Tokyo: Sakura Season Begins
Tokyo’s cherry‑blossom season officially kicked off this week — the sample tree at Yasukuni Shrine opened at least five flowers, signalling the start of hanami programming across the city. (philstar.com) Guides now list Sumida Park, Chidorigafuchi and Ueno as top spots while recommending lesser‑known yaezakura and shidarezakura sites for quieter viewing — and multiple live vlogs are already streaming festival scenes. ( )
Tokyo’s sakura season was officially declared on March 19, 2026 after Tokyo District Meteorological Observatory staff visually confirmed 61 open blossoms on the sample Somei‑yoshino tree at Yasukuni Shrine. (asahi.com) The announcement came about five days earlier than the long‑term average and five days earlier than the same declaration in 2025. (nippon.com) Meteorologists cited warmer‑than‑usual temperatures in late winter and early March as a key reason the season advanced this year. (timeout.com) The Japan Meteorological Corporation’s forecast puts Tokyo’s expected full‑bloom (mankai) date around March 27, 2026 in its latest bulletin. (n-kishou.com) “Full bloom” is defined by national observers as the point when roughly 80% of the sample tree’s buds have opened, a threshold used to time festivals and public planning. (nippon.com) Earlier parts of the sakura front opened before Tokyo this year — Kōchi reported first blooms on March 16 and Nagoya on March 17 — and national forecasts and apps (including Sakura Navi) are updating flowering and full‑bloom predictions for about 1,000 viewing sites. (nippon.com (n-kishou.com))
