleys)
• Mount Fuji area (sakura + snowy peak)
• Tokyo (parks and rivers with sakura)

You gradually move between regions where sakura bloom at slightly different times, while seeing very different parts of Japan.

If you really want to have a high chance of full bloom, expect a trip length of at least 8-10 days.

When to book flights and hotels

Sakura season is one of the most expensive times in Japan. Hotels in tourist towns tend to be up to 3 times more expensive than at other times of the year.

From experience, it pays off:

• arrange flights about 3-6 months in advance.
• book accommodation as early as possible, especially in Tokyo and Kyoto
• choose a hotel near the subway or parks, as sakura trees are often lit up in the evening and are worth returning to easily

If you already have approximate dates, it's worth checking current accommodation prices in advance - the differences between weeks can be significant during sakura.

Book a hotel in Japan in advance

What is hanami?

During sakura, you'll find groups of people sitting on blankets under trees in parks. This is called hanami - the tradition of watching the sakura blossom.

In practice, it means a very simple but very pleasant thing: people bring food and drink, sit under the trees and spend time outside. In large parks, the atmosphere is relaxed and often surprisingly calm, even when there are lots of people around.

This atmosphere is one of the things that makes spring in Japan so special - it's not just the flowers, but the way the whole city slows down for a few weeks.

Sakura vs autumn leaves

Sakura are the most famous, but autumn in Japan is just as beautiful and often more stable for the weather.

I personally like autumn a bit better because the colors on the trees are more varied than the flowering sakura, where you'll only see shades of pink.

• 👉 When is the best time for autumn leaves

Summary: when to go to Japan for sakura

The best time for sakura in Japan is late March and early April, when Tokyo and most places in the Kyoto and Osaka area are in bloom.

Even if you don't hit the peak exactly, sakura are beautiful at different stages of flowering and the atmosphere of spring in Japan is almost always worth it.

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