Cherry Blossom Season #japan

Japan’s famous cherry blossom festival season begins around the end of March and lasts for approximately 2 weeks, depending on location. Cherry trees can bloom right through until May the further north you travel, so dedicated sakura viewers can head north to enjoy even more sakura spotting.

Top viewing spots like Maruyama Park, Mount Yoshino, Himeji Castle, and Fuji Five Lakes are some of the most atmospheric places in the world and are wonderful places to see the beautiful blooms. For those who would like to enjoy a more scaled-down celebration of spring, there are plenty of lesser-known viewing spots where visitors can picnic in peace.

The aristocrats of days gone by often wrote poetry or painted pictures to celebrate the beauty of the cherry blossom. These days, viewings are more about eating, drinking, and coming together to celebrate the beginning of spring.

Public parks, rivers, and other attractions where cherry trees are found will fill up with the smell of barbecue, food stalls, and the sound of celebrations during the season. So popular are the seasonal festivities, it can be hard to find a space in some of the more popular viewing locations.