Known as ‘sakura’ in Japanese, cherry blossoms embody the fragile beauty and fleeting nature of life itself – something to be cherished and delighted in with family and friends each spring.
Cherry blossoms play an important role in Japanese culture and for the brief time they are in bloom each spring, capture the imagination of the public. Known as ‘sakura’, cherry blossoms are synonymous with Japanese culture and are seen to embody the fragile beauty of life itself – something to be cherished and delighted in with family and friends.
The timing of the bloom varies between years, placing huge importance on the blossom forecast to time visits and events for peak bloom or ‘mankai’. As the blossoms come to full bloom, ‘hanami’ (flower viewing) becomes a national past-time with couples, workmates, friends and families gathering in parks and venues around Japan to eat, drink chat and just take in the fleeting beauty of the fabled blossoms of Japan.
Blooming in spring, the exact timing of the blossoms depends on the season and where you're headed.
Everything you need to know about when the blossoms bloom and the reasons they are so loved in Japan.
Discover the best spots to enjoy the blossoms - from the very famous to the very local and everything inbetween.
Each spring, we offer both group and private tours to some of Nagano's best blossom spots.
