When To See Japan's Cherry Blossom Trees In Full Bloom

Japan takes cherry blossom season extremely seriously: blogs, papers, weekly reports and even talk shows follow the blooms across the country. They’ve even got a special Japanese word devoted to cherry-blossom watching: hanami. OTT? Of course not. Here’s how, when and where to see Japan’s cherry blossom tress in full bloom.

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So, when does it happen? The cherry blossoms usually start to flower around mid-March, and continue until early May. You can see them at more than 1,000 locations across the bloomin’ beautiful nation, including Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s main islands, Kagoshima, a seaside prefecture on Kyushu, and the capital, Tokyo.

You can find cherry blossoms at many locations across the nation, including at Mount Fuji

For the most awesome pics, head to Nakameguro, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka or Kagoshima, where weekly flower reports are published for each city.

Get your Instagram inspo near Mount Fuji

It’s not all set in stone, though. Everything is weather-dependent and, according to the Japan Meteorological Corporation, the “flowering and full bloom dates of cherry blossoms depend on the temperature patterns from autumn of the preceding year”.

Some of the most awesome pics can be taken in Tokyo, where cherry blossoms put on a show at the Meguro Canal

Peak cherry blossom season is short. From flower to bloom to the petals falling from the trees, the entire process typically lasts no more than two weeks, so you’d better plan ahead. If you want to find some luxury accommodation for your cherry blossom adventure, we recommend these stunning hotels across the country, which include places to stay in Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido, Fukuoka and Nagoya.

Want more travel inspiration? Take a look at these glorious photos of Antarctica.

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