A day on from yesterday’s report from Hirosaki Castle Park, today I followed the cherry blossom frontline up into Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. My destination today was Fort Goryokaku, a unique...

Following on from Raina’s report on Wednesday from Kakunodate, I spent today at Hirosaki Castle Park in Aomori Prefecture - a pleasant open space with over 2500 cherry blossom trees spread across lawns and gardens,...

Today I visited Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture. The city is about midway between Akita and Morioka cities, and Kakunodate Station is a stop on the Akita Shinkansen. In spring, Kakunodate is a popular cherry blossom...

My cherry blossom reporting continues in the Tohoku Region, and today I visited Hirosaki Castle Park, one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan as well as a personal favourite of mine. There are...

It has been a month since we began our cherry blossom reporting, and the only region that has yet to announce the opening of their first blossoms is Hokkaid. This week, I am in the Tohoku Region, where cities like...

A day on from my visit toMatsushima in the northern part of Japan’s pacific coast, today’s reporting found me about 150 kilometers to the southwest in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. Sitting at a higher...

With the season drawing to a close in the Kansai and Kanto regions, I today followed the Cherry blossoms front line north into Miyagi Prefecture in the lower part of Tohoku. My destination here was Matsushima - a...

I visited the Fuji Five Lakes region four days after my last visit. In the days that passed, the region experienced some nice warm and sunny weather as well as a cold and rainy Sunday. However, I am pleased to report...

A day on from yesterday’s visit to Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, today I was back in Tokyo for a late season look at two of the city’s most popular parks. With the period of best viewing now already several days...

Located deep in rural Nara Prefecture, Mount Yoshino has long been celebrated as Japan’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spot, with over 30,000 cherry blossom trees spread across a section of mountain ridge,...

The Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko) region sits at an elevation of around 1000 meters, and the cherry blossom season here is later compared to the ones in cities at lower elevations like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. While...

After chasing cherry trees in Fukushima , today I headed a little further north to do the same in Sendai.This time, I visited three different spots: The Shiroishi Riverisde, Tsutsujigaoka Park, and Nishi Park. I...

Last week I was lucky enough to see an impressive number of cherry trees in full bloom around the country. This week, in an attempt to catch some more spots in their best viewing state, I've headed a little north to...

Following yesterday’s report where I checked in on the blossoms at two beautiful surviving castles in the Kansai Region, today I returned once again to Kyoto for a late season look at four of its top viewing...

The season continues to progress quickly, with many cities across the country now into their window for best viewing. Reporting from Kanazawa yesterday, Raina found the city in full bloom while I visited three parks...

Today I visited Fukui City, the capital of Fukui Prefecture. Access to the city from Tokyo was made more convenient a year ago when the Hokuriku Shinkansen line was extended from Kanazawa. Today, Fukui enjoys a direct...

A day on from Raina’s report from Kyoto where the Cherry blossoms were at or approaching full bloom, I was today in Tokyo again for another look at how things were progressing at three of the city’s popular viewing...

Today I was in Kanazawa, where the opening of the first cherry blossoms was announced on March 29. Full bloom was announced yesterday on April 6, and the cherry blossoms I observed in the city reflected that...

Full bloom was announced in Kyoto yesterday on April 5, and the cherry trees I saw in the city today reflected that state. This morning’s slight drizzle did not negatively impact the open blossoms, which tend to be...

,/Reports of cherry blossoms at full bloom have been announced at many of the cities that had the opening of their first blossoms at the end of March. Cassandra reported that the blossoms in Kyoto were full bloom...

My last visit of this week’s cherry blossom reports was to Kyoto, a region with more than enough scenic cherry spots to its name!Alas, I am just one person, so I only visited three spots: Arashiyama, Maruyama Park,...

Cherry blossoms are now sweeping across Japan, with much of the western part of the country at or approaching peak viewing. A day on from Cassie’s report from Nara and Raina’s from Matsuyama in Kyushu - both...

My cherry blossom reporting in Shikoku continues with a visit to Kagawa Prefecture on the northeastern end of the island. Full bloom was announced in Takamatsu, the prefectural capital, yesterday on April 3. The...

Our first Shikoku cherry blossom report is from Matsuyama City, the capital of Ehime Prefecture in western Shikoku. Full bloom was announced on March 30 in the capital city, and I confirmed that the cherry blossoms at...

This week I've been doing cherry blossom reports while working my way northeast from Fukuoka, and today I’ve made my way to Nara.Following suit from my last two reports, Nara is also now at its best viewing period,...

On this cold and rainy day, I returned to Tokyo two days after Cassie was there. The official opening of the first blossoms in the capital was announced on March 24 and full bloom was declared on March 30. Despite the...

After my first sighting of a spot in full bloom in Fukuoka yesterday, it seems I'm following both the blossoms and the sun this week, as I was delighted to find Hiroshima was also at its best viewing period. Today I...

Just a day after my report from Osaka where the cherry blossoms were noticeably beginning to fill out, I today returned to Kyoto to check in once again on how things were progressing at four of the city’s viewing...

After my report yesterday in Tokyo where the trees were just approaching full bloom, my next report in Fukuoka showed things were a bit further along. Here, we have our first full bloom report of the season!Today I...

Following on from our two previous Tokyo reports, today I went back to two of our regular spots: Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen. Both parks were looking pretty, and nearing their best viewing periods. Despite the warm...

Just one day on from yesterday’s visit to Kyoto where the blossoms had only just opened, I spent today in Osaka to see how things were progressing at three of the city’s best known viewing sites.While it...

Two days on from Cassie’s report from Tokyo where the blossoms were at last beginning to open, I was today back in Kyoto for three quick visits to popular viewing sites around the city.Despite some slight...

After our first report in Tokyo a few days ago, the parks are starting to look quite different as many of the trees are coming into bloom. Today I came to visit Chidorigafuchi Park and Sumida Park, as well as to...

Fresh from yesterday’s report from Kumamoto where the blossoms were right on the cusp of full bloom, today I dropped in on Fukuoka City to check the progress at two more popular viewing sites: the ruins of Fukuoka...

Following on from yesterday’s report in Kyoto where the cherry blossom trees were still a few days from reaching full bloom, I today found myself in Kumamoto to check in on two of the city’s most beloved viewing...

Hot on the heels of Cassie’s report yesterday from Tokyo, where buds were poised to open in Shinjuku Gyoen and just beginning to bloom at Ueno Park, I spent today in Kyoto to see how things were progressing at three...

A warm welcome to the official start of the 2025 cherry blossom reports! After an unofficial start with a special early report from Kawazu, over the next few weeks we will be following the state of the blossoms across...

Welcome to the 2025 sakura reports! In a special early report, I visited Kawazu to find out the current state of their namesake cherry blossoms, the Kawazuzakura. If you are hoping to see the cherry blossoms...