Japan’s Cherry Blossom Forecast 2026: A Sakura Season Guide
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(Note: The original December 19 post has been updated based on a new forecast from the Japan Meteorological Corporation.)
Tokyo on March 20
On January 8, the Japan Meteorological Corporation published its second cherry blossom forecast for 2026. Temperatures across the country are expected to be around the same as usual in January and February, but higher than usual in March and April, meaning that blooming will take place earlier than in a typical year.
The organization forecasts that the first sakura will blossom in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Shizuoka around March 20, with areas west of the greater Tokyo region blooming in late March. As the cherry blossom front moves up into Hokuriku and Tōhoku, these areas will see the iconic trees start to flower from the end of March to early April. The front is expected to reach the southern tip of Hokkaidō at the end of April; while Tokyo’s first bloom is predicted for March 20, Sapporo’s will come more than five weeks later, around April 27.
The Japan Meteorological Corporation makes its predictions based on somei-yoshino cherry trees at some 1,000 viewing spots around the country. You can see updates for different places at the Otenki Navigator site (Japanese only).
A Spring Symbol
Cherry blossoms are a symbol of spring in Japan, and their short blooming period has also made them a metaphor for fleeting beauty within the country’s literature and culture. The somei-yoshino is the most common variety of cherry tree today, and it is known for its characteristic pale pink flowers that appear before the growth of fresh leaves for a spectacular visual effect.
Many people take part in hanami (flower-viewing) parties with friends, family, or work colleagues, enjoying food and drink beneath blooming cherry trees in parks or on river embankments.
Early Bloomers
While Japan’s main cherry blossom season comes in spring, with the somei-yoshino, the kawazu-zakura variety flowers early, from late January. It takes its name from the Shizuoka town of Kawazu, where it originated. From 2026, the Japan Meteorological Corporation has started forecasts for these Kawazu cherry trees, as guidance for the many visitors who enjoy them.
A kawazu-zakura tree discovered by chance along the Kawazu River in 1955 later became a symbol of the town, and trees were planted across the area and farther afield. The original tree is expected to bloom around January 22, while trees in Sasahara Park, one of the venues for the Kawazu-Zakura Festival, are forecast to bloom around February 4—both dates earlier than in a typical year.
Kawazu zakura blossoms in full bloom in Kawazu, Shizuoka. (© Pixta)
Data Sources
- Cherry Blossom forecast map (2026) from the Japan Meteorological Corporation
- Information about kawazu-zakura (Japanese) from the Kawazu-Zakura Festival
(Translated from Japanese. Banner photo: Cherry blossoms at the temple of Taisekiji in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, in combination with Mount Fuji, also appear reflected in Myōkyō Pond. © PhotoAC.)