Japan Cherry Blossom Guide 2018: Where & When to Catch These Beautiful Sakuras

Japan is one of our favourite countries in the world for obvious reasons. They have amazing food, friendly people and is also one of the most scenic countries around. And when one think of scenic shots in Japan, you cannot help but think of Cherry Blossom.

Cherry Blossoms, also known as Sakura, is widely considered the national flower of Japan and hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists alike, fly into Japan every year just to see these beautiful flowers. These pinkish white flowers make not just for good instagram-able shots but is also deeply rooted in the history of Japan.

Although Cherry Blossoms can be found in several other countries such as Taiwan, China, Korea, United States etc, most people still consider it an icon of Japan and rate it as a must see when in Japan. But like how most beautiful things dont last, the same could be said for cherry blossoms as they only bloom for a limited time a year, and trying to catch a glimpse of them may just be impossible if you do not plan your trip well.

If you do plan to see these beautiful flowers and join the Japanese in the age old Hanami experience (the tradition of having a picnic under a blooming Cherry Blossom tree that dates back to the Samurai Era), this would be a good guide on where and when to catch them as they bloom at various timings across the different cities.

The blossoming of Cherry Blossoms typically begin in Okinawa from Mid Jan and move northwards with the arrival of warmer weather.

Okinawa Cherry Blossoms: Mid January

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Nago Castle

Tokyo Cherry Blossoms: 29 March to 4 April

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Ueno Park

Fukuoka Cherry Blossoms: 31 March to 7 April

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Fukuoka Castle, Nishi Park

Hiroshima Cherry Blossoms: 4 April to 10 April

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Shukkeien Garden

Kyoto Cherry Blossoms: 5 April to 11 April

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Arashiyama, Golden Pavilion, Fushimi Inari

Osaka Cherry Blossoms: 5 April to 11 April

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Osaka Castle Park

Nara Cherry Blossoms: 6 April to 12 April

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Nara Park

Kobe Cherry Blossoms: 7 April to 13 April

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Egeyama Park

Fukushima Cherry Blossoms: 8 April to 14 April

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Hanamiyama Park

Aomori Cherry Blossoms: late April

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Ashino National Park

Hokkaido Cherry Blossoms: 29 April to 4 May

Recommended Cherry Blossom Viewing spot: Odori Park

*Do note that these Cherry Blossom forecast are meant to be a generic guide and may still be subject to change due to climate, weather patterns, seasonal changes etc. We would however do our best to ensure that this guide is updated and it is as close to actual dates as possible.

If you are planning to visit Japan during these times, do expect large crowds from not just tourist who are flying in, but also locals who would be flying in from various parts of the country to see these magnificent flowers. Don’t forget to also book your Hotels early as they would also be in high demand. In Osaka for example, nightly rates for hotels during 5th to 11th April are already going from SG$170/night. Don’t forget to book your accommodations early to prevent paying surcharges and/or be unable to find right accomodations during the season. Use this Agoda search box above to find the cheapest rates in the selected city:

It may all seem like a bit of a rush to book your flights and hotels around flowers, but our Singapore Food Blog and Travel Blog assures you that once you see these beautiful flowers in person, it will all be worth it.

Share this article with your love ones and tell them about these peak cherry blossom season across Japan. Also, if you have your own recommended viewing spots that are not already listed above, do let us know in the comments below and we will look to fill it in.

Happy Hanami-ing!

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