Hanami, the custom of viewing the cherry blossoms in Japan, runs from late March to early May depending on latitude: full bloom arrives on average on March 31 in Tokyo, April 4 in Kyoto and May 6 in Sapporo. Rather than vague periods, we used the official observations of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) for 11 cities: the average date, the actual variation from 2021 to 2026, and the sunset time on the day of full bloom, to help you plan picnics and evening walks.
Key facts
Tokyo: first blossoms on March 24, full bloom on March 31 on average (JMA 1991–2020 normals).
Kyoto: first blossoms on March 26, full bloom on April 4 on average.
Hokkaidō (Sapporo): first blossoms on May 1 on average, 38 days after Tokyo.
Between the first flowers and full bloom, allow about a week on average in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Dates shift from year to year: in Tokyo, the first-bloom date varied by 15 days between 2021 and 2026.
Book early: late March to early April is one of the busiest periods in Japan.
What is hanami?
Hanami literally means « looking at flowers ». The custom is to gather under the blossoming cherry trees (sakura), during the day for a picnic or in the evening under illuminated trees (yozakura) in some parks. The variety tracked by the weather services is the Somei-Yoshino. The JMA records two stages on reference trees: flowering (kaika, the first flowers open) and full bloom (mankai, about 80% of flowers open). Our page on Japan in April details the weather during blossom season.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), flowering and full-bloom dates 2021–2026 and 1991–2020 normals. Variation and gaps: Destination de Voyage calculation.
Destination de Voyage calculation based on JMA records: the blossom front moves up the archipelago from southwest to northeast. There are 38 days between the average first bloom in Tokyo and in Sapporo; Kyoto’s full bloom comes on average 4 days after Tokyo’s. Over 2021–2026, Tokyo bloomed before its average date in 4 years out of 6: recent years tend to be earlier than the 1991–2020 normal.
In Okinawa, further south, a different species is tracked (the Taiwan cherry, hikanzakura), with average flowering around mid-January in Naha.
Sunset time on the day of full bloom
For a late-afternoon picnic or a walk at dusk, here are sunrise and sunset times on the average full-bloom date. Destination de Voyage calculation using an astronomical formula (NOAA algorithm, accurate to about one minute), Japan time (IANA Asia/Tokyo time zone, no daylight saving time).
Destination de Voyage calculation. Approximate city-center coordinates.
In April, Japan is 8 hours ahead of London (British Summer Time) and 13 hours ahead of New York (Eastern Daylight Time): a 6 pm sunset in Tokyo is 10 am in London and 5 am in New York. Details are on our page about the time difference with Japan.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), 1991–2020 normals.
Evenings are cool, especially in late March: bring a warm layer for picnics and the evening illuminations. In Sapporo in early May, nights stay around 9 °C (48 °F).
Itinerary to follow the cherry blossoms
Late March: Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Nagoya — the first major cities to bloom.
Early April: Kyoto, Osaka, Kanazawa — full bloom on average from April 4 to 8.
Mid-April: Sendai (average full bloom on April 13).
Late April: Aomori, then Hakodate.
Early May: Sapporo and the rest of Hokkaidō.
Decision guide: if you can only go for a week, aim for Tokyo and Kyoto between March 28 and April 5, which covers the average full-bloom dates of both cities. If your dates are later (mid-April), head north. If you travel during Golden Week (late April to early May, very busy), Hokkaidō is the only major region still in bloom. Our page on the best time to visit Japan covers the other seasons, and our Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka guides cover the neighborhoods to see.
Practical tips for hanami
Follow the blossom forecasts published in Japan each spring, and the JMA’s official observations.
Arrive early at popular parks on weekends: spots under the trees are claimed from the morning.
Take your trash with you: bins are rare in public spaces in Japan.
Do not touch the branches or shake the trees.
For crowd-free photos, go at sunrise (see the table above).
Book accommodation and long-distance trains early: this is one of the busiest periods.
Entry requirements and trip planning
US citizens can make visa-free tourist or business stays of up to 90 days; their passport must be valid for the entire stay, and they should have proof of a return or onward ticket (U.S. Department of State, page updated August 11, 2025). British citizens get a visa on arrival for tourism or business for up to 90 days, with no need to apply before travel; their passport must be valid for the length of the stay, with one blank page for the visa stamp (GOV.UK, updated 28 August 2026). All visitors are fingerprinted and photographed on arrival. More details on our Japan visa requirements page and on travel.state.gov and GOV.UK. Also plan for jet lag, which matters on a short trip.
Frequently asked questions
When can you see the cherry blossoms in Japan?
From late March to early May depending on the city: full bloom on average on March 31 in Tokyo, April 4 in Kyoto and May 6 in Sapporo (JMA 1991–2020 normals).
How long does cherry blossom season last?
On average it takes about a week from the first flowers opening to full bloom in Tokyo or Kyoto. After that, the petals fall within a few days, depending on wind and rain.
When is hanami in 2027?
The date is not set in advance: it depends on the winter and spring weather. Forecasts are published in Japan from winter onward; the JMA averages are a good guide.
What is the difference between first bloom and full bloom?
First bloom (kaika) is when the first flowers open on the reference tree; full bloom (mankai) is when about 80% of the flowers are open.
Where are the last cherry blossoms in Japan?
In Hokkaidō: Hakodate blooms in late April and Sapporo in early May on average.
Our sources
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), « さくらの開花日 » (cherry flowering dates) and « さくらの満開日 » (full-bloom dates) (2021–2026, 1991–2020 normals), consulted on 14 October 2026.
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA): 1991–2020 climate normals for Tokyo, Kyoto and Sapporo, consulted on 14 October 2026.
NOAA solar calculation equations (method used for sunrise and sunset times); IANA time zone database.
Entry, health and safety information read on 24 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, Japan country information (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), and UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Japan (GOV.UK, updated 28 August 2026)
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