We’ve compiled the most common questions about Japan’s stunning Sakura cherry blossoms including the cherished tradition of Hanami—and we’re here with all the answers!
Discover when and how long Sakura blooms, the secret behind the “600 degrees rule,” and which places are considered to be the best destinations to experience the breathtaking Hanami in Japan. Learn which Sakura cherry blossom tree is known for the most beautiful or the oldest, as well as what are the legendary Three Great Sakura Trees of Japan.
If you’re looking for the answer to a specific question you may have in mind, please feel free to jump to the relevant section using the table of contents.
When do Sakura cherry blossoms bloom in Japan?
Sakura (桜) means cherry blossoms. In Japan, cherry blossoms generally bloom between March and May depending on the location and weather.
In southern Japan such as Fukuoka, blossoms usually start to flower in mid-March and last until late March. In central and western Japan such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the typical Sakura season is from late March to early April. In northern Japan such as Aomori and Sapporo, blossoms generally bloom between late April and early May.
However, in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan, a different type of Sakura called Ryukyu Kanhi Zakura flowers usually from mid-January to mid-February.
How long do Sakura cherry blossoms last in Japan?
While the Sakura cherry blossom season in most of Japan falls in March and April, the peak bloom (mankai 満開) usually lasts about a week. Then, the petals start dropping off. Sakura has a relatively short lifespan of averagely 10 days to two weeks depending on the weather conditions.
If you’re visiting Japan to see cherry blossoms from late March to early April, central and western Japan such as Tokyo and Kyoto will be the best possible area to go, from early to mid-April, you should try Takato, Ina in Nagano Prefecture or northern Japan such as Sendai, and if you can’t make it till late April, an option will be to head further north such as Hirosaki in Aomori and Sapporo in Hokkaido where blossoms don’t usually bloom until late April although it’s better to check one of the Sakura Forecasts in advance which we’ll cover in the next section.
Can you predict the exact date of the first bloom of Sakura cherry blossoms?
It’s difficult to determine when precisely Sakura cherry blossoms start blooming beforehand, but you can check Sakura Forecasts to get some info on the dates of the first bloom (defined as when a tree has 5 or 6 flowers) and the full bloom (when 80% of the flowers of a tree are in bloom).
The cherry blossom forecast map is a much anticipated one each year called the “Sakura Zensen 桜前線 (Cherry Blossom Front)” that starts in the southern to southwestern parts of Japan and advances northward. This map will be updated regularly to help people make plans for Hanami cherry blossom viewing until the Sakura season ends.
- Cherry Blossom Forecast by Japan Meteorological Corporation
- Cherry Blossom Forecast Map by Weather Map Co. Ltd.
- Sakura Navi on App Store
- Sakura Navi on Google Play
What is the 600 degrees rule?
In Japan, the 600 degrees rule is a method to predict the most likely first bloom date of Sakura. You simply keep cumulatively adding up the day’s highest temperature in a certain place starting from February 1st until it reaches 600 Degrees Celsius. It’s said that when the total temperature goes above 600 or near enough, it awakes Sakura cherry blossom tree from its hibernation resulting in it starting to bloom.
What are the things Japanese people do during the Sakura cherry blossom season?
Japanese people visit parks and promenades where Sakura trees have been planted for cherry blossom viewing (Hanami 花見), taking photos, and to watch while spending time under the Sakura trees.
Hanami cherry blossom viewing is typically celebrated with families, friends and coworkers who gather in parks to enjoy food, drinks and seasonal traditional sweets under the blooming Sakura trees. They often attend Sakura festivals, go for Yozakura (nighttime illumination) viewing and take a boat cruise or a boat ride to enjoy Hanami cherry blossom viewing.
What foods do Japanese people eat for Hanami cherry blossom viewing?
The popular foods that Japanese people have for Hanami are Onigiri rice balls, Karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken), Yakitori grilled bite-sized pieces of chicken on skewers and Dango dumplings.
Also, they will like to eat seasonal sweets like Sakura mochi, a sakura-coloured rice cake with anko sweet red bean paste filling wrapped in a Sakura leaf, as well as other Sakura-themed foods and Sakura-flavoured ice cream and parfait.
What’s the most popular variety of Sakura cherry blossom tree in Japan?
Somei-Yoshino (染井吉野 ソメイヨシノ), Yoshino Cherry, is the most common and popular variety of Sakura cherry blossom tree in Japan, which has five white petals on each flower and blooms in bunches with a couples of flowers or more until the petals fall and replaced by green leaves.
You can see this Yoshino Cherry variety across Japan except some parts of Hokkaido (the northernmost island of Japan) and Okinawa (the southernmost prefecture of Japan).
There are countless spots to view and take photos of the fabulous Yoshino Cherry blossoms in Japan including Hirosaki Park in Aomori Prefecture, famous for its beautiful Somei-Yoshino blossoms with many Insta-worthy spots. For this place, you can read further on our post of Cherry Blossom Season in Japan.
What’s the most beautiful Sakura cherry blossom tree in Japan?
Miharu Takizakura (三春滝桜) in Fukushima Prefecture is known to be the most famous and beautiful Sakura cherry blossom tree in Japan. This stunning shidarezakura (weeping cherry blossom tree) is believed to be over 1,000 years old and the famous cascading branches resembling a waterfall of pink blossoms stretch out in all directions in full bloom around mid-April is truly amazing. More details on the Miharu Town Development Corporation page (language option on top).
What’s the oldest Sakura cherry blossom tree in Japan?
Yamataka Jindai Zakura (山高神代桜) is the oldest large Sakura cherry blossom tree in Japan estimated to be around 2,000 years old. This incredible giant Sakura cherry blossom tree is on the ground of the Jissoji temple in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture and it is said to have been planted by the legendary Prince Yamato. For more details, check the website page of Yamanashi Tourism Organaization.
What are the Three Great Sakura Cherry Blossom Trees of Japan?
Along with Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima Prefecture and Yamataka Jindai Zakura in Yamanashi Prefecture, Neodani Usuzumi Zakura in Gifu Prefecture makes up “The Three Great Sakura Cherry Blossom Trees of Japan”.
Located in Usuzumi Park, Neodani Usuzumi Zakura (根尾谷薄墨桜) is an ancient 1,500 years old Sakura cherry blossom tree, and is known for its uniqueness of changing colour from light pink in buds to white in full bloom at the beginning of April which then fade to light grey as they fall.
With all being designated as a National Natural Monument, these legendary trees epitomise the deep cultural connections to Sakura in Japan!
What are the three best destinations for cherry blossom viewing in Japan?
For centuries, Mt. Yoshino in Nara Prefecture is regarded as the best Hanami destination offering a breathtaking panoramic view of Yama Zakura (mountain cherry blossom trees). Meanwhile, Hirosaki Park in Aomori Prefecture is known for its beautiful Somei Yoshino trees, the most popular and famous type of Sakura tree.
Last but not least is the Hanami at the Takato Castle Ruins Park in Ina, Nagano Prefecture which is unparalleled as its filled with 1,500 of lovely Takatoo Kohigan Zakura, which has smaller petals with a darker pink colour compared to other Sakura trees. This rare variety is only to be seen in the area and attracts thousands of people when in bloom, usually from early to mid-April, where they can see this splendid one-of-a-kind view of the cherry blossoms there.
For more about Mt. Yoshino and Hirosaki Park, you can read further on our post of Cherry Blossom Season in Japan, and for further details on the Takatoo Kohigan Zakura and Sakura cherry blossom festival in Ina City, please check the Ina City Tourism Association page.
Where are the best spots to view Sakura cherry blossoms in Tokyo?
The Chidorigafuchi Moat of the Imperial Palace is a great spot for taking a stroll on the walkway and you can also take a boat ride while admiring beautiful Sakura. Meanwhile Shinjuku Gyoen is famous for its picturesque Sakura cherry blossoms and you can enjoy Hanami in a peaceful ambience. Also, there’s the Meguro River (Promenade) where you get to see a fantastic Sakura canopy over the river – this is an awesome place to view Sakura which we’ve covered in our post: Cherry Blossom Season in Japan
For those who are looking for a livelier Hanami, there’s the ever-popular Ueno Park where people gather to attend one of the largest Hanami festivals in Japan and have picnics under the blooming Sakura cherry blossom trees as well as the opportunity to take fun boat rides there. Another place to go is the vast Yoyogi Park known for its action-packed activities such as the parties, barbecues, karaoke and the chance to play sports while viewing Sakura cherry blossoms in a vibrant atmosphere.
We have covered the most common FAQ regarding Sakura and Hanami on this page, but if you can’t find something you would like to know, you can use our contact us form to get in touch with us.
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