Koganei Park, Hikone/Himeji - Cherry Blossoms

Good day,
Due to the unfortunate (for me and my group at least) news that cherry blossoms are blooming early this year, I'm having to revise my 7 day itinerary in hopes we get some good views. I'm arriving Thu Apr 5 to NRT. I originally had Ueno Park as my to-do that evening but will swap it out for Koganei Park since according to this website, they bloom a few days later being out to the west. I haven't seen a "forecast" specifically for Koganei Park and this website only says "a few days later" - do you think I'll be good to see some on Thu Apr 5? Also, are their food stalls / vendors at the park in the evening? We're planning to have a hanami picnic but can't have much of a picnic if we don't have food!

Lastly, I'm changing my Saturday Apr 7 when I make my trek to Kyoto with the possibility of two places that bloom later: Hikone Castle & Himeji Castle. What would you guys suggest? I can either make a stop at Hikone before Kyoto or hit Himeji after dropping our stuff off at the hostel. From what it seems, I will be well past ideal viewing times in Kyoto - hence adding Hikone or Himeji.

Basing this information from a website my coworker in Japan provided: https://tenki.jp/sakura/expectation/


Thanks in advance!

Around 16:00 on Mar 28, I encountered Sakura Blizzard at the east side of JR Osaki along Meguro River. Strong winds continued to blow during the night on Mar 29. In the morning on Mar 30, I found the best Sakura season in my neighborhood in West Tokyo had been over. So, Koganei Park should be out. I live in a walking distance from there. This site forecasts Mar 26 (full bloom) - Mar 31 (Sakura blizzard).
http://weathernews.jp/sakura/pinpoint/?id=109

Hikone could work, but Himeji not.
Hikone Castle: Apr 2-8 http://weathernews.jp/sakura/pinpoint/?id=285
Himeji Castle: Mar 30-Apr 5 http://weathernews.jp/sakura/pinpoint/?id=330

Some sites from the Sakura 100 in Greater Tokyo:

Nagatoro (Saitama): Mar 30-Apr 6 http://weathernews.jp/sakura/pinpoint/?id=98
Festival Mar 24-Apr 30 (Food Stalls ?) https://www.nagatoro.gr.jp/sakuramatsuri2017-2/

Hitachi (Ibaragi)
Heiwa Dori: Mar 30-Apr 4 http://weathernews.jp/sakura/pinpoint/?id=4009
http://www.kankou-hitachi.jp/page/page000058.html
Kamine Park: Mar 30-Apr 5 http://weathernews.jp/sakura/pinpoint/?id=78
http://www.kankou-hitachi.jp/page/page000059.html
Food Stalls: Apr 1 & Apr 7-8 http://www.kankou-hitachi.jp/news.php?category=3&code=475

Mt Ohira Nature Park (Tochigi): Mar 30-Apr 5 http://www.kuranomachi.jp/spot/ohirasan/park/
Food Stalls: Apr 7-8 https://www.tochigi-kankou.or.jp/news/2018/03/24134121

Akagi (Gunma): Apr 6-11 http://weathernews.jp/sakura/pinpoint/?id=90
Festival Apr 7-21 (Food Stalls ?) http://www.maebashi-cvb.com/event/03_senbonsakura/index.htm
https://www.japan-guide.com/blog/sakura17/170416_gunma.html

Keep watching the Sakura forecast sites. They could change dramatically.

Mt Ohira Nature Park (Tochigi): Mar 30-Apr 5 http://weathernews.jp/sakura/pinpoint/?id=83