Spring in Japan
2017 Cherry Blossom Forecast
You can go to Japan a million times and never get bored; but make sure you go there just to see the cherry blossoms at least once in your life. Cherry Blossom viewing, or hanami, begins in the warmer southern regions of Japan any time in late March and by mid-to-late April the blossoms are visible in the northernmost island of Hokkaido.
Predicting when the blossoms will arrive is never easy and depends a lot on the winter temperatures and weather conditions. So keep your eye on the cherry blossom forecast for 2017 and start planning where in Japan you might want to go. As hanami-veterans, here’s a few of our own personal favorite cherry viewing sights.
Takamatsu
If you’re staying in Takamatsu head to the 16th century castle and find the lawned area in the southwestern corner of Tamamo Park. Alternatively, take a ferry to Megijima Island and head to the mountain peak where there are hundreds of cherry trees and great views of the Seto Inland Sea.
Saga
While not well known, Ogi Park just 20 minutes from Saga City was voted one of the 100 best places to see sakura in Japan by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association. The park itself is more than 300 years old and is home to more than 3000 cherry blossom trees. This enormous array of blossoms means that there is always plenty of room for a picnic; sit back, relax and see how truly beautiful Japan in bloom can be.
Heading further afield to Fukuoka? Try the castle in Maizuru Park or the hilltop Atago Shrine with spectacular views over Fukuoka and Hakata Bay.
Osaka/Kyoto/Nara
Visitors to this area are spoilt for choice when it comes to sakura but here are some of our favorites.
Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden. Formerly home to the many wives of a 16th century Japanese ruler named Toyotomi Hideyoshi, this garden’s 600 cherry blossom trees bloom beautifully, including the pure white somei-yoshino.
Haradani-en is located in the northern outskirts of Kyoto in the hills above Kinakuji Temple and the perfect spot to enjoy large numbers of later blooming weeping cherry trees. It is a little bit difficult to reach by public transportation by the infrequent city bus number M1 but that means fewer people.
Even closer to Osaka is Nara Park which boasts about 1700 cherry trees. One of the best hanami spots is a large lawn encircled by cherry trees, a short walk southeast of Todaiji main hall. While in Nara don’t miss the chance to feed the deer at the UNESCO listed Kasuga Taisha Shinto shrine.
Saga
Located in Nagoya but not as busy as Tsuruma Park, Yamazai River is a perfect spot for a morning walk or jog. The cobblestoned walkways, decorated bridges, and two waterfalls mean this area is one of the best places in Japan to see cherry blossoms at night.
Tokyo/Ibaraki
Get ready for crowds, great picnics and cherry blossoms as far as the eye can see.
First up try Chidorigafuchi. Hundreds of cherry trees decorate the moats of former Edo Castle around Kitanomaru Park, creating one of Tokyo's most outstanding cherry blossom sights. Trees are lit up in the evenings and there are amazing food stalls at the nearby Yasukuni Shrine, where another thousand cherry trees are planted.
Next up the famous Ueno Park; one of Japan's most crowded, noisy and popular spots for cherry blossom parties, Ueno Park features more than 1000 trees along the street leading towards the National Museum and around Shinobazu Pond. Rent a paddle boat and sail along while viewing the blooms.
While in Tokyo make sure you sample the Wagashi cakes, decorated to resemble cherry blossom flowers. Some of the best can be found in shopping Mecca of Ginza.
Sapporo
Maruyama park and the shrine are located just beside each other and attract some of the largest crowds for hanami parties in Sapporo. The approach to the shrine is lined with dozens of cherry trees, but the park is where you’ll find all the action with picnic mats set up under the cherry trees. Bring some food along and make friends with the locals who are bound to ask you to join the fun!
