Latest forecast says peak sakura season is coming very early in 2026. With this year’s first reports of the opening of cherry blossoms in Japan, sakura season is officially underway. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s time to blow off work, grab a six-pack of Asahis and a whole bunch of sakura sweets, and head […]

Three cities share the status of this year’s first sakura arrivals, with a fourth joining them one day later. The moment Japan waits all year for has finally arrived, as this week multiple cities reported the first flowering of this spring’s cherry blossoms of the Somei Yoshino variety, Japan’s most iconic and photogenic type. Three […]

Updated forecast says a burst of warm weather, with more sun to come, will be speeding up cherry blossom buds’ development. Though the cherry blossoms are a symbol of spring, Japan starts thinking about them in the middle of winter. They’re only in bloom for a short time, so planning ahead is critical in making […]