Cherry Blossom or Sakura Season is the best time to visit Japan. However, catching the trees in bloom at the right time is a challenge. As an Acupuncturist-at-Sea, I spent an entire Sakura Season visiting Japan. I discovered many things about how to plan for timing, based on locations and even forecasts. It’s possible to ride the delicate wave of “kaika” or full bloom for 3 months. Read on to discover about Japan Sakura Season travel planning for your itinerary.
Sakura Season begins in February on the tropical island, Okinawa. Moreover, it continues until the last bloom in May on the northernmost island, Hokkaido. I blissfully experienced many moments of pink glory, visiting much of Japan, connecting me to the quintessence of this culture. Here’s what I learned about how to forecast cherry blossoms and ideal locations for seeing them.
Cherry Blossoms & Buddhism’s Similarities
Understanding Essence of Sakura Season
The ephemeral nature of cherry blossoms is a rich symbol, aligned with Japan’s Buddhist faith. Even more, blossoms embody the concept mono no aware or transience and impermanence in their short-lived, delicate beauty. Buddhism’s fundamental philosophy is based on the impermanence of all life, and therefore practicing detachment from outcomes. In Japan, cherry blossoms also symbolize clouds because they bloom en masse.
The Sakura motif blooms throughout the culture in art, manga (graphic novels) and films. For example, in the 2003 movie, The Last Samurai, Katsumto says in the first scene: “A perfect blossom’s a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for them and it would not be a wasted life.” I, also, entangled with that attachment in Japan, en route to similar realizations revealed at the end of this blog.
Japan Cherry Blossoms Forecast Map (Link)
Reference for Best Times
Similarly, I relentlessly, searched for the perfect bloom, only to be disillusioned by being a little too early or late over and over again. Kaika lasts about a week, unless a storm cuts this time even shorter. Therefore, it’s the ultimate ongoing scenario of being in the right place at the right time or not. Finally, I experienced many perfect moments, however, and will share those locations.
The Japan Meteorological Corporation forecasts the Cherry Blossom’s Kaika according to region. It’s based on many factors, such as, temperatures during fall and winter, rainfall, wind strength, growth status and past data.
“Hanami”- A Sensual Feast to View and Enjoy
Japan celebrates the cherry blossom season with festivals and the simple tradition of Hanami. This means to view and enjoy the sensual delight of the blossoms (“hana”=flower and “mi”=to look). Another popular tradition is Yozakura, enjoying a picnic under the trees at night.
There are plentiful festivals and everyone flocks to the parks, shrines and temples for this magical time to celebrate the beauty of the Sakura. Also, stores and restaurants offer cherry blossom- flavored drinks, lattes and chocolates throughout the season. Overall, the country appears to be hit by an exquisite cherry blossom tsunami with a wake of pink snow!!!
Japan Sakura Season Travel Planning
& Cherry Blossom Destinations
Cherry blossom experiences are as unique for each person, as is the individual cherry blossom itself. The cherry blossom season expresses through the lens of Buddhist philosophy, considering the blossom’s ephemeral nature. Furthermore, this view opens the mind to infinite possibilities, without limited attachments or expectations.
In comparison, I found the quest to be like the looking for Northern Lights. Similarly, the more I try or attach to seeking an expectation, the more I feel disillusioned or disappointed.
My journey didn’t blossom until April, after many disappointments in Feb – March, when gave up and least expected it. Because my ship itinerary navigated north, I intimately learned how this cherry blossom tsunami travels north.
Kyoto Cherry Blossoms
My first day of seeing many cherry blossoms was in Kyoto. I traveled with my friends from the ship, taking the Bullet Train from Kobe to Kyoto. We glided there at 320 km or 199 mph reaching Kyoto. However, it was a gloomy day and unseasonably cold, so this clouded our experiences. Like many Japanese cities, I observed rows of cherry blossoms along the riverbanks.
Related: FABULOUS KYOTO ONE DAY TOUR AT FUSHIMI-INARI SHRINE, BUDDHIST TEMPLE AND NISHIKI MARKET
We also visited Buddhist temples in Kyoto, as a nice setting harmonizing with the cherry blossom’s beauty. Thus, it’s meaningful to consider the Buddhist nature of the ephemeral blossoms, alongside the temples in harmonious balance.
Osaka Castle Cherry Blossoms
Another picturesque setting, from which I experienced the cherry blossoms was at Osaka Castle with around 4,000 cherry trees. The picturesque setting intermingles blossoms with landmarks, such as, the castle, moat, shrines, bridges and gardens. However, my timing was off again, with most of them browning and wilting into the reality of the inevitable Wabi Sabi or decay.
I found a few in Kaika, however, mostly I was a few days late for the ultimate cherry blossom experience. This is OK, because this is where I let go into the Buddhist detachment for the perfect cherry blossom experience, opening me up for my last 3 unexpected “perfect” hanami scenarios.
Related: A WONDERFUL DAY TOUR AT OSAKA CASTLE AND SHITENNOJI
Tottori Hanakairo Flower Garden Park
At Tottori Garden Park, I first experienced an unexpected Kaika. Overall, it was almost perfect, except for the rain. This is the largest flower garden in Japan, immaculately laid out amidst 50-hectare or 123 acres. Excitedly, I was eager to see its spring constellation of colors. However, we missed seeing Mount Daisen, at 1729-metres high, that is supposedly a beautiful backdrop to the gardens on a clear day. But oh, the tulips and cherry blossoms were all in full bloom!
Related: Japan’s Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park and Mt Daisen Tour in Spring
Even though the dramatic glass house was amazing, I mostly wanted to be outside. Therefore, I spent most my time in the gorgeous Flower Valley, with Dutch style flowerbeds, abundant with tulips below the cherry blossom canopies. Overall, it felt like color therapy being surrounded by the red, gold & purple tulips below pink clouds of cherry blossoms…
Japan Cherry Blossoms Tour at Shirakawa Village
My Kaika climax experience was the least expected in the Japanese Alps at the traditional village Shirakawa, in a river valley that gets the most snow in Japan. Furthermore, it’s home to unique buildings called gassho-zukuri, with A-framed thick, thatched roofs to manage the heavy snow of winter.
In Shirakawa, I had no expectations of seeing cherry blossoms in April, falsely assuming it was too late in the season. However, everything was in perfect bloom this day, because Shirakawa is at a higher elevation. I enjoyed a clear blue sky, amidst snow-capped mountains in a river valley with pink clouds of cherry blossoms amidst fresh, alpine air and golden sun. Lastly, I wandered the town and took a walk to the hilltop for a panoramic view of the community in the valley below. Overall, this setting with the charming village, mountains and cherry blossoms offers an aesthetic escape.
Related: PICTURESQUE SHIRAKAWA VILLAGE HIGHLIGHTS DURING SAKURA SEASON
Hakodate’s Goryokaku Fort
In Hokkaido the northernmost island, its city, Hakodate, is one of the best locations for Hanami, especially at Goryokaku Fort. We were in Hokkaido in May. You can expect later blooms here as it’s the northernmost island in Japan. I took the efficient tram to this star-shaped fort, with 1600 cherry blossom trees in the surrounding park reflected along the star-shaped moat.
Here, I was a couple days early for Kaika, with the pink buds beginning to bloom as dappled pink and white throughout the park on a cloudy day. There’s an observation tower outside the fort, from which visitors can see from aloft the star-shaped pink star in the cherry blossom season.
Related: TOP ATTRACTIONS IN HOKKAIDO, JAPAN’S NORTHERNMOST ISLAND
Overall, Japan Sakura Season Travel Planning
Reflecting back on my Japan Cherry Blossoms Season, I’m infinitely grateful for the experience and know it left me with more than good memories: I absorbed the essence of Japanese culture and the invaluable lesson, reminding me to travel according to mono no aware, recognizing the transience and impermanence of each and every perfect moment on Mother Earth.
Like Katsumto in the movie, The Last Samurai, I ineffably agree with the last words from his dying breath about the Sakura: “Perfect…they are all perfect.”