Ultimate Guide for Cherry Blossom Trips to Japan

The cherry blossom (sakura with another name), represents the flowers of the trees in the Spring season. Sakura name means the type of cherry tree’s “Prunus” which provides the flowers and is used for ornamental. Japan’s nature parks and gardens are the best places for visiting cherry blossom festivals.

Table of Contents

Best Period to Visit Cherry Blossom Trees

The best time to travel to Japan for cherry blossom is from late March to the middle of April. However, if you visit the country’s northern regions, like Hokkaido, late April to May is the best decision. While you take a trip for these months, should learn the festival dates. So with that, you can watch the tree’s landscape with big crowds and celebrate it with various local activities. One of the festivals is as follows:

Hanami Festival – Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka

Hanami means “watching flowers” in Japanese, representing the “Cherry Blossom Festivals”. Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are the best Hanami spots for the event. These regions have the biggest gardens and spots for attendees. Also, tourists and local people can meet at these events with cultural interaction. The Hanami Festival usually starts at the end of March.

Top Locations for Cherry Blossom Viewing

Tokyo, Nikko, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Miyajima are the top visiting cities during the Sakura season in Japan. The voyagers can choose locations by reviewing other activity choices in a city like local food, museums, and gardens. You can see below the details of spots and destinations for the Japan cherry blossom tour:

Cherry Blossom Forecast in Japan (2024). Last updated: May 6, 2024. | Photo by Weather Map Co.

Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the most visited cities for cherry blossom tour in Japan. The city has got a place of more than 10 for that. Also, the spots have different types of Sakura trees like early-blooming and late-blooming. As can be seen in the table, Tokyo’s sakura first bloom date is 3/29. The Fully-blossom date is 4/4.

The voyagers can do a lot of activities in Tokyo like visiting art museums, trying local foods, and joining the festivals. For example, the Ghibli Museum is the best place for Anime fans. If you like Studio Ghibli’s movies, read our museum content. So with that, you can add the place to the travel plan for Sakura landscapes.

Osaka

Osaka is well-known with Osaka Castle and the Hanami Festival. The city’s blossom date is early spring, following Tokyo’s Hanami time. The best option for Sakura tourism is Osaka Castle which includes over 4000 trees. Another good choice is Expo 70 Commemorative Park with about 7000 cherry trees. After visiting the Sakura lands, you can explore the city’s tourist spaces and traditional places.

Fees and Permits for Cherry Blossom Spots

Hirosaki Sakura Festival, Aomori, Japan – Photo by Openverse

Transportation and Accommodation

Every city has different choices for transportation and accommodation plans. The pricing shows some changes as well. At this point, you must reserve hotel and plane tickets. Also, review the choices for transfer between locations during travel.

Tour Prices

Travel agencies offer Japan cherry blossom tour choices with full-package accommodation and transportation. If you want to avoid additional expenses and organize group tours with guides, definitely review travel agencies.

Planning Your Travel Route

Cherry Blossom Festival – Metro, Photo by CherryBlossomFestival.org

Japan’s transportation routes are well-developed, which include the metro, rentable bikes, and water taxis. Before taking a trip, you can review the city’s transportation network you’ll visit. Thereby, overcoming the transport times and problems.

Essential Travel Tips

Before the Sakura visitation to Japan, pay attention to tips and mistakes for foreign travelers. You can see important details below:

Check the Visa options for foreign visitors. The ultimate guide is located on U.S. Embassy’s official website and Embassy of Japan’s website. Also, you can check the e-Visa system which is prepared for airplane travelers.
Be careful that the blossom dates match with travel time. You can review the Sakura Forecast maps & reports for confirmation.
The cherry blossom period is the most crowded time in Japanese cities. They host a lot of foreign tourists around the world. Pay attention to security studies and be careful about your valuables.
Even if you travel with tours, you should keep the extra budget for shopping and dining.

A unique travel experience is possible when you pay attention to these details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What month is the cherry blossom in Japan?

The month of cherry blossom in Japan is from the end of March to May. Most of the festivals start in April which is the when spring months begin. Travelers can follow the local festival dates for a better experience.

Why is Japan famous for cherry blossoms?

The cherry blossoms time represents wabi-sabi philosophy which means faith and renewal. Also, there are cherry trees in many different cities of the country that are ornamental and produce many buds. Accordingly, cherry trees’ blossom is the national symbol of Japan.

Where in Japan is best for cherry blossoms?

The best place for cherry blossom landscapes in Japan is Yoshino, Nara spot. The land covers the Kii Mountains and the town. The area has approximately 30,000 sakura trees.

Is Japan expensive during cherry blossom?

Yes, Japan may be expensive for tourists during cherry blossom season. Visitors come from many different regions of the world. At this point, it is very important to choose less frequently preferred locations and buy accommodation and flight tickets early.

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