What Months are Cherry Blossom Season in Japan?

Cherry blossom aka sakura usually blooms in spring, March to April in most of Japan. The blossoms often last for a short period, one week or less than two weeks. With a large south-north span geographically, the cherry blossom season in Japan varies in different regions. Generally, the further north you go, the later the cherry blossom season comes.

Cherry Blossom Season in Okinawa – February

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

As in the subtropical zone, Okinawa islands, the southernmost of Japan, are the earliest places ushering in cherry blossoms. You can enjoy the blossoms in full bloom throughout February, while it may flowers since the mid-late January.

Major Viewing Sites/Cherry Blossom Festivals in Okinawa:
 1. Nakijin Castle Ruins – a world heritage site holds cherry blossom festival every year, lasting from late January to mid-February.
 2. Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival, Yaedake Sakuranomori Park in the western Motobu Peninsula, middle & late days of January and first few days of February
 3. Nago Cherry Blossom Festival in Nago Central Park, late January
 4. Yaese Park, the town of Yaese, illuminated with lights at night, late January to early February

Cherry Blossoms in South & Central Japan – Starts from Mid-March

The south & central Japan mentioned refers to Kyushu, Shikoku, and the regions from the Hiroshima in the west to Tokyo in the east in Honshu, excluding the mountainous areas. In the large region, the cherry blossom season comes in mid-March or late March. As a whole, the season arrives a little earlier to the southern coast than the northern area as well.

The time that cherry blossom season begins:
  Fukuoka (the northernmost of Kyushu): mid-late March, around March 19/20th
  Most of Kyushu, Shikoku, southern & Central Honshu from Yamaguchi & Hiroshima to Tokyo: late March, even the last day of March in northern region (Kyoto, Shiga, Fukui, etc.)
  The surroundings and northern nearby region of Tokyo: last days of March
Note: Due to urban heat island effect, the cherry blossom season may come to Tokyo as early as that in Fukuoka, which depends on the specific weather there in the year.

Where to See Sakura in the Region:
  Tokyo: Ueno Park, Sumida River, Chidorigafuchi Park, Meguro River, Shinjuku Gyoen Garden
  Mt. Fuji: Arakurayama Sengen Park, Lake Kawaguchi, Fuji Motosuko Resort by Lake Motosuko
  Osaka: Osaka Castle, Osaka Mint, Tenmangu Shrine
  Kyoto: Arashiyama, Kiyomizu Temple, Nijo Castle, Heian Shrine
  Hiroshima: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima Island

Cherry Blossom Season on Central Mountains in Japan – Early April

For the temperature is lower on mountains, the mountainous region greets its cherry blossom season later. The higher the spot on a mountain, the later the sakura season. Usually, the cherry blossoms can be admired in early April, in Nagano and surrounding mountains.

Major Sites for Cherry Blossoms:
  Takato-joshi Park is a most-visited castle ruins as well as scenic spot to admire cherry blossoms in Nagano.
  Matsumoto Castle and Ueda Castle are also surrounded by many cherry blossom trees.

Cherry Blossom Season in Tohoku – Mid-April

Kyoto Imperial Palace Park

Tohoku, the northeast of Honshu, has its cherry blossom season in early-mid April. Of course, the further north, the late the sakura season comes. In Fukushima and Sendai in the south of this region, you can appreciate the charming cherry blossoms in early days of April. To the northernmost Aomori in the region, the cherry blossoms bloom in mid-April, often between April 15th and 20th.

Where to See Cherry Blossoms:
  Shiroishi River Sen-ou Park in Ogawara Town, Miyagi allows you to walk along the riverbank with endless stretch of cherry blossoms.
  Aomori Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki City of Aomori is another well-known spot of cherry blossoms in spring. Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is always eye-catching from late April to early May.

Cherry Blossom Season in Hokkaido – Early May

At last, Hokkaido has its cherry blossom season since late April or early May, lasting for a little longer than the rest of regions in Japan. There are cherry blossoms for viewing until mid-May. In most areas of Hokkaido, cherry blossoms flower from the first a few days in May. In Sapporo and Hakodate, southern Hokkaido, people go for sakura viewing from late April.

  Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots:
Goryoukaku Park in Hakodate, Maruyama Park & Hokkaido Jingu Shrine in Sapporo, and more sightseeing sites are enchanting wit cherry blossoms, especially along a river or road.