It’s the season eagerly anticipated by both locals and travelers: spring in Japan has arrived! Often regarded as the most picturesque time to visit Japan, spring ushers in cherry blossoms, pleasant weather and a fresh sense of renewal. The changing season also marks the start of a new fiscal year for Japan and the beginning of the school term.
From March to May, Japan comes alive with vibrant flowers, traditional festivals and an array of outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy hanami (flower viewing) at parks and temples, stroll through picturesque gardens and indulge in seasonal treats like sakura mochi and tender bamboo shoots (takenoko).
Major cities — Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, no doubt — and popular attractions see a surge of visitors, so it is good to plan ahead. Make the most of your trip and discover everything you need to know about experiencing spring in Japan!
Check out our complete Japan spring itinerary for a few more ideas of what to do in this sensational season.
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Spring temperature in Japan and what to wear
Spring in Japan, spanning from March to May, brings clear skies and mild, crisp weather that falls perfectly between trench coat and sweater season — though your wardrobe choice depends on your comfort with cooler temperatures.
On average, temperatures hover around 21°C (70°F) in cities like Tokyo and Osaka, where a light coat is usually good. In northern regions like Hokkaido, expect cooler conditions, with lows between 2°C and 10°C (36°F-50°F). We recommend at least bringing a light jacket or hoodie.
Cooler, often chilly days in early spring transition to warmer, sunnier days as the season progresses. Early spring temperatures can be unpredictable, occasionally dipping back to winter-like chills. Yet, despite these fluctuations, spring offers some of Japan's sunniest days with low humidity.
Is spring a good time to visit Japan?
Spring is undoubtedly one of the best times to visit Japan, but it’s also the busiest. In April 2024 alone, the country welcomed a record-breaking 3 million visitors (JNTO) — over 50% more than the previous year. The total number of inbound travellers that year? 11 million. The trend is expected to continue growing in 2025 and beyond.
Keep in mind that it can get extremely busy if you happen to visit during the Golden Week (April 29 to May 5). This is a period of consecutive national holidays for most Japanese, making it peak travel time for both locals and international visitors. Expect even more crowded attractions and longer lines at popular restaurants.
During spring, flight and hotel rates are typically more expensive, and making restaurant reservations can be challenging. We recommend booking early and using platforms like byFood to secure your dining spots.
Cherry blossoms during spring in Japan
Arguably the highlight of spring, cherry blossoms, or sakura, draws visitors from around the world to Japan to witness their fleeting beauty. The best time to see them is typically between late March and early April when the blossoms peak for two weeks.
Cherry blossoms first appear in southern regions like Kyushu, gradually moving north. They bloom at different times depending on the region. Generally, the colder the area, the later the blossoms start. In Hokkaido, cherry blossoms bloom in early May, while in Okinawa, Japan’s tropical southern island, they start as early as mid-January!
Find out more: Japan’s 2025 Cherry Blossom Forecast
While famous viewing spots are popular for their grandeur, cherry blossoms in Japan can be found almost anywhere — whether it’s a quiet park near your hotel or a tree-lined street you stumble upon. You don’t need to seek out tourist-packed locations to experience the magic of sakura in Japan.
Still, if you’re looking for iconic spots to get your pictures, check out the:
Pollen allergy during spring in Japan
Do you know what else is in the air besides sakura petals and a crisp spring breeze? Pollen. In Japan, pollen dispersion peaks from February to April, causing many people to experience hay fever.
Interestingly, it’s not the sakura flowers — or any flowers, for that matter — causing the rapid sneezes, itchy eyes and puffy face, but rather the pollen from two specific trees: cedar and cypress.
Hay fever, or kafunsho in Japanese, became a widespread concern starting in the 1960s when the Japanese government planted large numbers of cedar and cypress trees — unintentionally triggering an allergy epidemic. Today, around 25 million people in Japan suffer from hay fever annually.
On windy days, when the spring breeze warms up suddenly, pollen dispersion can increase rapidly, pushing the peak pollen period forward.
The good news is that most people exposed to cedar or cypress pollen won’t immediately show symptoms the first time — it often develops over time (say, your second or third trip to Japan). Some people may never even suffer hay fever at all!
However, if you have a history of hay fever, make sure you’re prepared with the right medications.
Things to do in Japan during spring
An obvious answer will be to hunt for the cherry blossom in an activity we call “hanami” — but there are just so many more things to see and do. We’ve covered a more complete list in our other guide, but we’ve picked a few of our favorite activities here.
1. Picnic under cherry blossoms
A simple picnic transforms into a magical experience under the thick blanket of cherry blossom petals during hanami, a cherished spring tradition in Japan. While hanami literally means "flower viewing," it’s predominantly used to refer to cherry blossom viewing.
Though hanami can be as simple as a walk through the park, it’s most traditionally celebrated with a picnic beneath the blooming trees. Pack your own food, and enjoy the company of friends and family — some parks even allow alcoholic beverages like beer.
Just be mindful of the local rules: clean up after yourself, and avoid plucking the blossoms or shaking the branches.
Popular spots for hanami and picnics are in Yoyogi Park and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
Find out more: Tokyo Spring Itinerary
2. Try seasonal spring food
We’d argue that Japan has the best food in the world — and the best seasonal flavors. When it comes to spring-related flavors, one of the highlights is sakura-flavored treats, which range from sakura mochi — often enjoyed during Hinamatsuri (the Doll Festival) — to sakura lattes.
The flavor? A delicate, subtly sweet floral note that perfectly captures the essence of the season.
Other spring favorites include ichigo daifuku — strawberry-filled mochi — and wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets that embody the spirit of the season. As for ingredients, sansai (mountain vegetables), bamboo shoots and nanohana (rape blossoms) are in abundance and feature prominently in dishes at kaiseki restaurants throughout Japan.
Find out more: Must-try Japanese Spring Foods
3. Soak into an onsen (hot spring bath)
Before Japan’s summer heat sets in, spring offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy the country’s renowned onsen (hot spring baths). These therapeutic baths, which can be indoor or outdoors, are known for their soothing properties.
Popular onsen destinations — or “onsen towns” — near Tokyo include Hakone, Atami and Kusatsu.
Spring festivals and events in Japan
Unsurprisingly, spring festivals in Japan often revolve around themes of new beginnings and the beauty of flowers. Whether you're in Japan for just a short time during the season or planning to stay longer, it's good to know what festivities are taking place in the month you're visiting.
Find out more: Guide to Most Famous Japanese Festivals
Events in March to April
1. Mito Plum Blossom Festival, Ibaraki Prefecture
The Mito Plum Blossom Festival, held from mid-February to late March, highlights sakura’s older but often overlooked sister, the plum blossom. Held in Kairakuen Park in Mito, one of Japan's top three landscape gardens, the festival features over 3,000 blooming plum trees from over 100 varieties.
During the festival, you can enjoy evening illuminations, fireworks and even an Umeshu (plum liqueur) Festival, where over 150 types of plum liqueur from across the country are available to sample.
Find out more: Places to See Plum Blossoms in Japan
2. Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, Aomori Prefecture
The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, held in late April in Aomori Prefecture, highlights over 2,600 cherry trees at Hirosaki Park, some of which are over 300 years old. The park features a famous cherry blossom tunnel and stunning illuminations around Hirosaki Castle.
The experience at night is particularly stunning. Visitors can paddle small boats through the moat, admiring the blossoms reflecting off the water, or watch as the ground becomes covered with petals in a breathtaking carpet of pink.
3. Takayama Spring Festival, Gifu Prefecture
The Takayama Spring Festival, held on April 14-15, is one of Japan’s top three festivals, alongside Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri and Chichibu Yomatsuri. This festival, dedicated to the Hie Shrine, is known for its vibrant floats called “yatai” which are paraded around at once.
Some of the floats feature marionettes known as karakuri dolls. In the mid-morning and early afternoon, these intricate puppets "perform" traditional dances.
4. Kamakura Festival
Held in mid-April, the Kamakura Festival in Kamakura is a celebration of the coastal city’s rich history, featuring events like horse riding, archery, dancing and an outdoor tea ceremony.
One of the festival's highlights is the traditional Shizuka no Mai dance, which tells the story of Lady Shizuka, a famous historical figure. Visitors can also enjoy a parade with mikoshi (portable shrines) down the iconic Wakamiya Oji Street to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine.
Events in April to May
1. Naha Hari Festival
The Naha Hari Festival, held every May during Golden Week, transforms Nahashin Port in Okinawa into a strip for the island’s largest dragon boat race. This maritime festival celebrates Okinawa’s fishing heritage, where teams compete in elaborately decorated boats.
The race boats, known as hari (or hare), are adorned with a dragon's head and tail and can hold up to 32 rowers, along with drummers and flag bearers. Smaller boats, called sabani, also participate in the races, making it an exciting event for visitors.
2. Tonami Tulip Fair
Located in the town of Tonami in Toyama Prefecture, the Tonami Tulip Fair displays over 3 million tulips grown inside the Tonami Tulip Park. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views from observation towers or stroll through the "Flower Otani," a flower corridor stacked four meters high, which has previously showcased motifs like the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route’s iconic snow walls.
Visitors can sample the site’s tulip soft serve ice cream — we’d reckon one of the more unique ice cream flavors in Japan — and even arrange their own tulip bouquets.
Find out more: 11 Best Restaurants in Toyama
3. Sanja Festival
Celebrating the founders of Sensoji Temple, the three-day festival features over a hundred portable shrines, or mikoshi, paraded through the streets of Asakusa. The final day kicks off with a spirited competition as carriers from around the area gather at Asakusa Shrine to carry one of the shrine's three large main mikoshi.
During this time, Asakusa is filled with food stalls, festival games and the lively rhythms of traditional taiko drums and flutes.
Find out more: Must-Visit Restaurants in Asakus