Done with winter? Get ready for the 2026 cherry blossom season with the latest Japan cherry blossom forecast. Big news: The blossoms are expected to appear a little earlier than usual in 2026! Keep in mind: The Japanese archipelago runs on a roughly southwest to northeast axis, therefore the spring warmth -- and the cherry blossoms -- travel up the country from bottom to top. Pro tip: See our guide to Japan's number 1 cherry blossom spot. Before we go any further: Please remember that this is just a forecast. Individual trees, different sub-regions, and the weather (wind and rain especially) may affect flowering times. Also, check back regularly, because the cherry blossom season forecast is updated frequently. Below is the second -- and most up-to-date -- 2026 sakura forecast for major cities in Japan, including the date when the cherry blossoms are expected to be in full bloom. Planning to stick around Tokyo? We've got you covered with details on Tokyo area cherry blossom season dates. 2026 Japan cherry blossom forecast for major cities Last updated: January 8, 2026 Kyūshū cherry blossoms City First flowering Peak Fukuoka cherry blossoms Start: March 21st Full bloom: March 30th Kagoshima cherry blossoms Start: March 25th Full bloom: April 4th Shikoku and Chūgoku cherry blossoms City First flowering Peak Kōchi cherry blossoms Start: March 21st Full bloom: March 28th Hiroshima cherry blossoms Start: March 21st Full bloom: March 30th Kansai cherry blossoms City First flowering Peak Kyoto cherry blossoms Start: March 25th Full bloom: April 1st Osaka cherry blossoms Start: March 24th Full bloom: March 31st Wakayama cherry blossoms Start: March 27th Full bloom: April 3rd Kōbe cherry blossoms Start: March 27th Full bloom: April 4th Nara cherry blossoms Start: March 27th Full bloom: April 3rd Chūbu cherry blossoms City First flowering Peak Nagoya cherry blossoms Start: March 20th Full bloom: March 29th Shizuoka cherry blossoms Start: March 20th Full bloom: March 29th Kanazawa cherry blossoms Start: April 1st Full bloom: April 7th Niigata cherry blossoms Start: April 6th Full bloom: April 11th Nagano cherry blossoms Start: April 6th Full bloom: April 11th Kantō cherry blossoms City First flowering Peak Tokyo cherry blossoms Start: March 20th Full bloom: March 27th Yokohama cherry blossoms Start: March 21st Full bloom: March 29th Tōhoku cherry blossoms City First flowering Peak Sendai cherry blossoms Start: April 6th Full bloom: April 11th Yamagata cherry blossoms Start: April 10th Full bloom: April 14th Aomori cherry blossoms Start: April 19th Full bloom: April 22nd Hokkaidō cherry blossoms City First flowering Peak Hakodate cherry blossoms Start: April 26th Full bloom: April 29th Sapporo cherry blossoms Start: April 27th Full bloom: May 1st Muroran cherry blossoms Start: April 29th Full bloom: May 3rd Cherry blossom forecast data provided by the Japan Meteorological Corporation. Cherry blossom season in Japan: Average bloom dates Wondering how this year compares to previous cherry blossom seasons in Japan? We've put together a map of the average bloom dates across the country, based on data from the last 30 years. If you can't get out for hanami in March/April, fear not! There are various other varieties of sakura such as yaezakura, which flower 3 to 4 weeks after the most popular yoshino variety. While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Last updated on January 8, 2026, by Carey Finn.
The ultimate guide to Japan travel
The ultimate guide to Japan travel
The ultimate guide to Japan travel