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In Tokyo and Kyoto, the cherry blossoms are usually at their best from late March to early April. In Tokyo, the trees usually start to bloom around 24 March and are in full bloom around 31 March. It is the most popular time of the year in Japan, so hotels and ryokan are best booked four to six months ahead, which for 2027 means now.
Here is when and where to see the cherry blossoms in Japan, and how to plan your trip.
- The first cherry blossom forecasts for 2027 are usually published from January; we update this page when they appear
- Children’s school spring holidays in the UAE: 5 to 11 April 2027 (some schools differ)
- Eid al-Fitr: expected around 9 or 10 March 2027, depending on the moon sighting
When do the cherry blossoms bloom?
The blossoms move from south to north, and from the cities up into the mountains. Each tree is in full bloom for only about a week.
| Area | Usual best time |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | Late March to early April (blooming around 24 March, full bloom around 31 March) |
| Kyoto and Osaka | Late March to early April |
| Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes | Early to mid-April |
| Hokkaido (Sapporo) | Late April to early May |
Travelling in the UAE school spring holidays (early to mid-April)? The cherry blossoms in Tokyo and Kyoto may be ending by then, so we plan around places that bloom later, such as the Fuji Five Lakes and the mountains.
10 places to see cherry blossoms
| # | Place | Why people love it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chidorigafuchi, Tokyo | Cherry trees over the moat of the Imperial Palace, with rowing boats and evening lights |
| 2 | Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo | Many kinds of cherry trees, a long season, and no alcohol allowed, so it is calm for families |
| 3 | Meguro River, Tokyo | A canal lined with cherry trees and lanterns at night |
| 4 | Ueno Park, Tokyo | Tokyo’s liveliest cherry blossom picnics |
| 5 | Arakurayama Sengen Park, Yamanashi | A five-storey pagoda with cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji |
| 6 | Philosopher’s Path, Kyoto | A quiet path along a canal, under cherry trees |
| 7 | Maruyama Park, Kyoto | A giant weeping cherry tree, lit up at night |
| 8 | Daigo-ji, Kyoto | Temple halls and cherry trees, where a famous warlord once held a blossom party |
| 9 | Arashiyama, Kyoto | Cherry blossoms over the river and the hills |
| 10 | Mount Yoshino, Nara | A whole mountain covered with about 30,000 cherry trees |
1. Chidorigafuchi, Tokyo
- What it is: a walkway along the moat of the Imperial Palace, lined with cherry trees
- Why people love it: you can rent a rowing boat and glide under the blossoms, and the trees are lit up in the evening
- Tip: the boats have long queues in peak season. Go early in the morning
- Where: central Tokyo, near Kudanshita Station
2. Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo
- What it is: a large garden in central Tokyo with about 1,000 cherry trees of many kinds
- Why people love it: different kinds of cherry trees bloom at different times, so there is usually something in bloom from March to April. Alcohol is not allowed in the garden, so it is quiet and relaxed for families
- Entry: about ¥500 for adults
- Where: a few minutes’ walk from Shinjuku
3. Meguro River, Tokyo
- What it is: a canal lined with about 800 cherry trees for several kilometres
- Why people love it: the branches hang over the water, and in the evening lanterns light up the blossoms
- Tip: it is very crowded at weekends. Go on a weekday
- Where: Naka-Meguro Station, close to Shibuya
4. Ueno Park, Tokyo
- What it is: a big park with museums and a zoo, and a long avenue of cherry trees
- Why people love it: it is the liveliest place in Tokyo for hanami, the Japanese tradition of picnics under the blossoms
- Good to know: many people drink alcohol at their picnics here. For a quieter visit, go in the morning
- Where: Ueno Station, close to Asakusa
5. Arakurayama Sengen Park, Yamanashi
- What it is: a hillside park with the red Chureito Pagoda
- Why people love it: the pagoda, the cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji in one view, one of the most famous pictures of Japan
- When: usually early to mid-April, a little later than Tokyo
- Tip: there are about 400 steps up to the viewpoint. Go early in the morning for the clearest view of Mount Fuji
- Where: about 2 hours from Tokyo by car, near Lake Kawaguchi
6. Philosopher’s Path, Kyoto
- What it is: a stone path of about 2 km along a narrow canal in eastern Kyoto
- Why people love it: the blossoms arch over the water, and petals float down the canal at the end of the season
- Where: between Ginkaku-ji and Nanzen-ji
7. Maruyama Park, Kyoto
- What it is: Kyoto’s oldest park, next to Yasaka Shrine
- Why people love it: a giant weeping cherry tree stands in the centre and is lit up at night
- Where: in Gion, a short walk from the old streets of Higashiyama
8. Daigo-ji, Kyoto
- What it is: a large temple in south-east Kyoto with a five-storey pagoda
- Why people love it: about 700 cherry trees bloom around the temple halls, where the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi held a famous blossom party in 1598
- Entry: a spring ticket is required. We check the latest price for you
- Where: about 30 minutes from central Kyoto
9. Arashiyama, Kyoto
- What it is: a riverside area in western Kyoto, with mountains and the Togetsukyo Bridge
- Why people love it: pink blossoms mix with the green hills above the river
- Where: about 15 minutes from Kyoto Station by JR
10. Mount Yoshino, Nara
- What it is: a mountain covered with about 30,000 cherry trees
- Why people love it: the trees bloom in stages from the bottom of the mountain to the top, so the pink seems to climb the mountain
- When: usually early to mid-April, a little later than Kyoto
- Where: about 1.5 hours from Osaka by train
We can arrange a private car between these places and book the hotels for you.
Night sakura (yozakura)
In the evening, many parks and temples light up their cherry trees. The white and pink blossoms glow against the night sky, and some are reflected in moats and rivers. Chidorigafuchi, Meguro River and Maruyama Park are among the best. It gets cool after sunset, so bring a light jacket.
Ways to enjoy cherry blossom season
| # | How to enjoy it | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hanami picnic | Lay out a mat under the trees and share a picnic, Japan’s favourite spring tradition |
| 2 | Kimono walk and photos | Rent a kimono and take photos under the blossoms in Kyoto’s old streets |
| 3 | A rickshaw ride | A guided ride past the blossoms in Arashiyama or Asakusa |
| 4 | The Sagano Romantic Train | A slow train through a valley of cherry blossoms near Arashiyama |
- Hanami picnic: pick up a bento and sweets, find a spot under the trees in a park such as Shinjuku Gyoen, and relax like the Japanese do. Go in the morning for the best spots
- Kimono walk and photos: walking through Higashiyama in Kyoto in a kimono, under the blossoms, makes for beautiful photos. Some studios can style a kimono with a hijab
- A rickshaw ride: the driver pulls you through the streets and tells you about the area, a relaxed way to see the blossoms with children or older parents
- The Sagano Romantic Train: an open-air train that runs slowly along the river valley from Arashiyama. Seats sell out in spring, so book ahead
Kimono rental and photos, a rickshaw ride, seats on the Sagano train, a picnic spot and a bento: we can arrange every one of these for you, fitted into your days around the blossom forecast. Tell us which ones you would like to try, and we will build them into your plan. Plan my cherry blossom trip
How to avoid the crowds
- Go early in the morning: the famous places are quiet before 8:00
- Go on weekdays: weekends in peak season are very crowded
- Use a private car: trains and buses are packed, and a car saves time with children
- Have a plan B: if rain or wind ends the blossoms early, we change your route to places where the trees are still in bloom
Rooms with a cherry blossom view
Open the curtains in the morning, and the window is full of cherry blossoms. Watch the petals drift past over breakfast, and in the evening, see the trees lit up from your room. It is a completely different way to enjoy the blossoms from standing in the crowds, a sakura moment just for your family or the two of you.
| Where to stay | The cherry blossoms you can see |
|---|---|
| Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo (Mejiro, Tokyo) | The cherry trees of the hotel’s garden |
| Hotel Arashiyama (Kyoto) | The Togetsukyo Bridge and the hills of Arashiyama |
| Ryokan on Mount Yoshino (Nara) | A whole mountain of cherry trees, from your window or the open-air bath |
Only some rooms have a cherry blossom view. They are the first to sell out, often months before the season, and most booking sites do not let you choose them.
Leave the whole trip to us. We plan your route around the blossom forecast, request rooms with a cherry blossom view in Japanese, and arrange your private car, restaurants and night sakura, so you simply enjoy the season. Tell us your dates and the kind of trip you would like, and we will propose a plan for you.
What to book, and when
Cherry blossom season is the busiest time of the year in Japan. Hotels and ryokan in Tokyo, Kyoto and around Mount Fuji fill up four to six months ahead. Book these first:
- Hotels and ryokan, especially in Kyoto
- Bullet trains in late March and early April
- Rooms with a view of the cherry blossoms or Mount Fuji
Sample plan: 7 nights
- Tokyo: Chidorigafuchi in the morning, Shinjuku Gyoen with the family, and Meguro River at night
- Mount Fuji: the Chureito Pagoda at sunrise, and a night at a ryokan with a private bath
- Kyoto: the Philosopher’s Path, Maruyama Park at night and Arashiyama
For more ideas, see our 7- and 10-night Japan itinerary and Japan tour packages from Dubai.
For Muslim travellers
At popular hanami spots such as Ueno Park, many Japanese people drink alcohol at their picnics. Shinjuku Gyoen does not allow alcohol, so it is a calmer choice for families. For halal food and prayer spaces, see whether Japan is Muslim-friendly.
Plan your cherry blossom trip with a Japanese local
Tell us your dates and the kind of trip you would like. We will plan a route around the latest blossom forecast and book the hotels before they sell out. Plan my trip.
When is the best time to see cherry blossoms in Japan in 2027?
In Tokyo and Kyoto, usually from late March to early April. The first forecasts for 2027 are published from January, and we update this page when they appear.
Can I still see cherry blossoms in mid-April?
Yes, in places that bloom later, such as the Fuji Five Lakes, Mount Yoshino and the mountains. By mid-April, most trees in central Tokyo and Kyoto have finished.
How long do the cherry blossoms last?
Each tree is in full bloom for about a week. Rain and wind can make the petals fall sooner.
When should I book a cherry blossom trip to Japan?
Four to six months ahead. Hotels and ryokan in Kyoto and around Mount Fuji are the first to sell out.
Is cherry blossom season good for families?
Yes. The weather is mild, around 15°C in Tokyo, and parks like Shinjuku Gyoen are calm and easy to visit with children. Avoid weekends at the most famous spots.
