When is Cherry Blossoms (Sakura Season) in Japan 2026

Is there ever a time when we don't have cherry blossoms on our minds? The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) released Japan’s 2026 cherry blossom forecast. Thousands of residents and tourists look forward to this forecast to plan their trips and maximize their time with Japan's favorite spring flower.

You’re in the right place for all the best places to see cherry blossoms in Spring in Japan 2026. Keep reading for a map of sakura hot spots, peak blooming periods, and additional tips to plan your spring trip to Japan.

Pro planner tip: Bookmark this page and check again throughout the season to see when cherry blossoms will bloom in major cities around Japan.

Wondering when to see sakura in 2026? This year’s sakura will bloom from late March in the south to early May in northern areas of Japan. Check out this map for an at-a-glance look at Japan’s regional blooms.

The JMC updates its cherry blossom forecast regularly leading up to the sakura season, taking into account weather patterns and temperature projections. 

This detailed sakura forecast below is what we know at the time of writing, but it is likely to change multiple times before the cherry blossom season ends.

Remember that these dates are not exact, though they are still useful when planning your trip.

Find out more: What is Sakura? History, Culture & Types of Cherry Blossoms

You can find cherry trees everywhere in Japan, from riversides to local neighborhood parks. Check out our guides to the best places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. These popular areas have some of the best hanami spots in the country!

• Where to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo
• Where to see cherry blossoms in Kyoto
• Where to see cherry blossoms in Osaka

Throughout Japanese history, their ephemeral existence has made cherry blossoms the subject of poetry, visual art and more. Let them serve as the backdrop for an unforgettable trip. Whether you're just passing through or you've recently moved to Japan, here are a few tips to help you make the most of the season.

The easiest way to see cherry blossoms and guarantee a memorable time is to go with a seasoned guide. Cherry blossom season means crowds and congestion, all better navigated with a pro. Take your pick of the great tours below:

This Tokyo cherry blossom tour highlights the peaceful Tokyo neighborhood of Yanaka, a well-preserved traditional district that was once home to some of Japan’s most celebrated artisans and writers.

You’ll browse shops and stalls along the Yanaka Ginza shopping street, stroll through backstreets lined with blooming sakura trees and munch on local snacks, in addition to a special seasonal hanami bento. Top it off with a Japanese sake or green tea tasting for a truly authentic hanami experience. 

Book 2026 Cherry Blossoms Hanami Food Tour in Yanaka (Tokyo)

Thankfully for the night owls, sakura fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Along the Meguro River, sakura petals cascade into the water and the glow of lanterns turns the canals pink.

Party on in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of Tokyo, sipping sake as you sample sweets and salty senbei, then head to a local izakaya for dinner and a change of scenery.

Just when you think cycling through Asakusa’s backstreets couldn’t get any more magical, the streets are lined with pastel pink cherry blossoms.

On this Tokyo bike tour, you’ll escape the crowds at the most-visited sakura spots and ride through the relaxing residential streets of the city, offering insight into local life and neighborhood shops. Between the floating petals, you’ll visit charming shopping malls and try Tokyo street food like yakitori grilled chicken, oden hot pot and sakuramochi, a sweet mochi wrapped in a salted leaf and filled with red bean paste.

Join this Osaka cherry blossom tour to capture an iconic springtime view of the city, with Osaka Castle framed by lush, blooming sakura. With hanami festivities in full swing, there’s no shortage of seasonal street food available on the castle grounds. After you’ve whet your appetite with sakura snacks, handmade soba noodles await at a local specialty restaurant.

Just outside Kyoto City’s downtown, in the Demachiyanagi area, cherry blossoms drop petals into the flowing Kamo and Takano rivers. Join a guided tour of this lesser-known Kyoto neighborhood that's nonetheless a popular cherry blossom viewing spot.

Enjoy hanami like a local as you explore Demachi Masugata Shopping Street and Shimogamo Shrine. When evening falls, you’ll enjoy a seasonal dinner at a local soba noodle restaurant, followed by a famous local dessert.

Depending on the region and weather, the sakura season in Japan lasts for less than one month, with about one fleeting week of full bloom. However, sakura-inspired snacks begin appearing as early as January! Here are a few of our favorite sakura treats for spring.

In Japan, food is a hotbed of competition between regions. Who has the most succulent, highly marbled wagyu beef? Whose okonomiyaki style reigns supreme, the noodly Hiroshima style or Osaka’s mixed version?

When it comes to wagashi sweets, sakura mochi is one battleground where Kanto and Kansai face off. On one side, Tokyo’s champion, the refined Kanto-style sakura mochi: a smooth, flattened piece of mochi that envelops a ball of anko, sweet bean paste. 

On the left is the Kansai-style sakura mochi, which has a chewy texture, the grains of glutinous rice still retaining some of their original integrity. A pickled cherry blossom leaf wraps both.

The winner? You decide by trying some sweets at these wagashi shops in Tokyo before the sakura season ends.

Much like the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte that appears like clockwork each autumn, spring means virtually every cafe in Japan begins to serve whipped cream-crowned sakura lattes and frappuccinos.

Cherry blossom season isn’t just for dessert lovers. These sakura onigiri, or rice balls, are gorgeous additions to any picnic. Salt-pickled Japanese cherry blossoms adorn the sides of rice balls in spring like edible pressed flowers. They make for a portable picnic snack, while also being perfect for that #hanami Instagram snap. 

For the full list of sakura-inspired treats, give Sakura Snacks for Cherry Blossom Season a read.

Our original sakura meringue cookie recipe has all the delicateness of the cherry blossoms themselves. They're crisp and light, with a balance of sweetness, saltiness, and sakura aroma. The cookies are made by whipping egg whites with sakura flavoring, then dusting freeze-dried salted sakura powder on top of the piped meringues before baking.

Hanami is a quintessential activity during sakura season. Get together with friends, family or coworkers, settle under a cherry tree and eat and drink to your heart's content. It's an unparalleled bonding experience. Check out our guide to hanami to plan the perfect spring gathering.

If you decide to plan your own hanami rather than join a cherry blossom food tour, here are some tips to help you celebrate cherry blossom season in style.

Local parks and gardens across Japan boast hundreds if not thousands of cherry trees. However, not all locations are hanami-friendly. Some parks don’t allow eating and drinking, so be sure to check their websites for more info.

Check these guides for great hanami locations around Japan:

• Best Cherry Blossom Parks
• Cherry Blossoms in Japan
• Sakura in Fukuoka
• Sakura in Hiroshima
• Sakura in Shizuoka

Since there is no way to make a reservation, arrive at your picnic location early to secure your spot. Bring a picnic blanket, tarp or folding chairs to mark your territory. Don Quijote is a great place to pick up these hanami essentials.

As there is no way to make a reservation, go to your picnic location early to secure your spot. Bring a picnic blanket, tarp (if your group is prone to spills), or folding chairs to mark your territory. Don Quijote is a great place to pick up these hanami essentials. 

Pack or purchase a special hanami bento, drinks, and cherry blossom snacks like wagashi. Don’t forget to bring cups and plates, and choose reusable options if possible. A thermos of soup or Japanese tea is perfect to share in the evening when it starts getting chilly. Trash cans are often unavailable in public parks, so bring your own bags to sort trash and recycle.

After you’ve taken enough sakura selfies, put down your smartphone and enjoy some low-tech recreational activities. Challenge your friends to kendama, the traditional Japanese “sword and ball” game. If you’ve scored a particularly flat patch of ground or a bench, try daruma otoshi, a game made up of stacked wooden blocks that is similar to Jenga.

To help ensure these parks will remain open and welcoming to hanami revelers for years to come, leave your picnic location as clean as you found it. Bring garbage bags and towels in case of spills. And please don’t try to take home any cherry blossom branches.

Need a few more ideas for things to do in cherry blossom season? Check out our recommendations for things to do in spring in Japan.

Interested in more of Japan’s seasonal flowers? Get to know the Japanese plum blossom and where to see plum blossoms in Japan. Or, if you’re spending the rainy season in Japan, keep an eye out for hydrangeas in Tokyo and Kyoto.