Falling cherry blossoms 2015 in Kyoto

Hello,

I'm new here.
I am interested in travelling to Japan this April (second half of the month). I would like to see the cherry blossoms falling in Kyoto onto the Philosopher's path. Would I be too late around the 20th of the month? I have read conflicting reports around the web and realise that each year is different depending on the weather, and so on.

What about in Tokyo, will there be many falling cherry blossoms around that time?


Thanks in advance,

and realise that each year is different depending on the weather

That is correct. The 20th is usually much too late to see the blossoms in Kyoto or Tokyo.

It is too early to predict the timing of the 2015 blossoms.

You can get an idea here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura14/
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura13/
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura12/
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura11/
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura10/
http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura/

Thanks. But what about Hanafubuki (the actual falling of petals), would there still be places in Tokyo/Kyoto where this would be happening? What about in Shinjuku Gyoen park?

Thanks

April 20 is probably too late both in Kyoto and Tokyo. if it blows strongly or rains heavily, petals will fall down in a day. it is more difficult to speculate the falling time(period) than blooming.
you may think about to go to Yoshino, Nara.
http://www.town.yoshino.nara.jp/kanko-event/kaikajyoukyou2014.pdf

Thanks for your reply.

So are the late bloomers in Shinjuku Gyoen park also usually gone by that date?

I'm wondering about a day trip then, either Fuji 5 lakes, Yoshino, or as I was also interested in visiting a temple in Koyasan, maybe there. My understanding is that all three regions offer late blooms. Based on previous years, which one(s) would have falling petals around the 20-30 April?

Thanks

So are the late bloomers in Shinjuku Gyoen park also usually gone by that date?

No, some of the varieties are in bloom through almost the end of April. But they do not usually produce as nice petal blizzards as the regular cherry trees do.

Again, I recommend to look at some of the past years' reports to get an idea.

Thanks,

I am looking at past guides but still have many questions :-)

So, late April, I understand that Tokyo and Kyoto will probably have no cherry blossoms. It seems that Mount Koya would possibly still have them. If so, what state are they usually in in late April? Full bloom? Falling petals?
Is Mt. Koya usually considered a good spot to view them?

Thanks in advance,

I haven't been to Koyasan, but can recommend Mt Yoshino for sakura.

I don't understand your obessesion with falling petals though. Yes I know it's beautiful, but as silly as it may sound it's no different from predicting when the wind will blow? you can't.

Obsession? Lol.

I don't know why you think that. My rationale is simply that as I'll be too late to see the blossoms in bloom, I'd still like to see what is arguably their prettiest feature: their fall.

From what I've read, it doesn't just depend on the wind, the petals actually fall about a week after bloom, so I'm trying to ascertain what stages the petals in different areas will be at.

it is もののあわれ,mono no aware.
it could be 栄枯盛衰,eiko seisui.

I was told that the Japanese are very accurate when predicting Cherry Blossoms. However, having said that. I know that Apr 20th is too late for Kyoto. But how long of a window should I book to stay in Kyoto?

If I book for late March, I am worried that depending on the weather (when I book now) it's hard to predict even with the guides.

Yes Totoro, I think you sound obsessed. If you can't travel earlier than late april, I wouldn't expect to see any sakura at all.

flonie: it is a gamble but it really helps if you can stay longer. Personally I would try to book late march - early april.

Upon the guide recommendations and my Japanese friends, I've booked my trip for March 24 - April 9th, because I think that gives me the best chance to see them. That way if the blooms are early I will still catch them, but if they are in normal range that should be right in the middle of my stay. I think I will be missing them at the Fuji Five Lakes region though because I am going there March 31st - April 2nd and it sounds like that might be a bit too early for that area. Hoping for the best though because it would be lovely to soak in my private bath and look at the petals!

But anyway, that aside from everything I've read I think that will be much too long after they fall. Even at the latest they seem to fall the first week of April.

I live in Canada and we have cherry blossom trees here. So it seems kinda silly for me to travel to Japan to see the cherry blossoms since we have them.

Ours tend to blossom sometime in May. Yet it seems like in Kyoto or at least Japan, in the end of March early April is when they bloom. Does it depend on the weather?

How long do you think it will be before the predictions for when the blossoms will bloom comes out?

Timing of cherry bloom, and vary with latitude of the year of temperature and its location.
In addition, the is slow bloom better mountain than plain.
I used, but went to see in mid-April the Yoshino cherry had been scattered.
However, since Yoshino has been divided into three blocks, might Sakura was left if one closest to the top of the mountain.
Canada of latitude is the same place as the Hokkaido Sapporo.
So, per Sapporo will bloom cherry in May.
If you do not insist on Kyoto and Tokyo, Sakura is seen until about May.
Table of latitude and longitude
http://www.kigaku.net/uranai/country_list.html#AS