Tokyo bloom arriving early
Japan’s cherry blossoms are running early: Kochi began blooming about seven days ahead of 2025, and Tokyo’s peak bloom is now expected as early as Mar 19 and could last through the end of the month — plan travel for the narrower window and expect crowds Cherry blossoms in Japan’s Kochi begin to bloom, seven days earlier than in 2025 | The Straits Times Amid the impending cherry blossom season in Japan, cherry blossoms are expected to bloom in Tokyo as.. - MK.
Japan Meteorological Corporation released its 8th cherry‑blossom forecast on March 12, 2026, covering roughly 1,000 official viewing spots and scheduling its next update for March 19, 2026. (n-kishou.com) The Kochi regional meteorological observatory confirmed six open flowers on the standard observation tree at Kochi Castle when it announced blooming on March 16, 2026. (japannews.yomiuri.co.jp) Gifu’s observation this season tied its earliest recorded first‑bloom dates (matching 1989, 2021 and 2023) and arrived nine days earlier than the local average, according to local observatory reports. (asahi.com) Japan Weather Association’s Part‑2 forecast issued March 4 projected first flowering in Uwajima on March 18 and listed Fukuoka, Nagoya and Gifu for March 20, with Tokyo then expected around March 21 — slightly later than the JMC dates. (jwa.or.jp) Weathernews says it is refining bloom predictions using over 2 million user photo reports plus on‑site sample‑tree checks, a hybrid method that it credits with improving short‑term accuracy. (global.weathernews.com) JMC’s March 12 table shows regional deviations: Nagoya’s flowering forecast is March 17 (seven days earlier than average), Kyoto March 23 (three days earlier), and Sapporo April 25 (six days earlier than recent norms). (n-kishou.com)
