The blooming of cherry blossoms, known as *hanami*, is a true spectacle in itself, as observing the blooming *sakura* is a unique and ephemeral moment. While the flowers usually appear in April, they have all fallen by the end of May. For the curious, it’s important not to miss the beginning of this phenomenon, closely monitored by the Japan Meteorological Corporation, the country’s meteorological agency.
It will be later for the northern part of the archipelago, with the phenomenon expected at the end of April. In the Japanese capital, the “Full Bloom,” the peak of blooming, is expected to occur on March 29, two days earlier than the previous year. In Kyoto, the first flowers are expected on March 23, three days earlier than in 2023, and should reach their peak blooming eight days later.
The same goes for the 2024 season. The mild autumn of 2023 could have reversed the process, but the expected high temperatures in February and March should instead accelerate it. The disrupted schedule is likely to have an impact on Japanese society and tourism.
The peak tourist season, which typically started in early April, is expected to be moved up to late March. In the face of unpredictable nature, an indispensable tool remains: Sakura Navi, an app provided by the Japan Meteorological Corporation. It allows precise tracking of cherry blossom blooming to not miss a single petal.