ht-san, okini. i hope its earlier than the jg predicts.

i thought they got out of the business of hanami predictions.

http://sakura.weathermap.jp/
I don't think the jma does sakura forecasting any more.

Yes, ht, I think I know where the first forecast originated....

I think I might be a smidge too early but whatever....my dates are set.

I went to Japan in early/mid April of 2005 and the blooms were right in bloom, quite a beautiful site. I was kind of apprehensive booking a vacation so that the time would coincided with an act of mother nature, however it could not have worked out better.

How do you say "Punxatawny Phil" in Japanese?

thats right!!

Puxatawny Firu neh?

I went in March of 2011,at the time of the Earthquake,and believe it or not there were already cherry blossoms.I didnt see that though in any of the forecasts

Another thing to pick up if one goes at that time of year is the Sakura Frappacino at Starbucks.

But weather wise has to be one of the best time of year to go

Tooo bad they didnt have that drink when i was in Japan . It looks as though they put real freeze dried CB petals on the top!

I have seen....sakura candy, sakura tea, sakura soda pop, sakura potpourri, sakura ice-cream,sakura mochi and many more things sakura that just don't come to mind this second. It is a great time of year to be there.

Aloha!

I bought sakura sugar in Ginza Hands - It's called Arigatou sugar. Can't taste anything other than sugar but it looks pretty sprinkled on things

my ninja network informs me that its still cold in tokyo, so the bloom is still in limbo. i will be there soon, and will be able to provide a live report.

ninja network, ROFL, can't stop...i see a bunch of little ninjas running around Tokyo w/cell phones, calling Ken

Sakura has a very mild taste. (I almost wonder if it has any taste, or if the Japanese just make up some flavor called sakura and flavor it with something else.) It looks a lot better than it tastes, IMO.

In Tokyo now with windy rainy weather, mar 31st, one to two trees in the famous gardens in bloom rest have buds looking to bloom very soon, wistful, with so many trees it must look fab. When it fully blooms. Oh well next time, missed it by this much... As maxwel smart used to say

I saw quite a few sakura blooming in Fukuoka two days ago - particularly in Maizuru Park.

Thanks Mara, hope you are having a good time!

Would you mind reporting here on the cherry blossoms you see while in Japan this time around so we can all be jealous(also would like an on the ground report of the sakura)?

Aloha!

I've been in Nara since Sunday afternoon - there is a lot to see here except for sakura which have barely started to open in the places that I've been. Then today there was heavy rain and wind so I don't know how that will affect them.

Thanks Mara

The rain should be over until the 10th where you are. How much longer are you in Japan and where to next?

Aloha!

i left japan on mar 31, barely made it out. the storm was bad, and it caused a four delay in departure to bangkok.

i arrived at my hotel on suk soi11 at 5am, just in time for breakfast.

i went to shinjukugyoen park on mar. 29. a few trees had bloomed so it wasn't a total loss. the next day, i went to ueno park. not much going on. shinjuku was better.

i think the full bloom will occur around apr 5-6.

ht had warned me that blooming would be late this year, but did i listen, noooo. lol. actually, going to tokyo later was not an option, as work commitments could not be altered.

i went to a very nice kaiten sushi restaurant in roppongi hills for dinner. it is called Pintokona kaiten-sushi Roppongi Hills-Metro Hat. i believe they were original tenants of the roppongi hills development.

very nice decor, and excellent sushi. we had two bottles of sake, and 18 plates of sushi, and the tab was just under 8000yen.

my favorite kaiten sushi place, tho, is still maguro bito in asakusa. not as nice or fancy as pintokona, but the sushi is excellent.

kuranosuke, is Pintokona the one on the very bottom level of the hat,just to the right as you get off the escalator? If so, I'd agree with you -- very pleasant and welcoming place. Also agree with the quality of the product at Maguro Bito (Asakusa).

hai, don-san. so desu.

ht, I came to Tokyo this afternoon and am going home tomorrow - I saw sakura here and there on the train from Kyoto....and some near my friend's apartment in Yokohama this evening.

Thank you Mara and kuranosuke for your reports, much appreciated.

Mara, how was it at Usuki. Worth the detour to see? Did you take the bus from JR Usuki to the Buddhas?

kuranosuke-san, only two bottles of sake to wash down all that sushi?
Work commitments? Nani? Did I mention that next year's bloom might be the same as these past two years although the La Nina is now dissipating.....?
Maybe, have some more work to sort it all out but three years in a row late blooming is not right somehow.....should know more around summertime.

Aloha!

ht, I stayed in Usuki one night so I actually had a choice of two bus lines - they do not run frequently - the tourist office at the station can give you the schedule - it's only available online in Japanese. I felt it was very worthwhile plus the town is nice - it has several different sights to see including a castle ruin and old-fashioned streets.

I saw sakura today in Tokyo - here and there as well as in the Chidorigafuchi near the Yasukuni Shrine.

Mara, welcome home!

Where is a place to stay in Usuki? We will probably be driving

ht, thanks - I stayed in a business hotel about 15 minutes walk from the station - there are a couple of business hotels right by the station - with a car I would think you could find nicer places....

Mara, no jet lag I hope? I get it on the back end after coming home.

lol, emd3, too early to tell - it is worse in this direction - I am a bit spacey....not that different from all the time actually - I went to my calligraphy class today - they were surprised to see me but I felt it was a way to still feel like I was in Japan since they mostly speak Japanese there...

The sakura is blooming nicely in Yokohama today. Plenty of buds still so they should last a bit longer. It was sunny this morning but turned overcast as the day progressed and there was a freezing wind.

God willing, I will be there for the sakura in 2013. This is inspirational. Kuranosuke, Mara, and eigasuji all got to see sakura in Japan in 2012. The sakura here in Washington, D.c. peaked early this wk, and it has been windy, but the Cherry Blossom festival is just getting into full swing. The big Japanese festival is next weekend, but tonight are the fireworks and today I am going to the "Kimono: 100 yrs" exhibit and the "Hokusai: 36 Views of Mt Fuji" exhibit and the Ikibana International exhibit.

Thanks for the report eigasuki!! Keep it coming!

emd, me too. Will be there for sakura in 2013 that is. Well that is the tentative plan any way. Any plans yet? I know Okinawa will be in your plans right? The blossoms in Okinawa are in Feb though.....

Haven't thought through what we will do yet but think we will try the Northern section of Tohoku again, Yamadera and maybe a try at Kakunodate again......we'll see.

Aloha!

Interesting,seems the Cherry Blossems bloomed much later this year.Thanks for all the reports.

I delayed my trip this year because my son is coming home from Tokyo for the summer.i'll try to visit in Dec,but that March -April timeframe is really hard to beat for a lot of reasons.

hawaii, we will have to see about that trip. I am going to plan it but don't know when we will be able to goan go. My son has developed an illness and that is dicating things, we will have to see how he does.

emd, oh no.....hope all goes well with your son. Sending lots of prayers your way.

Yes, planning a trip is a great way to ease the stress level a bit....well at least for some of us fodorites

Aloha!

There were very few sakura blooming in Amanohashidate on the 9th though they ar blooming in abundance in Osaka and as the train passed through Takawazuki, they we stunning alnong the train tracks.

Kyoto was spectacular and the crowds are certainly also in abundance. Daigo-ji was a sight to behold but there are still some buds in evidence so weather permitting, there's still time to go.

hawaii, thank you, that is exactly what we need. Casey is bipolar and is currently in mania, and so far denying treatment. He is at home w/us after dropping out of college recently.

Another Japan trip does help me dream of better and more normal times.

Oh dear, emd, very sorry to hear about your son's issues - hope he gets better enough to go for treatment soon. Hang in there!

hi emd, sorry to hear about your son. hope he gets better. i've been to dc during the blooming period, and the festival. it was beautiful, and the festival was fun, and lots of delicious food.

ht, planning a trip is a great way to ease the stress level a bit, surely you jest.

emd, so sorry to hear about your son. How stressful for all of you. I remember all your planning and your trip with your son back a few years now. I hope things go well for him.

Thank you all. I am a strong woman and Mom but this one is bringing me to my knees. I have found a very good psyciatrist (she talks and listens, not just a prescriber) in our area who specializes in young adult mood disorders. My husband and I saw her yesterdy and got education and hope. If we can just get him into treatment (the hard part) there is hope.

eigasuki, I am following your trip reports from the road in Japan now, and really enjoying them. Keep them going please, they are appreciated and really give me a bright little break in the day.