Hanami

Hi, I am looking to book my flight for Hanami 2013.

However, given the current issues 1. heavy snow in Tokyo in 7 years.

Please advise the dates i should visit Japan. I plan to stay for 5 days and best to catch full bloom

Understand that Ueno park reaches full bloom 2-3 days earlier

I expect the first weather service to publish their first forecast in the near future. Possibly today. If possible, I recommend to wait as long as possible with deciding your travel dates, as the professionals' opinions about the blossoms' timing should help to make the decision.

Judging on the winter so far, the long-term forecasts and the delay by the early-blooming plum blossoms, it seems that this year's cherry blossom season may be behind the average timing, although a hot March could easily accelerate the blossoms. It is very difficult to predict nature.

this is very helpful information! i had the exact same question.

Cherry blossoms bloom if it gets enough cold then gets enough warm.
So, unless cherry trees are damaged, getting cold is rather indispensable.

Roughly speaking, urban areas like those in and around Tokyo are not well designed for icy weathers. So, if it is so cold for snow to remain accumulated for many hours, that can result in a big piece of news, which reports, for example, that rail lines were suspended and that pedestrians fell over slippery roads. However, such a mess is not directly related to when a season of cherry blossoms will be.

Anyway, now it is too early for any traveler to predict the season, I suppose.

Because of the unusual cold winter this year, cherry blossoms are expected to be a bit later this year.
For Tokyo I guess there might be nothing much to see in the first week of April then.
Shizuoka area is usually a bit earlier than Tokyo, so that might be a good alternative! :)

Thank you all.

It is very helpful although i have purchased tickets 7-13 april as airfares and hotels are already being snapped up!

May i know what are the better sakura forecast websites i should use?

Thank you again

http://sakurazensen.com/
http://weathernews.jp/sakura/
http://sakura.weathermap.jp/

2013 forecasts should be coming up within the next week

Hi
As already written, it is still quite difficult to accurately predict the date of flowering cherry trees. Winter is harsh, but it depends on early spring.
I had the opportunity to admire several times in Kyoto and Osaka, here are my best photos.

http://www.soleilrouge.org/blog/lire-article-240173-1690249-hanami__le...

I wish you a beautiful hanami

Hi!

I've just checked sakura weathermap.

forecast for 2013 in tokyo is out. First bloom is 25 March. And I shall only arrive on the 7 April

Any advise? whether i should change my flight?

Thank you