Tokyo cherry blossoms started
Tokyo’s cherry blossom season officially began on March 21, with peak bloom expected within a week to 10 days — prime hanami timing for late March trips (web travel brief, Mar 23) (gotokyo.org). Note: average hanami budgets have fallen 13.8% this year and some towns like Fujiyoshida canceled festivals due to overtourism pressures (japantimes.co.jp).
Japan Meteorological Agency spotters declared first flowering this month in Kōchi, Gifu and Yamanashi, with Kōchi opening first — six days earlier than average — and Gifu and Yamanashi about nine days earlier than normal. (apnews.com) Tokyo’s benchmark Somei‑Yoshino tree was recorded in first bloom on March 19, and the Japan Meteorological Corporation’s forecasts put the capital’s full‑bloom window in late March (around March 26–28, with one JMC compilation listing March 27). (nippon.com) The Japan Meteorological Corporation issued its ninth 2026 sakura forecast on March 19 and scheduled its next update for March 26, while private forecasters such as Weathernews have been issuing near‑daily revisions as temperatures fluctuate. (n-kishou.com) A nationwide online survey cited by Jiji Press found planned hanami spending averaging ¥6,383 this year — a 13.8% decline from last year — based on 2,500 valid responses collected through Feb. 16. (nippon.com) Fujiyoshida city formally cancelled the Arakurayama Sengen Park sakura festival for 2026, citing resident safety concerns and disruptive visitor behaviour at a site that historically drew roughly 200,000 attendees during the event. (straitstimes.com) Officials and travel outlets are warning visitors that, even without the festival, popular Mount Fuji viewpoints will see extra crowd‑control measures and guidance to use alternative spots or off‑peak timings to reduce pressure on local infrastructure. (adept.travel)
