Japan in bloom now
Cherry blossom season is underway across Japan with tourists flocking to hanami spots — some local festivals like Fujiyoshida near Mt. Fuji were canceled due to visitor surges, but cities and gardens remain in bloom and photo spots like Hakone lit up scenes this week. Spring sakura is bringing crowds and spectacular displays through late March. (kyma.com) (marinij.com)
Fujiyoshida city announced on Feb. 3 that it will cancel the 2026 Arakurayama Sengen Park cherry‑blossom festival, citing a “strong sense of crisis” over overtourism and threats to residents’ daily lives. (asahi.com) Mayor Shigeru Horiuchi said the decision was made “to protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens,” ending a 10‑year festival that had become a major spring attraction. (paxnews.com) Arakurayama Sengen Park typically drew roughly 200,000 visitors over the season for photos of the Chureito Pagoda framed by Mount Fuji, a volume city officials said outstripped local infrastructure. (straitstimes.com) Japan recorded a record estimated 42.7 million international visitors in 2025, adding pressure to popular hanami sites during peak weeks. (nippon.com) Visitor patterns are shifting: arrivals from mainland China plunged about 60.7% in January 2026, while totals from other markets have helped keep overall inbound numbers close to last year’s levels. (cnbc.com) Forecasters report the “sakura front” has moved into Kanto and Kansai with many locations in bloom as of March 26, and meteorological services attribute an earlier‑than‑average spring to unusually warm stretches in February. (livejapan.com) Hakone’s bloom window is expected from the end of March into early April, and local venues and resorts are staging night illumination events and seasonal programs such as Hakone Kowakien’s “Hanami Onsen” that began March 26. (hakonenavi.jp) Fujiyoshida and other municipalities say they will increase on‑site security, install temporary facilities, and warn visitors against entering residential areas or trespassing as they manage heavy flows at famed photo spots. (adept.travel)
