Of all the reasons to visit Japan — and there are many — cherry blossom season may be the most compelling. For two extraordinary weeks each spring, the country transforms. Street after street, park after park, riverbank after riverbank turns a soft, luminous pink. The Japanese call it sakura, and the tradition of gathering beneath the blossoms to eat, drink, and celebrate — hanami — is one of the world's great cultural events.
But hanami is also one of the most popular travel seasons in the world, and Japan's accommodation and transport infrastructure feels every visitor. Plan carelessly and you'll spend hanami standing in queues, paying peak-season prices, and viewing the blossoms from behind someone else's camera. Plan well and you'll have the trip of a lifetime.
This is how to plan it well.
When Do the Cherry Blossoms Bloom?
The most important thing to understand about cherry blossom season is that the timing varies significantly each year — and is impossible to predict precisely more than a few weeks in advance. Bloom forecasts are published each January by the Japan Meteorological Corporation, but even then, the peak bloom window can shift by a week in either direction depending on temperature.
As a general guide:
- Tokyo and the Kanto region: Late March to early April
- Kyoto and the Kansai region: Early to mid-April
- Tohoku (northern Honshu): Mid to late April
- Hokkaido: Late April to early May
The peak bloom period — mankai — typically lasts five to seven days. The blossoms begin to fall (hanafubuki, or "flower blizzard") after this, which is itself extraordinarily beautiful. Full bloom plus falling petals is often the most photographed period of all.
Our practical advice: book accommodation and travel as early as possible (ideally 3-6 months in advance), then check the forecast when it is published and adjust your itinerary accordingly if needed.
The Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Tokyo
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
One of Tokyo's finest parks, Shinjuku Gyoen has over 1,000 cherry trees across its 58 hectares, covering multiple varieties that bloom at slightly different times — extending the season over several weeks. The park opens at 9am; arrive within the first hour and the early light is extraordinary. Note that alcohol is prohibited here (unlike most hanami spots), which makes the atmosphere quieter and the atmosphere genuinely contemplative.
Chidorigafuchi
The moat surrounding the Imperial Palace is lined with hundreds of cherry trees whose branches hang over the water. At peak bloom, the reflection in the moat below creates a pink tunnel of extraordinary delicacy. Rowing boats are available to hire for a close-up view. Arrive before 8am. After 10am, the path becomes very crowded.
Ueno Park
Tokyo's most famous hanami location is also its most chaotic. Ueno Park hosts hundreds of food stalls, thousands of locals with blue tarpaulins, and a general atmosphere of cheerful celebration. If you want to experience authentic hanami culture — including the traditional practice of sending a junior colleague or friend to claim a spot from 6am — Ueno is where to go. Don't expect solitude. Do expect an experience.
The Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Kyoto
Philosopher's Path (Tetsugaku no Michi)
A 2km canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees, the Philosopher's Path is Kyoto's most beloved hanami walk. Named after the philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who is said to have walked here every day, it runs between Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) and Nanzenji. Walk it early — before 8am if possible. At midday, it is extremely busy. In the early morning, it is close to magical.
Maruyama Park
Home to Kyoto's most photographed tree — a weeping cherry at the park's centre that is illuminated every evening during peak season — Maruyama is the city's main hanami gathering spot. The night illumination (yozakura) turns the weeping cherry into something otherworldly. Arrive at dusk for the best light and the transition from day to illuminated evening.
Kiyomizudera Temple
The wooden stage of Kiyomizudera, suspended on pillars over the hillside, offers one of Kyoto's most dramatic views — and during cherry blossom season, the hillside below is covered in pink and white blossoms. The temple receives large numbers of visitors at all times of year; during hanami, arrive at opening (6am) for a completely different experience to the midday crowds.
Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto
The two cities are the most famous hanami destinations, but Japan has hundreds of extraordinary cherry blossom spots that receive a fraction of the visitors.
- Hirosaki Castle Park, Aomori — Perhaps Japan's most spectacular cherry blossom location, with 2,600 trees surrounding a Edo-era castle and its moat. The petals fall into the moat, creating a pink carpet on the water that has to be seen in person.
- Yoshino, Nara Prefecture — A mountainside covered with 30,000 cherry trees, worshipped since the 7th century as sacred. The blossoms appear in waves from the base to the summit over several weeks as temperatures rise.
- Takato, Nagano — Famous for its unique deep-pink Takato Kohigan cherry variety. The trees line the moat and hillsides of Takato Castle ruins with a more vivid, intense colour than the pale pink Somei-Yoshino variety seen elsewhere.
The Unwritten Rules of Hanami
Hanami is a cultural tradition, and like all Japanese cultural experiences, there are unwritten expectations that a visitor benefits from knowing:
- Take your rubbish home. Parks do not always provide bins during hanami season. Bring bags and carry out everything you bring in.
- Don't touch or shake the trees. Shaking branches to create a "flower blizzard" for a photograph is considered disrespectful.
- Reserve space respectfully. It is perfectly normal to reserve a space with a tarpaulin in the morning for a later gathering. It is not normal to reserve a disproportionately large space or to block paths.
- Keep noise levels appropriate to the setting. Ueno Park is lively and noisy by tradition. The Philosopher's Path is not. Read the atmosphere.
- Eat and drink with appreciation. The food and drinks of hanami — onigiri, tamagoyaki, sake, beer — are part of the celebration. Bring a picnic and enjoy it fully.
Plan Your Japan Cherry Blossom Trip With Diza
A Japan sakura trip is one of the most complex trips to plan independently — timing, accommodation, transport, tickets for popular sites — all need to come together perfectly. The good news is that we've done this many times.
Our Japan packages include accommodation at handpicked ryokan and boutique hotels, a curated hanami itinerary, Shinkansen bookings, and a recommended private guide for at least one day in each city. We can also time your trip to catch both Tokyo and Kyoto at peak bloom by building a two-week itinerary around the typical progression of the season.
Contact the Diza team to start planning. We'll handle the details — all you need to do is show up.