Sakura season starting
Tokyo's cherry blossoms are projected to begin blooming as early as March 19 with full bloom by the end of March, while Osaka's Japan Mint schedules its hanami event April 9–15 — perfect timing if you’re planning sakura trips [][]. Washington D.C.'s Tidal Basin is already showing blooms and San Diego's Cherry Blossom Festival at Balboa Park runs through today, March 15, with performances and cultural programming [][].
Japan Meteorological Corporation released its eighth, AI-informed sakura forecast on March 12 covering roughly 1,000 locations and noted the next scheduled update for March 19. n-kishou.com The Japan Mint says its Osaka grounds host 331 cherry trees of 140 varieties along a roughly 560‑meter pathway. asahi.com The Mint projects a maximum attendance of about 306,000 people and requires advance reservations that open at 9:00 a.m. on March 18 on a first‑come, first‑served basis. mint.go.jp The Mint’s collection includes later‑blooming yaezakura varieties and a lit “sakura passage” that is often illuminated after dark along the route. japancheapo.com The National Park Service forecasted peak bloom for the Tidal Basin between March 29 and April 1, 2026, while the National Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled to run March 20–April 12, 2026. axios.com Local trackers report the Tidal Basin trees have reached stage two with florets visible, and the Park Service defines “peak bloom” as about 70% of the Yoshino cherries flowering. wusa9.com San Diego’s Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park ran its Cherry Blossom Festival March 12–15 with daily hours generally 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., ticket prices listed at roughly $18–$25, and day‑of tickets available in person at the site. sandiego.org
