From earliest to latest, follow the blooming flowers of cherry blossom 2020

2020 Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast

Tokyo is expected to be the first place to see cherry blossom bloom starting around March 21st. Due to mild winter, southern part of Kyushu is expected to bloom later compared to previous years. It will reach its peak bloom within a week or so from its first appearance. If you are planning to travel during this beautiful season make sure to keep an eye on the latest forecast as it may change from time to time.

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Meguro River (Tokyo)

With cherry blossom trees lining its banks, the Meguro River is one of Tokyo’s most popular cherry blossom viewing destinations. Around 800 trees extend almost four kilometers along the river, making it the perfect place to stroll, shop or relax at one of the many cafes. A cherry blossom festival coincides with the full bloom, although the end of the season when the petals are falling into the river is also magical. The Meguro River is 10 minutes’ walk from the Meguro Station or five minutes from the Nakameguro subway station.

If you want to avoid traffic, there are less food stall near Meguro station so it is better to walk from there. Between Meguro station and Ikejiri-Ohashi station, there are food stalls and the cherry blossom trees in the evening are beautifully lighted up.

Best time to visit: late March to early April

Meguro River Cherry Trees

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Ueno Imperial Gift Park (Tokyo)

One of Japan’s oldest public parks, Ueno Park is home to around 1,200 cherry blossom trees and is the top cherry blossom viewing spot in the country. People come to lay out mats beneath the trees, enjoy a picnic and drink sake while admiring the stunning blooms. It’s easily accessed from Ueno Station and situated just across the street from the Park Exit.

Best time to visit: around late March
Annual turnout: approximately 4 million people

Ueno Park

Tokyo Taitou-ku Uenokouen / Ikenodome 3-chome

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Yoyogi Park (Tokyo)

An oasis in the city, Yoyogi Park is one of the largest urban parks in Tokyo and a popular hanami destination. Around 700 cherry trees are planted in the park, with people arriving early in the morning during the cherry blossom season to reserve a picnic spot beneath the trees and relax with family and friends. It’s just five minutes’ walk from Harajuku Station.

Best time to visit: late March to early April

Yoyogi Park

Tokyo Shibuya-ku Yoyogikamizonochou , Jinnan 2

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Chidorigafuchi (Tokyo)

Chidorigafuchi is a moat outside the Imperial Palace that’s ignited by a 700-meter-long tunnel of cherry blossom trees during the spring. Their pink hues beautifully reflect on the moat’s waters, making it a popular place for people to stroll during the Chiyoda Sakura Festival and magical when illuminated at night. Chidorigafuchi is a five-minute walk from either Kudanshita or Hanzomon stations

Depending on the blooming dates, Chiyoda Sakura Festival starting dates change. It is expected to be around between March 25th to April 5th, but is best to keep an eye on its official webpage for precise dates.

Best time to visit: late March
Annual turnout: approximately 1.28 million people

Chidorigafuchi-ryokudo Walkway

Tokyo Chiyoda-ku Kudanminami 2-chome From Sanbancho

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Shinjuku Gyoen (Tokyo)

Sprawling across 58 hectares, Shinjuku Gyoen is a famous garden and green oasis in the heart of Shinjuku. It’s planted with around 1,000 cherry trees in numerous varieties, meaning you can see blossoms either early or late in the season. Aside from its traditional Japanese garden, Shinjuku Gyoen is also home to a former French garden and an English landscaped garden with lawns that are ideal for picnicking. Shinjuku Gyoen is just 10 minutes’ walk from Shinjuku Station’s South Exit or five minutes from Shinjuku-Sanchome Station.

Best time to visit: around 20 March to early April
Annual turnout: approximately 1.2 million people

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Tokyo Shinjuku-ku Naitoumachi 11

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Inokashira Park (Tokyo)

Situated in the Kichijoji area of western Tokyo, Inokashira Park is home to around 500 cherry trees, many of which are planted around its central pond. Some of the varieties are late blooming, with the fallen petals turning the waters a beautiful pink color. You can rent a boat and paddle across the pond or see the cherry blossoms illuminated at night. The park is a five-minute walk from Kichijoji Station.

Best time to visit: late March to early April
Annual turnout: approximately 660,000 people

Inokashira Onshi Park

Tokyo Musashinoshi Gotenyama 1, Kichijoji Minami-cho 1, Mitaka-shi Inokashira 3, Shimbun Jong 1, Muly 4

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Mitsuike Park (Kanagawa)

Centered around three ponds and a Korean Garden, Mitsuike Park sprawls across 30 hectares in Yokohama. Its home to 1,600 cherry trees of 78 different species that break out in blossoms during the spring, with the first trees to bloom being the kanzakura. The park is a 20-minute taxi ride from Yokohama Station.

Note of caution, the cherry blossom trees are not lighted up so it is best to go during day time.

Best time to visit: around 24 March to early April
Annual turnout: approximately 700,000 people

Mitsuike Park (South Gate)

Kanagawa Yokohama-shi Tsurumi-ku Mitsuike Park

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Maizuru Park (Fukuoka)

Situated in the heart of Fukuoka City, Maizuru Park is home to the ruins of Fukuoka Castle and around 1,000 cherry trees that bloom each spring. The occasion is marked by the Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival when food stalls and shops set up in the park and the cherry trees are illuminated against the old castle walls at night. Maizuru Park is a five-minute walk from Akasaka or Ohori Park stations

Best time to visit: late March to early April

Maizuru Park

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Okazaki Park (Aichi)

Home to the castle where Tokugawa Ieyasu was born, Okazaki Park features around 800 cherry blossom trees that line the Oto and Iga rivers. During the annual Sakura Festival, numerous food and drink vendors set up to create a bustling atmosphere. The cherry blossoms are illuminated by lanterns and, together with the white Okazaki Castle Tower, create a magnificent scene. The park is around 10 minutes’ walk from Higashi-Okazaki Station.

The annual Sakura Festival is expected to be between March 27th to April 10th and may change depending on the blooming dates. During the festival, there will be food stalls and the cherry blossom trees will be lighted up during night times.

Best time to visit: late March
Annual turnout: approximately 600,000 people

Okazaki Park

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Osaka Castle Park (Osaka)

Sprawling across more than 100 hectares, the Osaka Castle Park is home to huge stone walls and moats, as well as around 600 cherry trees in the beautiful Nishinomaru Garden. There are 95 different varieties of Japanese apricot flowers in the park, making it one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Osaka Prefecture. It can be accessed directly from Osaka Castle Park Station.

Best time to visit: late March to early April

Osaka Castle Park

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Osaka Mint Bureau (Osaka)

The Osaka Mint Bureau is famed for its yaezakura cherry trees, which blossom slightly later and with more petals than the classic somei yoshino variety. For one week each April, the bureau opens its grounds for people to enjoy Sakura Torinuke, with their cherry trees also illuminated at night. It’s just a 15-minute walk from Temmabashi Station.

Best time to visit: mid-April
Annual turnout: approximately 700,000 people

Osaka Mint Bureau Cherry Blossom Viewing

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Arashiyama (Kyoto)

Arashiyama in Kyoto is a scenic spot with magnificent nature, such as cherry blossoms in spring and autumn foliage in fall. It is easily accessible as it is about 5 minutes' walking distance from Arashiyama Station. There are about 1500 cherry blossom trees covering the mountain and when it is in its full bloom, the mountain will turn into light pink. Because of its breathtaking view, this spot is chosen as one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots

Best time to visit: around 30 March to early April

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Arashiyama

Arashiyama

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Yoshinoyama (Nara)

Mount Yoshino has long been one of Japan's most famous cherry blossom viewing spots, with the first trees planted along its slopes more than 1300 years ago. Today, there are around 30,000 cherry trees in numerous varieties that can be enjoyed as you ascend the mountain and explore its temples and shrines. During the season, shuttle buses connect Yoshino Station with the Naka Senbon area near Chikurin-in Temple.

Best time to visit: late March to early April

Mt. Yoshino

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Hikone Castle (Shiga)

Spring is the most beautiful time to visit Hikone Castle in Shiga when around 1,200 cherry trees ignite the grounds and a festival takes place to mark the occasion. Held from 30 April to 18 May, it draws people from near and far to wander through the castle grounds by both day and night when the trees are magnificently illuminated. Hikone Castle is around 15 minutes on foot from Hikone Station.

The 2020 Hikone Castle Cherry Blossom Festival, where the cherry blossoms are lit up during the evening, will be held between March 28th to April 16th.

Best time to visit: early March to mid-April

Hikone Castle

Shiga Pref. Hikoneshi Konkichou 1-1

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Kenrokuen (Kanazawa)

As one of Japan’s top three gardens, Kenrokuen is a popular destination throughout the year but particularly beautiful during the cherry blossom season. It’s planted with around 420 cherry trees in 20 different varieties, including the rare Sphaerantha cherry blossoms that have a unique shape and color that transforms throughout the season. The garden is a 20-minute ride on the Kenrokuen shuttle bus from Kanazawa Station.

Kenrokuen Garden Springtime Sakura Light Up event is expected to take place around 21:30 at night and will be available only for a week after the Yoshino cherry blossom bloom. It is a very poplar event and will be really crowded.

Best time to visit: early April to late April

Special Place of Scenic Beauty Kenrokuen

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Shores of Lake Kawaguchi (Yamanashi)

For spectacular views of cherry blossoms with Mount Fuji, head to the shores of Lake Kawaguchi where around 300 cherry trees are planted. It’s a popular place to capture photographs of Mount Fuji reflected in the waters, particularly during the Sakura Matsuri, Fuji Kawaguchiko Cherry Blossom Festival. The lake is around 25 minutes by bus from Kawaguchiko Station.

Fuji Shibazakura Festival 2020 will be between April 18th to May 31st.
Fuji Kawaguchiko Cherry Blossom Festival 2020 is planned early April.
There will be food stalls and cherry blossom trees will be light up during the evening. Note of caution, food stalls will close from late afternoon.

Best time to visit: early April to mid-April

Lake Kawaguchi

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Takada Castle Park (Niigata)

Built in 1614 by Matsudaira Tadateru, Takada Castle is surrounded by more than 4,000 cherry trees and a 300-meter-long pedestrian walkway that’s known as “Sakura Road”. It’s renowned for its nighttime scene when the trees are magically illuminated by lanterns and hundreds of stalls selling food and drinks set up in the surrounds. The park is a 15-minute walk from Takada Station.

Best time to visit: early to mid-April
Annual turnout: approximately 880,000 people

Takada Park

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Tsurugajo Park (Fukushima)

Centered around Tsurugajo Castle, this popular park in Aizuwakamatsu is home to around 1,000 cherry trees in a variety of species, such as wild cherry trees and yoshino cherry trees. They’re illuminated at night and reflect magically in the moat waters, creating a fairytale-like scene. Tsurugajo Park can be accessed by the Hikarasan bus from Aizuwakamatsu Station

The largest light up of cherry blossoms in the eastern Japan are planned from early April(dates vary depending on how bloom the cherry blossoms are) till May 6th.

Best time to visit: mid April to late April

Tsurugajo Park

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Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate)

Although only its inner moat and stone walls remain, the Morioka Castle is considered one of Japan’s 100 Great Castles and was once home to the Nanbu Clan. It’s planted with numerous cherry trees that flower spectacularly during the spring, with locals coming to picnic under their blossoms. The Morioka Castle Site Park is just 20 minutes on foot from Morioka Station.

The Morioka Sakura Festival, which is held at Morioka Castle Ruins Park and Takamatsu Pond, allows you to enjoy cherry blossoms light up during night times with food stalls. The date of this year has not been announced, but it is expected to be from April 11th till May 6th.

Best time to visit: mid April to late April

Morioka Castle Site Park

Iwate Pref. Moriokashi Uchimaru 1-37

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Matsumoto Castle (Nagano)

Designated as a National Treasure of Japan, Matsumoto Castle is a deservedly popular tourist attraction in its own right. But during the cherry blossom season, it attracts visitors for another reason as its 300 cherry trees come into flower. It’s a stunning sight to see the castle’s black-and-white architecture with the soft pinks of the cherry blossoms, all just a 15-minute walk from Matsumoto Station.

Additionally, the evening light up of the cherry blossom will be held until 21:00 starting from three days after the declaration of the blossom. And will last for only 8days.

Best time to visit: early April to mid-April

National Treasure Matsumoto Castle

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Kakunodate (Akita)

During the Edo Period, numerous weeping cherry trees were transplanted from Kyoto to Kakunodate and today it’s one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in the Tohoku region. Kakunodate’s Cherry Blossom Festival is expected to take place around the April 20th till May 6th and sees more than a million people flock to the historic samurai district and the Hinokinai River where they picnic beneath the blossoms. It all takes place a 20-minute walk from Kakunodate Station

Best time to visit: late April - early May
Annual turnout: approximately 1.3 million people

Kakunodate Samurai Street

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Hirosaki Park (Aomori)

While Hirosaki Park is famed for its Edo-built Castle Tower, it’s also home to around 2,600 cherry blossom trees in 50 different varieties. Understandably, it’s an incredibly popular ohanami destination, with highlights including the Sakura Tunnel on the west moat and seeing the trees illuminated at night. Hirosaki Park is a 15-minute bus ride from Hirosaki Station along the Dotemachi Loop Bus.

Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival marks its 100th anniversary this year. And it is expected to be held between April 23rd to May 6th.

Best time to visit: around 24 April
Annual turnout: approximately 2 million people

Hirosaki Park

Aomori Pref. Hirosakishi Shimoshiroganechou 1

0172338739

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Goryokaku (Hokkaido)

One of the main tourist attractions in Hakodate, Fort Goryokaku is a star-shaped, Western-style fortress that was built during the late Edo Period. It’s also one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots on Hokkaido, with the season arriving a few weeks later than mainland Japan. Around 1,600 trees line the fort’s moats where you can rent boats, then soak up the views from the 100-meter-tall Goryokaku Tower. Catch the tram from Hakodate Station to Goryokaku Koen Mae Station and the fort is just 10 minutes’ walk away.

Best time to visit: late April to early May

Goryokaku Park

Hokkaido Hakodateshi Goryoukakuchou 44

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