Japan's cherry blossom season begins as first blooms appear in Tokyo

Japan’s cherry blossom season officially begins in Tokyo

28 Mar 2025, 21:34 GMT+10

Japan's cherry blossom season begins as first blooms appear in Tokyo

This week, Japan’s cherry blossom season officially began as experts confirmed the first blooms in Tokyo
A specialist from the Japan Meteorological Agency checked a Somei Yoshino cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine and found more than five blossoms—the minimum needed to declare the start of the season
Cherry blossoms, or "sakura," are Japan’s most beloved flowers and usually peak in late March to early April, coinciding with the start of the new school and business year

TOKYO, Japan: This week, Japan's cherry blossom season officially began as experts confirmed the first blooms in Tokyo.

A specialist from the Japan Meteorological Agency checked a Somei Yoshino cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine and found more than five blossoms—the minimum needed to declare the start of the season. This year's blooming is right on schedule and five days earlier than last year.

Cherry blossoms, or "sakura," are Japan's most beloved flowers and usually peak in late March to early April, coinciding with the start of the new school and business year. Many people celebrate by walking or picnicking under the trees.

For centuries, sakura has played a vital role in Japanese culture, often appearing in poetry and literature as a symbol of life, death, and renewal.

The announcement comes as Tokyo experiences warm weather, around 19°C (66°F). Just a day earlier, the first cherry blossoms of the year were reported in Kochi, a city in southwestern Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency tracks over 50 key cherry trees across the country.

The blossoms typically last about two weeks, from the first bloom to when all the petals fall. Scientists also use the timing of cherry blossoms to study climate change, as rising temperatures have caused them to bloom earlier in recent years.