Posted on Wednesday, 2 December 2020

People visit Japan for all kinds of reasons: from the kaleidoscopic lights of Tokyo's Shinjuku district, to the peaceful temples of Kyoto, to simply admiring this futuristic island-nation's bullet trains and off-beat vending machines.

But enjoying the fall of the cherry blossoms - known as Sakura - is another big reason to visit. Visually, it's one of the best times to explore Japan, as the forests, fields and riverbanks come alive with fabulous shades of pink. Sakura marks the beginning of spring.

The Japanese even have a name for witnessing this special time: hanami. It's an ancient tradition that helps people appreciate the fleeting nature of life.

When to catch the blossoms

If you fancy enjoying hanami, you'll need to plan your trip well, and be a little bit lucky, too. The cherry blossoms bloom at slightly different times each year (2020 was an early bloom), but invariably in March and April, and then fall within the space of just two weeks.

In northern Aomori the blossom occurs in late April, and around the beginning of May in Sapporo - this is due to their cooler climates.

Hanami culture in Japan

When the cherry blossoms arrive in Japan, people of all ages and walks of life gather under the trees to watch, enjoy the sight, and to ponder life. The fascination is rooted in the bittersweet truth that these beautiful blossoms will come and go quickly: much as life does. As the old cherry tree branches reach for the sky, laden with pink, spring winds will swirl and cast the blossoms fluttering through the air, to the ground. People gather for picnics under the trees with friends and family.

Hanami can be traced back to the Nara period (710 ~ 794), when people would admire the ume, a species similar to plum and apricot trees, whose blossoms would last about two months. Inspired by the Chinese Tang Dynasty, hanami can be found throughout Japanese poetry, literature and art.

The brevity of the cherry tree blossom is part of the fascination - you have to make an effort to witness this brief flash of natural beauty, as you might with aspects of life.

When is the best time to see the cherry blossoms in Tokyo?

Many people enjoy seeing the cherry blossoms in the nation's largest city. Most years, the blossom starts mid to late March and reaches full bloom a week later.

Best places to see the cherry blossom in Tokyo

Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑)

As one of the largest gardens in the city, Shinjuku Gyoen boasts more than 1,000 cherry trees of different varieties. It's a great location to grab a blanket and a picnic, and view the blossoms in all their glory.

Meguro River (目黒川)

More than 800 cherry trees line the Meguro River, one of the most popular places in Tokyo to see the blossom. There are plenty of food vendors, and the trees are lit up at night, so you can enjoy Sakura until long after the sun's gone down.

Chidorigafuchi (千鳥ヶ淵)

But arguably the best spot is Chidorigafuchi, the moated area of the former Edo Castle (now part of the Imperial Palace). As well as enjoying the hundreds of blossoming cherry trees, visitors can rent a paddle boat for an even better view.

The cherry blossom app

To help you identify the best time to catch Sakura, the Japanese Meteorological Corporation (JMC) has created an app: Find it here. It provides up-to-date information about the blossom's progress in about 1,000 locations across Japan. You can even rig it up to give you updates on specific areas.

Coronavirus note

The Coronavirus pandemic may limit if and when you can visit Japan to see the cherry blossoms in 2021, but fingers crossed it will be possible. 

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