Japan has become an increasingly popular destination for international tourists. The footfalls peak during the cherry blossom season from March to May every year. The latest projections from the Japan Meteorlogical Corporation says there will be over a thousand locations for cherry blossom enthusiasts. Scroll down for the likely dates to watch full bloom.
By CNBC-TV18 March 24, 2025, 12:33:19 PM IST (Published)
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On Friday, March 21, the Japan Meteoroglogical Corportation released its ninth forecast of the dates when cherry blossoms will start to flower (kaika) and reach full bloom (mankai). The JMC estimates there will approximately 1,000 cherry blossom viewing locations across the country from Hokkaido to Kagoshima.
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Kyoto: Blossoms are expected to open up on March 28 and full bloom is expected on April 6. During cherry blossom season, the ancient city of Kyoto bursts into life. It’s iconic temples and meticulously manicured gardens look even more gorgeous during the cherry blossom season, also known as ‘Sakura’. Take a stroll through Maruyama Park or visit the renowned Arashiyama Bamboo Grove to witness nature’s masterpiece in full bloom. FILE PHOTO: Visitors near the Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, Japan, on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Photographer: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Bloomberg
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Tokyo: JMC says March 24 is likely flowering date, a couple of days ahead of the earlier forecast. The full bloom in the national capital is likely by March 30. The months from March to May are considered to be the best time to visit Japan. It’s important to track the latest estimates because weather conditions often tend to affect the cherry blossom season. Full bloom was delayed by a few weeks last year due to colder weather, according to some media reports. FILE PHOTO: Cherry trees in bloom at Ueno Park in Tokyo. Source: Bloomberg
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Kofu is a city in central Japan, and the capital of the Yamanashi prefecture. Flowering is expected to begin tomorrow (March 25) and the full bloom is likely on April 2. There’s an app called Sakura Navi to track the latest updates on the cherry blossom season in Japan. The weeks between end-April and mid-May are often considered to be the ‘golden week’ for cherry blossom enthusiasts. Airfares and hotels rates tend to spike during this period. FILE PHOTO: Pink Cherry Blossom at Churrito Pagoda in the Fujiyoshida, about an hour from Kofu. Source: Thanasantipan via Canva
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Inbound tourism contributed half of Japan’s full-year GDP growth rate of 1.5% in 2023, and 0.4 percentage points to Japan’s 0.1% annual GDP growth in 2024, according to data from the Mastercard Economics Institute cited by CNBC. A weak yen was a big factor in the increased attractiveness of Japan as a tourist destination. However, the same may not hold true this year as interest rates have started to rise, which has taken Yen to a five-month high recently. Image source: kawamura_lucy via Canva
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