Take A Sakura Vacation To Japan This Olympic Season

Every year is different when it comes to the sakura (cherry trees). As springtime begins, the country waits patiently for the first flushes of pink. Usually, the blooms burst into colour between March and early April. But, if you can’t make peak bloom, don’t fret. An alternative is February, when the equally beautiful but lesser-known plum blossoms are on show. Keep an eye on this handy sakura forecast to track when 2020 blooming is expected to start.



This year will see cherry blossom season arriving earlier than usual in Tokyo. This is all down to the weather: a combination of high temperatures in autumn and winter, as well as warm and sunny weather in spring. Full blossom is now expected on March 27, according to a forecast by Japan Meteorological. Corp.

Tokyo — March 19
Kochi — March 19
Nagoya — March 22
Hiroshima — March 22
Kyoto — March 23
Osaka — March 25
Kagoshima — March 25
Sendai — March 25

You’ll find sakura hotspots in over 1,000 locations across the country so picking the best can prove tricky.

1.Yoshino



Come sakura season and this is probably Japan’s most famous cherry-bloom destination, where a carpet of blushing blooms cascade the mountainsides.

2.Maruyama Park



The star of its show is a huge tree, whose blossom-fringed branches bow towards the ground. It’s illuminated in the evening from dusk until midnight, which is well worth sticking around for. Mount Yoshino is a worthy pilgrimage, covered in over 30,000 cherry trees.

3. Himeji Castle



Head here during full bloom for its striking white wooden walls that provide the perfect backdrop for the 1,000 cherry trees bursting into life around it.

4. Fuji Five Lakes



These stunning lakes come with the backdrop of Mount Fuji. For a more relaxing experience, visit the volcanic island of Honshu and loll in bubbling hot spring style with silky petals swirling all around.

5. Hirosaki Castle



Possibly the prettiest spot for cherry blossom viewing, this ancient three-story castle is surrounded by a fortified moat and a huge tree-lined park that hosts illuminations in the evenings.

6. Ueno Park



Japan’s cutting-edge, cosmopolitan capital isn’t all sleek high-risers and robot bars. It’s brimming with pretty parks, immaculate gardens and riverside promenades — many of which become home to cherry blossom festivals. One of the most popular spots in the city, and one where trees tend to bloom, is Ueno Park, home to over 1,000 cherry blossom trees, as well as plenty of museums, shrines and ponds. A 4km stretch is illuminated from 5pm to 9pm (from about March 23 to April 10). Graze as you go, on noodles and sticky rice balls from food stalls.

7. Maruyama Park



If Tokyo’s the epitome of modern; Kyoto’s the essence of tradition. Ancient teahouses rub shoulders with elaborate temples, while geisha scurry between the two on route to secret liaisons. Try Maruyama Park, where the main event is a tall shidarezakura weeping cherry tree illuminated at night, or the Philosopher’s Path — a canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees.

8. Laki Ashi



While the coastal city of Kamakura is known for its sandy beaches in summer, spring offers plenty of backdrops for your cherry blossom snaps — from huge bronze Buddha’s basking in the sun to the iconic Mount Fuji making an appearance as you sail along the tranquil waters of Lake Ashi.

9. Matsumae Park



Matsumae Park quietly shelters historical carvings in a clutch of temples: the swaying of cherry blossom ensuring the serenity of the Buddhist artefacts. Two hundred and fifty varieties of blossom stretch long into the season, their wooden name tags claiming their time in the spotlight, joined by the castle prettily illuminated as dusk descends.

10. Lake Kawaguchi (also known as Kawaguchi-ko)



The hot spring resort town of Lake Kawaguchi is the second largest of Fuji’s five lakes. Arrive early morning to gaze up through the mist at majestic Mount Fuji framed through the rose-coloured spectacle of the glorious blossoms, fluttering gently along the northern shores of the lapping lake.

11. Arashiyama



Ride the Sagano Romantic Train (£4 for one way) through a tunnel of sakura in Arashiyama.

12. Yamashina



Want to beat the crowds? In Kyoto, make for Yamashina, in the southeast of the city — you’ll find nearly 700 trees lining the canals, yet far fewer tourists.

Use XcelTrip to travel to Japan during the sakura and Olympic season to walk along the blossom covered streets and make memories that last a lifetime.

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