Tokyo sakura now blooming
Tokyo’s cherry blossom season officially began on Thursday, March 19 — blossoms arrived five days earlier than the historical average. Peak bloom for much of Honshu is forecast between March 31 and April 2, so plan hanami for that window but watch weather updates. (straitstimes.com) (timeout.com)
Japan Meteorological Agency’s bloom call was based on the Somei‑Yoshino reference tree at Yasukuni Shrine showing more than 60 open flowers on its monitored specimen. (timeout.com) An official “first bloom” declaration is made when about five to six flowers open on the reference tree, while “full bloom” (mankai) is defined as roughly 80% of buds opening on that same specimen. (japannews.yomiuri.co.jp) The Japan Meteorological Corporation issued its 8th national sakura forecast on March 12, 2026, estimating flowering and full‑bloom dates for roughly 1,000 viewing locations and scheduling routine updates (next update noted March 19). (n-kishou.com) JMC and related forecasts place Tokyo’s expected full bloom around March 27, with Kyoto and Osaka projected to reach full bloom around the start of April in the current forecast runs. (matcha-jp.com) Forecasters point to above‑average temperatures in February and early March, plus periods of low rainfall and longer sunshine, as the primary reasons the sakura season has advanced this year. (sakura.weathermap.jp) The national season opened earlier in southern prefectures — Kōchi logged first blooms on March 16 — and northern areas like Sapporo are still forecast to reach full bloom in late April (around April 27 in the latest maps). (nippon.com)
