Sakura season is right around the corner and we want to make sure you don’t miss a single petal with our new 2020 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Forecast map! With the latest cherry blossom times just in, you can start planning your travels and day trips for a pink-filled spring adventure.
Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures should be all blossomed-up by late March in 2020 (with the exception of Nagano which is blooming into early April). Created carefully using local flower-watchers, meteorological magic and small amounts of witch-craft, the forecast is reliable, but dates can change with temperature and weather fluctuations, so keep an eye out as we’ll be updating regularly!
Cherry blossom dates for Tokyo and surrounding prefectures
Last updated: March 6th 2020
| Location | Start | Full Bloom |
| Tokyo (Tokyo) | March 16th | March 23rd |
| Yokohama (Kanagawa) | March 14th | March 23rd |
| Nagano (Nagano) | March 28th | April 3rd |
| Kofu (Yamanashi) | March 16th | March 23rd |
| Choshi (Chiba) | March 21st | March 29th |
| Maebashi (Gunma) | March 16th | March 24th |
| Mito (Ibaraki) | March 17th | March 24th |
| Utsunomiya (Tochigi) | March 18th | March 26th |
Please remember that this is just a forecast and it fluctuates from day to day! Individual trees, different sub-regions and the weather (wind and rain especially) may affect the flowering times.
Not in Tokyo? Check out our 2020 cherry blossom times for all of Japan.
Use your knowledge: Where to see cherry blossom in Tokyo in 2020
Think we’d leave you hanging with just the map and cherry-blossom dates? No way—we’ve also got a solid list of the very best cherry blossom viewing spots, which includes less-crowded options. Want to see sakura illuminations at night? Find out where to go night-time cherry blossom viewing.
You may be aware that many of the larger festivals have been cancelled in Tokyo this year – here’s our guide on what that means for your blossom-viewing. If you’re just missing sakura season, fret not, there are late-blooming varieties all around Tokyo as well.
In Spring we Wear Pink: How to hanami in style
So, we’ve given you the where, now here’s the how. Normally we would be advising flower-viewing parties, Disney events and cruises, but things are a little different in 2020. While Covid-19 rages on, many events have been cancelled, but you can still see the blossom through the masks. Aside from just visiting the same old spots minus the stalls and celebrations, you can try going on a cherry-blossom hike with your own picnic. There are also quite a few bus tours to famous spring-spots still going ahead and you can plan your own Spring day trips to escape the city.
Blooming FAQs
What’s the difference between sakura and hanami?
While sakura is the Japanese name for the cherry blossoms themselves, hanami refers to the act of flower-viewing. In Japan this ranges from a pleasant stroll beneath the trees to a full on day-to-night picnic party complete with beer, snacks and that eye-catching blue tarpaulin.
Where are the best places to enjoy sakura season in Tokyo?
Tokyo is filled with blossom – you’ll find pink petals in every temple garden, public park and even in front of every school (a long-standing tradition). If you’re looking for the very best places, however, we have the perfect guide to all places big and small. While many festivals are cancelled, the trees will still be there, so you can still admire the flowers (you’ll just have to bring your own snacks).
When is cherry blossom season in Tokyo?
In 2020, the cherry blossom dates are slated to start on March 15th and peak on March 23rd, but this will vary depending on the location and the types of trees. Some trees bloom earlier and later, while altitude can also have an impact on the blooming time. Check the map above for the different spots in Tokyo.
When is cherry blossom season in Kyoto?
Kyoto is expected to bloom from the 18th and peak on the 27th of March in 2020. Again, this will vary depending on the locations you visit, with spots like Arashiyama being different to inner-city gardens or temples (but only by a few days). For more areas in Japan, check our Japan-wide map and be sure to read our guide to Kyoto’s best cherry-blossom spots.
What’s the difference between yozakura and yaezakura?
Good question. So – yozakura are the illuminated blossoms you can see in the evening at many temples and gardens as well as theme parks like Yomiuriland in Kanagawa. Meanwhile, yaezakura are late-blooming trees, giving those arriving in early April a chance to see blossoms outside of peak time.
