Fukuoka: Just Opened

We are now in the last few days of March, and the cherry blossom season has begun for many cities in western Japan and all the way through to central and eastern Japan up to the prefectures surrounding Tokyo. I visited Fukuoka in Kyushu today to see the state of the blossoms, and found that the season is in its very early days, and the cherry trees need another 4-5 more days before reaching their best. Accordingly, the best viewing in Fukuoka is estimated to start from around March 31, 2026.

For those interested in the cherry blossom situation in cities apart from Fukuoka, the estimated best viewing information for other major cities can be found on our cherry blossom forecast page. Follow along here to keep up with the latest updates as we bring almost daily on-site sakura reports from various cities.

Fukuoka Castle Ruins is a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Fukuoka. I visited early in the morning and found more closed buds than open blossoms. However, warm temperatures are forecast for the next few days, which should give the closed buds all the encouragement they need to open. I estimate the best viewing in Fukuoka to start from around March 31 and continue for a week or so barring inclement weather.

Until April 5, there is a cherry blossom festival on the former castle grounds. The area below the main keep foundations is free to enter during the day, but costs 600 yen per person from 18:00 to 22:00, during which time the trees are illuminated. Food and drink stalls are also available on the castle grounds.

My next and last stop in Fukuoka was Washio-Atago Shrine, which is considered to be one of the top three Atago Shrines in Japan alongside the ones in Tokyo and Kyoto. Not only is the shrine an old and important one, the views from there are also great. The shrine is about 10-15 minutes on foot from either Meinohama or Muromi stations on the Fukuoka Subway Airport Line. It is said that there are approximately 2000 cherry trees on the shrine grounds, but there were very few open blossoms when I was there. Warm temperatures are forecast for the next few days, and consequently, I expect the best viewing here to be in the first week of April.