This evening I went shopping and recognized the sunset time is becoming later and later despite the outside temperature. It gives me more expectations that spring is just around the corner. We are getting into the coldest month of February, and we have bad news this week, a fierce cold wave, said to be the worst in a decade, is expected to envelop Japan. The temperature will get the town to peak from the night of 24 to the morning of 25 January. The cold wave, which generally covers northern Japan, may move southwards to Kyushu and Chugoku regions, resulting in heavy snowfall in some parts of the Pacific side.
But wait a minute. There will be only two months towards the end of March when cherry blossom starts in the Kanto region. Highly anticipated flower season comes suddenly after the fluctuation of temperature towards March. After three years of pandemic restrictions, this coming spring is the time to come and see cherry blossoms. For those who are thinking about coming for spring flowers, it is time to start your plan. In this newsletter, I will write about unmissable factors for the spring.
When to book a flight
The most important point of travelling to Japan for the flower season is when to book the flight. Air fairs have been skyrocketing wherever you go and it may be one of the biggest headaches for your planning. The later you book, the more you have to pay for the tickets. It is very difficult to adjust your visit timing to the full bloom of cherry blossoms if you are visiting Japan for short time. Cherry blossoms are so picky on blooming timing. A few days of lower temperatures will make it hold, and higher temperatures will advance flowering. For better planning, my suggestions are as follows:
Start making your plan much before and book the tickets assuming that the timing is similar to the previous year. Last year cherry blossoms were predicted on 23 March, but they bloomed three days earlier. So if I were you, I will take the same expected date and start making the plan. But this choice will apply when you have a flexibility on your schedule.
Wait until the initial forecast is released and find the best flight. Even if you wait for the first forecast, you still have two months before. Please bare in your mind there are some possibilities of changes due to the weather in March.
Important information
JWA=Japan Weather Association generally releases the first cherry blossoms updates at the end of January. Last year JWA published the first issue on 27 January, the second issue on 10 February, and every Thursday from 25 February to 1 April in the eighth issue. I will try to keep you informed of the updates.
For the last-minute travellers
There is a risk of an airfare increase, but you can wait until the reliable cherry blossom updates and buy your ticket. It could be the way if you are not flexible in your schedule. If you are coming from an Asian country, this may work out well. However, it is not advisable to worry too much about when the cherry blossoms bloom. It is understandable that people, especially those who want to take photographs, do not want to miss the full-bloom period. But there is good news!! The band indicating the full bloom of cherry blossoms moves northwards in Japan over time. Even if the cherry blossoms have finished blooming in the Tokyo metropolitan area, you can still enjoy them in full bloom in the north of Japan. Shinkansen(Bullet Train) will be of you great help to minimize your time if you go up to the north.
I wrote a related story when I started this newsletter. Time, costs, places of your interests, lots of factors may confuse you. But please relax, and cherry blossoms are not going anywhere.
Check the initial updates expected to be out as early as later this week and start planning.
Update the information issued by JWA frequently, particularly in February.
As your departure date comes near, start thinking about the contingency plan just in case the expected date alters due to the latest temperature shift.
There is another weather news agency called "Weathernews" forecasting the timing of 20 January for cherry blossoms. They are the rival of JWA. I couldn't find English site, but please refer to Japanese page.
Japanese meteorological officials must be so nervous that they cannot sleep for days on end as the cherry blossom season draws near, and the interest of the public is too high. This season is going to be the first cherry blossom season in three years affected by the pandemic, and a massive number of people may flock to the famous cherry blossom viewing spots. I don’t know if you are allowed to put ground sheets and view cherry blossoms under trees, but I am sure this year will be a different spring season from last year. You don’t feel it is coming so soon, but cherry trees are preparing for the day quietly.