[Japan Cherry Blossom Guide 2026] Expected Cherry Blossom Blooming Period | Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots and Cherry Blossom Festival Dates | Tokyo, Keihan, Kyushu, Tohoku, Hokkaido

(Announced by Japan Meteorological Corporation, last updated on March 19)

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Tokyo｜Cherry trees along the Meguro River: Beautiful night cherry blossoms

The cherry blossom trees along the Meguro River are famous for their stunning nighttime cherry blossom views and are voted the most popular cherry blossom viewing spot by Japanese people. Visitors can enjoy the dreamy scenery of cherry blossoms in full bloom on both sides of the river. After the evening, there are shops selling various snacks and drinks. The cherry blossom season is very lively every year.

Meguro River Sakura Festival: March 29-30, 2025

Address: Ohashi 1-chome 10, Meguro-ku, Tokyo ~ Shimomeguro 2-chome 9, Meguro-ku

Expected flowering period: late March to early April

Tokyo｜Ueno Park: Perfect for Family Trips

Ueno Park has been a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing since the Edo period. There are about 800 cherry trees planted inside. Due to the wide variety of species, the flowering period is relatively long. During the cherry blossom season, you can see a sea of pink flowers. In addition to strolling in the park and admiring the beautiful cherry blossoms, there are also zoos, art galleries and museums nearby, as well as the shopping street Ameyoko, which is perfect for a day trip with children.

Ueno Sakura Festival: March 18 to April 6, 2025

Address: 5-20 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Expected flowering period: late March to early April

Tokyo｜Chidorigafuchi: Enjoy the stunning cherry blossoms from a boat

Chidorigafuchi is one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. Hundreds of cherry trees are in full bloom along the lakeside. Visitors can row a boat on the lake while enjoying the pink beauty of the cherry trees and the lake's reflection. The cherry blossom petals falling on the lake add to the romantic feeling. As many tourists come here every year, in order to reduce the waiting time, the official has sold some boat tickets in advance on March 12. Tourists can purchase them in advance on the official website.

Chiyoda Sakura Festival: March 28 to April 8, 2025

Address: 2-Chome, Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Expected flowering period: late March to early April

Yokohama｜Ookagawa Cherry Blossom Trail: A romantic trail that stretches a thousand feet

The Ooka River Cherry Blossom Trail in Yokohama has more than 500 cherry trees planted on both sides of the river. The trail is wide and can accommodate more people. Visitors can also choose to enjoy the cherry blossoms by boat. There is also a large-scale cherry blossom festival in the area during the spring. In addition to various food stalls, there are also music performances at night, and you can enjoy the lively festival atmosphere against the backdrop of the night cherry blossoms.

Ookagawa Night Light-up: March 22-23, 2025

Address: Around Komyoji-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Expected flowering period: late March to mid-April

Kyoto｜Arashiyama: A valley covered in "powder snow"

Arashiyama is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot. About 1,500 cherry trees of different varieties are in full bloom around the famous local landmark "Togetsukyo Bridge", creating a dreamy and spectacular scene. Visitors can take the Sagano Scenic Railway to view the mountains of cherry blossoms, or walk to the nearby Tenryuji Temple to admire the weeping cherry blossoms.

Address: Nakanoshima-cho, Ukyo-ku, Saga Prefecture, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Expected flowering period: Early to mid-April

Kyoto｜Philosopher's Path: A Cherry Blossom Viewing Spot Full of Traditional Beauty

The Philosopher's Path walking trail is about 2 kilometers long and connects Ginkaku-ji Temple and Nanzen-ji Temple. There are many cherry trees planted on both sides of the trail. While enjoying the cherry blossoms, visitors can also see the quaint buildings in Sakyo Ward. The two complement each other and are full of the beauty of traditional culture, making it a very famous cherry blossom viewing spot.

Address: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture

Expected flowering period: Early to mid-April

Osaka｜Osaka Castle Park: Osaka Castle covered with cherry blossoms

There are as many as 3,000 cherry trees planted in Osaka Castle Park, covering an area of about 1 million square meters. Osaka Castle is located in the center of the park, surrounded by cherry blossoms, forming a unique beauty when the flowers bloom. The most famous flower-viewing area in the park is the Nishinomaru Garden, where visitors can have a picnic and enjoy a relaxing time while enjoying the stunning cherry blossom scenery. During the cherry blossom season, Nishinomaru Gardens also has night lighting events, allowing people to appreciate the beauty of the cherry blossoms at night.

Nishinomaru Garden Night Light-up: March 22 to April 13, 2025

Address: Osaka City, Chuo District, Osaka Castle 1-1

Expected flowering period: late March to mid-April

Osaka｜Mint Cherry Blossom Trail: Seven-day limited cherry blossom trail (reservation required)

The Osaka Mint is famous for its "Sakura Avenue". The passage is about 540 meters long and has more than 300 cherry trees of more than 140 varieties. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it feels like being in a pink tunnel. In order to effectively control the flow of people, the channel is only open for one week during the cherry blossom season, and only tourists who have successfully made a reservation can enter for a visit. There are multiple time periods every day, one every half hour, and places are on a first-come, first-served basis. Official registration will be open on March 17. Visitors who want to go to see the cherry blossoms should remember to make an online reservation in advance.

Cherry Blossom Trail opening date: April 5 to 11, 2025

Address: Tenman 1-1-79, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture (South entrance of the Mint)

Expected flowering period: early April to mid-April

Fukuoka｜Maizuru Park: A panoramic view of the sea of cherry blossoms

The most popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Fukuoka City is none other than Maizuru Park. There are thousands of cherry trees planted in the park. You can see the entire sea of cherry trees as soon as you enter the park. Visitors can also go to the castle tower observation deck to take in the entire spectacular pink sea of trees. During the cherry blossom season, the area also holds cherry blossom festivals and night lighting events, which are very lively.

Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival: March 26 to April 6, 2025

Address: Fukuoka Prefecture Fukuoka City Chuo-ku Jonai 1

Expected flowering period: late March to early April

Oita｜Yufuin Oita Riverbank Cherry Blossom Trees: Rapeseed and Cherry Blossoms complement each other

Yufuin is one of the most popular hot spring spots in Kyushu. In spring, cherry blossoms and rape blossoms bloom at the same time on both sides of the Oita River. People only need to walk to the Miyuki Bridge to enjoy the beauty of the two flowers blooming at the same time. Add to that the magnificent mountain scenery of Yufu Hill, and it forms an unforgettable beautiful scene. Travelers who are interested in visiting Kyushu to view cherry blossoms may want to take a trip to view cherry blossoms in hot springs.

Address: Yufuin-cho, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture

Expected flowering period: late March to early April

Kagoshima｜Yoshino Park: Magnificent mountains against a sea of pink flowers

Kagoshima's cherry blossoms usually bloom in late March. Yoshino Park has about 630 Somei Yoshino cherry trees. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, they complement Sakurajima, Kirishima Mountains and Kaimon-dake, forming a magnificent and beautiful natural landscape. In addition to cherry blossoms, the park also grows a variety of flowers, attracting many people every spring to picnic and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Yoshino Park Cherry Blossom Festival: March 22 to April 6, 2025 (tentative)

Address: 7955 Yoshino-cho, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture

Expected flowering period: late March to early April

Iwate｜Kitakami Exhibition Hall: Secret Cherry Blossom Tunnel

Kitakami Tenshochi is a tranquil and beautiful riverside park in Iwate Prefecture, Tohoku. In April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, a grand cherry blossom festival is held. Visitors can take a sightseeing carriage limited to the cherry blossom season and travel through the 2-kilometer-long cherry blossom tunnel to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom. There are also lighting activities at night, and the dreamy scenery is unforgettable. There is also a parking lot in the Kitakami Tensho area, making it convenient for those who drive to enjoy the cherry blossoms.

Kitakami Tenshochi Sakura Festival: April 9-29, 2025

Address: Tachibana 10, Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture

Expected flowering period: early to late April

Miyagi｜Senbonzakura at Shiroishi River Bank: Thousands of cherry trees at a glance

There are more than 1,000 cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino, planted on the Shiroishi River embankment. You can see thousands of cherry trees at a glance, with the spectacular mountain scenery of the Zao Mountain Range stretching for about 8 kilometers in the background. Together with the river scenery of Shiroishi River, the clear blue riverside, the pink cherry blossoms and the snow-covered Zao Mountain Range form a unique three-color scenery. If you go there in the morning, you'll have a better chance of seeing the "Sakura Water Mirror" where the cherry blossoms are reflected in the water!

Address: Kanaze, Ogawara-cho, Miyagi Prefecture to Funaoka Dotenai, Shibata-cho

Expected flowering period: early to mid-April

Miyagi｜Sendai West Park: Feel the lively atmosphere of cherry blossom season

Nishi Park is the oldest park in Sendai City and a famous cherry blossom viewing spot. It was called "Sakura Hill Park" in the Meiji era. The park has about 200 cherry trees, and houses historical sites such as steam locomotives and celebrity sculptures. It attracts many people to enjoy the flowers and have picnics, and is also a great place for family fun. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, many food stalls will also be open, allowing tourists to experience the lively atmosphere of the cherry blossom season.

Address: Outside Sakuragaoka Park 1-3, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture

Expected flowering period: early to late April

Sapporo｜Hokkaido Shrine: Plum and cherry blossoms bloom at the same time

Hokkaido Jingu Shrine has been a famous flower viewing spot since the Meiji era. There are about 1,400 cherry trees and 250 plum trees planted inside. What is special is that the cherry trees and plum trees bloom at almost the same time every year, so visitors can enjoy the grand spectacle of cherry trees and plum trees blooming at the same time. During the flowering season, the shrine area is also filled with various food stalls, and many tourists make the pilgrimage every year.

Address: 474 Miyanooka, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido

Expected flowering period: late April to early May

Hakodate｜Goryokaku Park: Overlooking the pink star-shaped city wall

Goryokaku Park has a star-shaped moat fortress and an observation deck, and is considered the best place to view cherry blossoms in Hakodate. There are approximately 1,500 cherry blossom trees planted within the castle walls, and the park’s unique star-shaped shape allows for more vantage points for viewing. In addition to being surrounded by a sea of flowers, travelers can also go to the observation deck to look out at the pink star-shaped sea of flowers and enjoy the magnificent scenery from a distance. Combined with the evening lighting event, visitors can enjoy the park’s unique flower-blooming beauty both day and night at once.

Address: Goryokaku-cho 44, Hakodate City, Hokkaido

Expected flowering period: late April to early May

Otaru｜Temiya Park: Secret Land of Ocean and Pink Flowers

Temiya Park is located on a small hill in the suburbs of Otaru. There are no direct buses, so it is more suitable to drive or take a taxi to enjoy it. It only takes about 10 minutes to drive from Otaru Station. However, due to its remote location, there are relatively few people admiring the cherry blossoms. You can quietly enjoy the 700 cherry trees blooming at the same time in spring. And because of its high terrain, you can see the continuous mountains and the secret ocean at the same time. There is a parking lot at Temiya Park, but it only has about 30 parking spaces. If you drive there, it is best to choose a time when there are fewer people.

Address: Temiya 2-chome, Otaru City, Hokkaido

Expected flowering period: late April to early May