Tokyo: sakura season starts
Tokyo’s cherry blossom season officially kicked off this week — meteorologists declared the start on Thursday — and hanami picnics, sakura‑themed drinks and springtime events are rolling out across the city. Guides are already pointing to the best spots for sakura cocktails, teas and seasonal festivities while the bloom window stays brief. (messenger-inquirer.com) (japan.stripes.com) (elitetraveler.com)
Japan’s Tokyo Regional Headquarters of the Japan Meteorological Agency officially declared flowering in Tokyo on March 19, 2026, citing observations from the city’s sample tree at Yasukuni Shrine. (reutersconnect.com) Officials recorded 61 open blossoms on that Yasukuni Somei‑Yoshino specimen when they made the announcement. (reutersconnect.com) The technical threshold for a “first bloom” declaration is when five to six flowers open on the official sample tree, while “full bloom” (mankai) is defined as roughly 80% of the tree’s buds having opened. (nippon.com) Forecasters, including the Japan Meteorological Corporation, project Tokyo’s full‑bloom window to fall around March 26, 2026, making late March the prime period for peak viewing in the capital. (straitstimes.com) This season’s opening arrived about five days earlier than the historical average and earlier than in 2025, a timing forecasters attribute to warmer‑than‑usual temperatures in February and March. (pna.gov.ph) The Japan Meteorological Corporation publishes spot‑by‑spot forecasts for roughly 1,000 viewing locations via its SakuraNavi service and updates bloom predictions every Thursday during the season. (n-kishou.com)
