Cherry blossom season is underway in Japan and Tokyo area had its full bloom last weekend. I took my bicycle and went along the riverbank of Tama River. It was so beautiful. It is nearly over in Tokyo area, but you still can enjoy its full bloom if you go up to the north.
There is a handy forecast map issued by Japan Weather Association and it shows when and where to visit to see cherry blossoms flowering. It is just a map, but it is very important for Japanese people to be at the right place at the right time; that’s why we take this forecast so seriously.
In general cherry blossoms start blooming south of Japan and go up north, but it is not so simple because of geography and climates. This spring blooming started in Fukuoka on 17th of March and in Tokyo on 20th of March, which was several days earlier than average year.
Once the first booming is reported, areas of blooming start going up to the north gradually and you will see flowering somewhere in the country. Today as of 10th of April, you can see its full bloom around Fukushima and Sendai, which is the southern part of Tohoku region, and the season will continue until the beginning of May in Hokkaido. So, if you have time and money, you can spend over a month watching cherry blossoms all the time.
But you must not miss some information if you want to maximize your season, especially if you are visiting from outside the country. My tips for this time to enjoy cherry blossoms are as follows:
1/Timing: You must consider the timing of its full blooms. It varies depending on location, type of cherry trees, temperature and even wind effects. Full bloom normally comes after a week of flowering. If you are a cherry blossom craze, I would advise you to check information every day to follow the band of blooming.
2/Planning: It really gets difficult to book accommodation and public transportation when the highest season comes. The biggest problem is adjusting the timing of full blooms. Avoid traveling weekends so that you have a bit more flexibility. If I were you, I would book the accommodation at the last minute depending on the reliable flower information. Organizing your own car will give you more flexibility and freedom.
3/Avoiding Congestion: I take this factor as important as timing; otherwise you will end up taking pictures with lots of people in the flame. Also visit the site early morning before people start coming up. There are extremely popular spots such as Ueno and Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo, but there are lots of lovely places without hustles.
When I went out last weekend by bicycle alongside the Tama River, I discovered a beautiful long row of cherry trees in Fussa City. The advantage of visiting in the morning under blue sky is you get a good contrast of petals and blue sky. Petals of cherry blossoms are pale, and you must pick the right timing.
You will feel frustrations wherever you go for cherry blossom hunting. But you still deserve to put lots of effort since best time is too short and the storm of falling cherry blossom petals is something you will never forget.