Start planning your sakura trips and hanami parties for the top cherry blossom destinations in Japan with the official Japan cherry blossom forecast for 2026. It is time to start looking ahead to the warmer weather of spring which can mean only one thing – cherry blossoms.
Japan Cherry Blossom Season 2026
This year’s cherry blossom (sakura) season for Japan is forecast to start a few days ahead of average due to warm spring temperatures. Temperatures across Japan were around the same as average in January and February. However, temperatures are expected to be higher than normal in March and April. This means the blossoms are expected to bloom earlier than in a typical year.
The cherry blossom season typically starts in January in Okinawa and sweeps up the mainland to Hokkaido in May. The cherry blossoms in Japan usually last about 2 weeks from the start of their bloom to full bloom. The peak season for cherry blossoms in popular sightseeing destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka is usually from late March to early April.
When will Cherry Blossoms Bloom in Japan 2026
Updated weather forecasts say that the recent burst of warm weather in early March will speed up the arrival of the cherry blossoms ahead of the seasonal average. Warmer temperatures in March have accelerated the bloom earlier than expected, particularly in eastern Japan.
The cherry blossom season began in mid-March with Kochi (March 16), Nagoya (March 17), and Tokyo (March 19) leading the bloom.
Peak bloom reached major cities such as Tokyo around March 28, Kyoto on March 30, and Osaka on April 3.
The cherry blossoms are currently at their peak in Takayama and around the Fuji Five Lakes in central Japan. The cherry blossom front has moved north to the Tohoku region. Peak viewing can be enjoyed in Fukushima, Sendai, and Kitakami.
On April 9, 2026, the JMC (Japan Meteorological Corporation) released its 12th cherry blossom forecast for the current season. This gives us a good idea about when sakura season is expected to begin.
This forecast is based on the Somei Yoshino cherry blossom tree, which is considered to be the most popular variety of Sakura in Japan.
We have created a table below for the major cherry blossom destinations in Japan with the estimate start date and peak bloom of the cherry blossoms. This forecast is subject to change and is only a prediction based on long term forecasts for February and March. Please refer back to this page for regular updates and reports. Information from the Japan Meteorological Corporation.
John Asano is a blogger, travel writer and travel advisor living in Gifu, Japan. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, he has lived in Japan now for over 15 years. John loves nothing better than picking up his camera and exploring all the amazing sights and attractions that Japan has to offer. He writes about the must see sights and attractions in Japan at Japan Travel Advice, as well as about Japanese culture and modern life on his blog Japan Australia. You can read more of his work at http://japan-australia.blogspot.com/
