Tokyo’s sakura surge
Japan logged a preliminary 3,466,700 inbound visitors in February — a jump driven by an earlier‑than‑usual Tokyo cherry blossom season and peak hanami demand ( ). Crowds are so big Nakameguro installed view‑blocking screens to manage overflow, and Odaiba just opened the Tokyo Aqua Symphony fountain — a 250m waterfront installation with jets up to 150m high set to become a springtime photo magnet ( ).
South Korea was the single largest source market in February, sending 1,086,400 visitors — a 28.2% year‑on‑year rise — while arrivals from China plunged 45.2% to 396,400 and Taiwan surged 36.7% to 693,600, according to JNTO country breakdowns. (jnto.go.jp) JNTO’s preliminary tables show cumulative arrivals for Jan–Feb 2026 at 7,064,200, with government data and reporters noting the Lunar New Year falling in February boosted travel demand and helped offset the China shortfall; the Kawazu Sakura Festival alone drew about 630,000 visitors, its highest turnout since 2022. (jnto.go.jp) The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded Tokyo’s official “first bloom” on March 19 and declared the sample Somei‑Yoshino at Yasukuni Shrine to be in full bloom on March 28, a timing the agency said came roughly three days earlier than the long‑term average. (jen.jiji.com) Nakameguro’s local shopkeeper association erected large opaque banners across the bridge closest to Nakameguro Station instructing “No stopping” and “One‑way” to enforce continuous, unidirectional pedestrian flow because narrow sidewalks and bridge pinch‑points have produced major safety and congestion issues. (soranews24.com) The Tokyo Metropolitan Government opened the Tokyo Aqua Symphony at Odaiba Marine Park on March 28, staging initial performances at 8:00pm and 9:00pm and describing the installation as a combined 150‑metre aerial jet and a 250‑metre‑wide “cherry blossom” fountain inspired by the Somei‑Yoshino. (english.metro.tokyo.lg.jp) Public‑facing project figures circulated by media and project briefs put construction at about ¥2.64 billion and forecast the fountain could attract roughly 30 million visitors a year with an annual economic ripple effect in the order of ¥9.8 billion. (scmp.com)
