As I set out on my latest cherry blossom trip through Japan–I’ve taken eight, and counting, since I first visited the country in 2014, I made a tongue-in-cheek remark to a friend of mine. “Sakura season,” I quipped, “is like my Super Bowl.”
I was being half-sarcastic, but the reality is that I do take Japan’s famous flower festival at least as seriously as normal people take football. From the timing of the bloom, to the best places to see it, to how to make a backup plan in case Mother Nature throws a curveball, it’s not an exaggeration to say that I’m a cherry blossom expert.
If you’re looking for the low-down on Japan cherry blossom season 2026, you’re in the right place. Even—especially—if this is your first time, and you want to get it right, straight out of the gate.
The 2026 Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast
In recent years, Japan’s sakura have bloomed significantly earlier than in preceding decades. 2021’s and 2023’s seasons were especially notable, seeing the earliest attainment of mankai (full bloom) in at least 1,000 years. However, there have also been a few “late” years—2024 springs to mind—so I’ve tried not to draw too many conclusions.
This table provides a general idea of what the Japan cherry blossom season looks like in an average year:
| Destination | First bloom | Full bloom |
|---|---|---|
| Kochi | March 21 | March 28 |
| Kumamoto | March 22 | March 29 |
| Hiroshima | March 26 | April 3 |
| Kyoto | March 26 | April 4 |
| Nagoya | March 27 | April 4 |
| Kanazawa | March 31 | April 7 |
| Tokyo | March 21 | March 27 |
| Matsumoto | April 2 | April 10 |
| Fuji Five Lakes | April 3 | April 13 |
| Sendai | April 2 | April 8 |
| Hirosaki | April 20 | April 26 |
| Hakodate | April 26 | May 3 |
If you’re looking to book flights for cherry blossom season Japan 2026, there are two strategies you can take. In general, I recommend that you start browsing tickets no later than September or October of the year prior. If you’re flexible about where you see sakura, then anytime between the last week of March and the first week of May could end up working out, particularly if you plan to take a longer trip, i.e. one month in Japan.
Alternatively, if you’re taking a shorter trip or want to ensure that the “cherry blossom front” perfectly lines up with your set-in-stone plans, I suggest you wait until as late as possible to hammer down the specific details of your 2026 Japan cherry blossom itinerary. Weather events that occur as March (or, in some parts of the country, April) can conspire to bring the bloom forward, or to delay it, so flexibility is key.
Top Destinations in Japan for Cherry Blossoms
Kyoto
If you’ve never been to Japan, or have never visited Kyoto when the sakura are in bloom, I’d definitely recommend adding to your Japan cherry blossom season 2026 list. I don’t say this without caveats, though. Firstly, you should know that the city will be a mad-house at this time of year, particularly when it comes to mainstream attractions like Kiyomizu-dera temple and the entire Arashiyama district. You can counteract this by waking up early, or by prioritizing off-the-beaten-path attractions, such as Kurama-dera temple and Kifune-jinja shrine, or the underrated Fushimi sake district.
Mt. Fuji
Like Kyoto, the Fuji Five Lakes (and other regions around Mt. Fuji) can be absolutely swamped during cherry blossom season, particularly the Urui River and the Chureito Pagoda pictured above and in the main image of this post. This was true even during the pandemic, when all the foreigners in the world (besides me and a few others lucky enough to reside in Japan at the time) were locked out. On the other hand, the sakura around Fujisan are stunning enough that they should still be near the top of your 2026 cherry blossom bucket list.
TIP: If you travel all the way to Mt. Fuji, check out these other places to view the mountain, which extend far beyond the region’s best hanami spots.
Yoshino
Although its deer are famous among Japanese travelers, most foreigners are unaware of Nara prefecture’s Yoshino. This is not the only irony surrounding the mountain. Among other quirks, while it’s the namesake of the somei yoshino (Japan’s most famous cherry tree), the most beautiful sakura here actually bloom on the yamazakura, which feature bright, almost fluorescent flowers, and are prominent at Takami-no-Sato Sky Garden about an hour’s drive from the main Yoshino tourist area, assuming you don’t mind renting a car during your sakura season Japan 2026 trip.
Tokyo
It boasts neither the scenery of Mt. Fuji nor the historical architecture of Kyoto, but futuristic Tokyo is still deservedly high on the lists of many hanami goers. Deservedly so, in my opinion. In spite of being one of the most urbanized cities in the world, Tokyo is one of the very best places in Japan to see cherry blossoms in 2026. From popular spots like Chidorigafuchi moat and the Meguro River (pictured above), to green spaces like Ueno Park and Koishikawa Koraku-en, Tokyo is chock full of cherry blossoms.
Himeji
There are few more iconic sakura photos that you can take than cherry blossoms at Himeji Castle—I know this personally. In fact, I was so intent on getting my so-called “Himeji money shot” that I’ve actually returned many separate times over the years. Note that of you travel all the way to Himeji to see cherry blossoms, you could also stop in Kobe on the way back to Osaka, Kyoto or wherever else you’re coming from.
Hirosaki
I know I never shut up about Japan’s underrated Tohoku region, and I can also understand why you might be skeptical to see yet another castle on this list—I hear you. The thing is, Aomori prefecture’s Hirosaki Castle itself is not terribly impressive on its own, even if Mt. Iwaki towering behind it gives it an atmosphere few other such fortresses can claim. The weeping shidarezakura all around it also add a nice touch. Indeed, what truly makes Hirosaki-jo special is its outer moat, which fills with so many petals during the last week of April that they literally cover the surface.
Takayama
Although photos of the city’s twice-annual matsuri were what initially inspired me to visit, it took me nearly a decade past that point to come to Takayama in mid-April, for the spring edition of that festival. As luck would have it, cherry blossoms were in perfect, full bloom as the floats paraded over the iconic Nakabashi bridge, although based on past editions of the celebration, this is far from a foregone conclusion. While I can’t yet make a specific Japan cherry blossom forecast, 2026 is likely to be like past years, with full bloom taking place around April 14-15, when the festival is happening.
Shikoku
There are many advantage to seeing 2026 cherry blossoms on Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s four islands. For starters, Shikoku is one of the first places to see cherry blossoms bloom, particularly in the southern prefecture of Kochi, where full bloom can sometimes occur during the third week of March. Secondly, Shikoku offers a huge array of sakura options, whether in its rural, mountainous interior, or along its coast, which are home to a whopping four of Japan’s 12 “original” castles (Matsuyama; Kochi; Marugame; and Uwajima.
Hanamiyama
If you love the idea of visiting Yoshinoyama, but think you’ll be a bit too late to enjoy it, or simply don’t want to go to the trouble, I have an idea for you. Ride the Tohoku Shinkansen to Fukushima, and explore Hanamiyama, which I sometimes refer to as the “Yoshino of the North.” Hanamiyama is home to sakura, peach blossoms, bamboo, rapeseed and a whole host of other flowers. Even better, while hiking its plentiful trails, you can enjoy views not only of Fukushima City, but of the incredible Azuma Mountains.
Hokkaido
If, on the other hand, you’re planning a 2026 Japan cherry blossom trip, but can’t travel until late April or even early May? In that case, consider visiting Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, where sakura bloom much later than in the rest of the country. Destinations in southern Hokkaido, such as Goryokaku fort in Hakodate (pictured above) tend to reach full bloom during the final week of April. Elsewhere on the island, such as in Sapporo or at Matsumae Castle, you can enjoy hanami during the first week of May (though watch out for Golden Week crowds!).
BONUS: Early-blooming cherry blossoms
Traveling in Japan in winter doesn’t mean you can’t see cherry blossoms! Quite the opposite, in fact. Around the “kiss” of January and February, you see, cherry blossoms in Okinawa reach full bloom. Later into February (and in some years, as late as mid-March), the Kawazu-zakura erupt into blossom, both on their native Izu Peninsula, and throughout the Kanto region, including in Tokyo. Note that these are both different species, with both Okinawa’s hikanzakura and the Kawazu-zakura producing deep pink flowers, in contrast to the whitish-pink color of the more famous somei yoshino.
When Does Japan’s Cherry Blossom Season Usually Take Place?
When is cherry blossom season in Japan? As I mentioned earlier, recent seasons have begun freakishly early. In an ordinary year, however, cherry blossoms reach mankai (aka full bloom) as follows:
- Last week of March: Tokyo, Kyushu and Shikoku.
- Around or just after April 1: Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji, Nagoya, Hiroshima and the San’in region.
- Early-to-mid April: Kanazawa, Fuji Five Lakes, Japanese Alps and Sendai, as well as southern and central Tohoku (Yamagata, Fukushima) more broadly.
- Mid-to-late April: Aomori and northern Tohoku (Akita and Iwate); Hakodate and southern Hokkaido.
- Early May: Sapporo and the rest of Hokkaido.
Additionally, whether during sakura season 2026 or any other year, cherry blossoms briefly spring up in Okinawa in late January or early February; in Shizuoka prefecture just west of Tokyo, you can also enjoy Kawazu-zakura around this time. Note, however, that these are both a different species than the classic somei yoshino tree that blooms in the rest of Japan. Read more about these here.
How Can I Predict When the Sakura 2026 Will Bloom?
The bad news? We’re a long way away from being able to predict even the general contours of the 2026 cherry blossom season. The good news? The criteria I and other cherry blossom forecasters use are the same every year, whether for the sakura forecast 2026 or any other:
- Temperature: Generally speaking, the first cherry trees in a given city or location have their first bloom shortly after the last hard freeze of the season. Full bloom (mankai) can occur anywhere from a few days after this to a couple weeks. How soon mankai arrives and how long it lasts also varies depending upon how warm or cold it is.
- Precipitation: Even if temperatures are relatively mild, heavy rain can delay the arrival of the first bloom (and, even more frequently, the full bloom) during the Japan cherry blossom season. Additionally, if rainy or windy conditions arise as the blossoms approach mankai or after it has been reached, this can drastically shorten the amount of time available to enjoy hanami.
- Specific sakura spots: Although there is an official date when a city or region sees its first bloom and full bloom, there is variance (often significant) between different sakura spots within one destination. For example, the weeping shidarezakura in Kyoto’s Maruyama Park blooms before the Philosopher’s Path, which in turn blooms before Kiyomizu-dera.
- Past performance: Regardless of temperature, precipitation and when the season starts, the progression of the sakura in the past can provide clues about what will happen in subsequent years. While it usually takes cherry blossoms in Kyoto a full week to reach mankai after they initially bloom, I’ve noticed Kanazawa’s progress much faster, often in only a few days.
I expect meteorologists to make their initial predictions about the 2026 sakura bloom in January or February, when it becomes clear whether the coming winter ends up being warmer or colder than an average one. Visit this page often, as I’ll be updating my own cherry blossom Japan 2026 predictions in line with what the experts have advised!
Other FAQ About 2026 Cherry Blossoms in Japan
Which month is cherry blossom in Japan 2026?
Japan’s cherry blossoms begin blooming in mid-March in Shikoku and Kyushu islands, as well as in Tokyo. They’ll reach full bloom in major tourist destinations like Kyoto, Osaka and Kanazawa during early April, while mid-to-late April is the best time to see sakura around Mt. Fuji and in the Tohoku region. The cherry blossom season ends in early May, after it reaches Hokkaido island in Japan’s far north. This general pattern is the same for the Japan sakura season 2026 and every other year.
How long do cherry blossoms bloom in Japan?
The entire life cycle of the cherry blossom, from bud to leaf, is about a month. However, the mankai (or full bloom) only lasts between 1-2 weeks, with the fullest and most gorgeous period of blooming sometimes just a few days in length. Weather events such as wind, rain or sudden cold snaps can impact the longevity of the sakura bloom.
Where are cherry blossoms in Japan?
Cherry blossoms exist all over Japan, from small towns and villages in rural areas like San’in and the Japanese Alps, to huge cities like Tokyo and Osaka. While the majority of cherry blossoms in Japan are of the iconic somei yoshino variety, other species exist, including more brightly colored ones in Okinawa, and the picturesque shiderazakura, or “weeping” cherry trees you find in certain gardens.
The Bottom Line
I hope my guide to cherry blossom season Japan 2026 has informed and inspired you. Because of the difficulty of forecasting full bloom dates, I would wait as long as possible to finalize your 2026 Japan cherry blossom trip, if you can. With this being said, you can definitely start brainstorming about a trip to see next year’s cherry blossoms as soon as possible! Come back to this page often, as I’ll be updating it with essential facts and figures as the 2026 sakura season approaches, and as the one after that draws nearer. Also remember that you don’t have to sweat the details of your sakura itinerary alone. Hire me to plan your 2026 cherry blossom trip to Japan today!
