Japan’s Cherry Blossom Forecast 2025
Blooming throughout Japan each spring, cherry blossoms are cherished for their fleeting beauty, symbolic nature and deep cultural resonance. The exact timing of the bloom varies between years and regions, making the yearly cherry blossom forecast eagerly anticipated. On this page you will find:
— Cherry Blossom Forecast 2025
— Cherry Blossom Varieties & How They Bloom
— The Importance of ‘Sakura’ & ‘Hanami’ in Japan
— Cherry Blossom Tours in Nagano
This page is one of several on which you’ll find everything you need to know about the blossoms, so you can plan and book your spring getaway in Japan including our spring-only cherry blossom tours in Nagano. Let’s start with when and where the blossoms are expected to bloom this year:
CHERRY BLOSSOM FORECAST 2025
It is still too early at the moment to make many predictions for the 2025 Spring Cherry Blossom Season. In general, the trend has been towards blossoms blooming a little earlier than normal. However, 2024 saw the bloom come late across Japan, in some regions by as much as 2 weeks, thanks to a cold and snowy March. Until the official forecast is released, we will leave last years forecast images up on this page to give you an idea of how things may be next year, and the usual time of year in which the trees reach peak bloom.
In general, our home region of Nagano sees the blossoms blooming around early April in the cities, with peak bloom falling, on average, on April 11th. The major cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto all tend to reach peak around late March or very early April, as seen in the chart above. As the cherry blossoms spread south to north, the earliest blooms may be found in very southern regions such as Kagoshima and Fukushima, or in the Izu Peninsula southwest of Tokyo, which is blessed with a mild climate due to being surrounded by the sea on three sides. Heading north, Sapporo in Hokkaido will see its blooms usually in early May, significantly later than other regions and offering a chance for visitors who missed the season in Tokyo.
CHERRY BLOSSOM VARIETIES & HOW THEY BLOOM
While the classic ‘somei yoshino’ is them most famous blossom variety, there are around twenty types of blossom tree bearing different flowers and blooming at different times. To learn of more about some of the most common varieties and the stages of bloom, see our ‘Cherry Blossom Varieties & How They Bloom’ page.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ‘SAKURA’ & ‘HANAMI’ IN JAPAN
Known as ‘sakura’, cherry blossoms are synonymous with Japanese culture and are seen to embody the fragile beauty of life itself. As the weather warms in spring, the flowers bloom and Japan will emerge from the long, cold winter and families and friends gather to enjoy ‘hanami’ (flower-viewing) together. A time to be social and celebrate the warmth and beauty of spring, see our ‘The Importance of ‘Sakura’ & ‘Hanami’ in Japan’ page to learn more about why the flowers are so cherished.
CHERRY BLOSSOM TOURS & CHARTERS IN NAGANO
1 Day Tour
| [Spring Only] 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Cherry Blossoms in Nagano | |
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| Period | April |
| Time | 09:35 – 17:30/18:30 |
| Meeting Place | Hotel Kokusai 21 Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Combining Nagano’s most famous attraction, the Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani, with a visit to a local park filled with cherry blossoms, this tour is a great way to enjoy a lovely spring day. Using our local knowledge, we vary the location of the tour by the day to ensure that our guests are getting the best possible view of the blossoms, allowing you to visit locations you would never find on your own.
If you are looking for a more personalized trip, we also offer private charter services to bring you to wherever you want to go around the region. If you need suggestions, we are always ready to help you create the perfect itinerary for your travels. And, if you would like, we can even add a guide to make it a private tour for just your group! Please click HERE for more information on pricing and availability.
CHERRY BLOSSOM FAQs
We hope you’re excited to experience the blossoms. These are some of the most common questions for visitors heading here in spring:
When is the best time to see cherry blossoms in Japan?
The blossoms bloom each spring with the exact timing depending to weather patterns – which vary from year-to-year – and the region of Japan you are intending to head to. The flowers will bloom in southern areas of Japan along with those on or near to the Pacific coastline first, from where the bloom will spread to the north. Expect the earliest bloom in areas including Kyushu, Shikoku and along the Pacific coast in the second-half of March with Tokyo usually flowering in the final week of March. Hokkaido is the final area to bloom, usually sometime in early-May.
Do we know the exact timing for 2025?
The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) has not yet released their much-anticipated cherry blossom forecast for 2025, but the 2024 edition can be used for reference. See above for details.
Can I only see the blossoms in Japan?
Cherry blossoms exist in many countries including Japan’s neighbours Korea and China. There are some varieties that are only found in Japan and ‘hanami’ (flower-viewing) in spring to enjoy the blossoms is perhaps the quintessential Japanese experience. So while the blossoms aren’t only found here, there’s no better place to experience them.
Where can I see them?
Cherry blossoms occur throughout most regions of Japan, blooming south to north as the weather warms in spring. Some of the more popular places to see them are found in Tokyo and Kyoto with just as many fantastic and famous blossom spots found throughout Japan. So don’t feel that you have to head to the most famous spots to have the best experience and remember, if you do, you’ll be sharing those spaces and flowers with many other people. Some of the best places to see blossoms are temples, parks and around schools with many varieties also growing wild in the mountains. It’s a great reason to go local and head-out of the cities to other regions, where you’ll likely have much more space to enjoy the blossoms.
Do I have to pay for entry to blossom spots and festivals?
It depends on the location and festival. Many if not most blossom locations and festivals can be entered free of charge, however some places will have an entry fee. But in most circumstances, entry will be free.
Why are the blossoms such a big deal in Japan?
Known as ‘sakura’ in Japan, cherry blossoms have long held deep cultural importance for Japanese. Appreciated for their fleeting beauty, the flowers are seen as symbolic of life itself – which is beautiful, fragile and brief. Blossoms have captured the minds and hearts of Japanese – from the most celebrated artists, writers and poets to the average person on the street – for a very long time, and the yearly bloom is awaited and cherished as much each year as it was for countless generations before. For more information, see our ‘The Importance of ‘Hanami’ & ‘Sakura’ in Japan’ page.
Are there any rules or is there any etiquette when it comes to enjoying the blossoms?
The flowers are fragile and will fall from the tree easily if touched or shaken. For that reason, it’s considered inappropriate to touch the tree or individual flowers, and risk them falling-off and preventing others from enjoying them. Please avoid touching the tree and whatever you do, do not break-off any part of the tree. Please also be mindful of others and allow each other space to enjoy and photograph the blossoms. If you’re intending to head to a famous/popular blossom spot for ‘hanami’ (flower-viewing) and want to reserve a spot to sit, make sure to get there early to lay down your blanket/sheet and avoid taking-up unnecessary space. If you are joining someone else’s hanami, remember to take-off your shoes before stepping onto the blanket/sheet and take all rubbish with you at the end of the day.
