The first official 2008 forecast is out and here it is

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/seasonal/sakura2008/

Hoping our timing will be correct this year

Aloha!

Here is the updated forecast from The JMA

Looks like the blossoms will be a little later this year. If this holds up we will hit it on time.

Fingers are now double crossed

http://tinyurl.com/yv2p9j

Aloha!

a few more estimate times

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

Excellent! It looks like we will be in the right place AND at the right time for once!

updated 3/19/2008

this is getting nerve wracking but they are supposed to start blooming in Tokyo this weekend.....hope all planned correctly

http://tinyurl.com/yv2p9j

Aloha!

The Japan Meteorological Agency has a nice map that is current:
http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/News/sakura3.html

japan-guide has a nice list that includes best viewing dates, but right now it is a week old:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

Is there a similar Cherry Blossom report for China? I understand that it's a bigger deal in Japan but I think we might be in China about the right time.

not that I know of. I was China last year for a little more than two weeks before we arrived in Tokyo on April 1, 2007. We arrived in Tokyo to the peak cherry blossom bloom and remember only seeing a few cherry blossoms in Xian 1 week before. I don't remember too many flowers in China at all.....lots of pollution but not many flowers. The Summer Palace in Beijing had some flowers blooming. Chengdu had foliage but no cherry blossoms....

Aloha!

should be the last update....now they start to bloom....I hope we are lucky

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

Aloha!

Hope you'll make it on time. My only concern is that temps dropped again over the past 3 days. I had already put away my winter clothes early this week only to get back to the attic Wed to retrieve my sweaters.

I'm chaperoning Anika's 10th Grade Class on an overnighter in Izu peninsula over the weekend so I'll report what I see there when I get home.

Our TKY Ohanami with my friends is scheduled 5/05 in Ayase Park. I think I better head out to Ueno this week since it's the kids' Spring Break.

Thanks for the info

when are you going ht? hope you have a great trip. will you keep us posted during your trip?

Yes, ditto! I am still traveling vicariously while my fractured foot continues to heal....

Thanks Bill, we will be arriving 4/6 in Tokyo.....hope its not all over by then. Maybe we can have a nice bus ride in from Narita again? Three days later we head off for Kagoshima and environs southern so maybe we'll see some there. Hope to end up with a hanami on the banks of the river in Kakunodate up north.....fingers are double crossed.

I will be taking my laptop and will try and post a few updates on the road but will probably just submit a tr when I return of my notes.

Mara, OMG I read about your foot on another thread, how terrible. I hope you are feeling better and planning a return to Japan soon!

Thanks bmt hope your Ayase park hanami is fantastic!

Aloha!

Thanks, ht! I am hoping to go in the fall to sort of recreate the trip I planned last fall without the actual fall that prematurely ended my trip
Do enjoy!

In China it is possible to see blossom fields outside of Shanghai (I'm not sure if they are cherry or plum). From Shanghai Stadium sightseeing bus company they run these tours at times when the blossom is out. This is from Fodors:-

The Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Center has more than 50 routes, including 10 tour routes that make a circuit of Shanghai's main tourist attractions. There are also one-stop itineraries and weekend overnight trips to sights in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. One-day trips range from Y30 to Y200; overnight trips cost as much as Y400. You can buy tickets up to a week in advance. The main ticket office and station, beneath Staircase No. 5 at Shanghai Stadium, has plenty of English signage to help you through the ticketing process. No. 5 Staircase, Gate 12, Shanghai Stadium, 666 Tianyaoqiao Lu, Xuhui. 021/6426-5555

We have used the buses from here to go out to the water villages etc. We were there two early for the blossoms, the tours from here though are good.

See http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/arti...cle_349734.htm on the Suzhou plum blossom.

Was in the Air Base today for Anika's Tract Meet- GORGEOUS DAY !!! Most probably a wonderful prep day for your blossoms to welcome you when you get here
4/6. I'll try to take photos from Izu tomorrow.

Still paralyzed with my photo postings. Can't seem to make my iWeb work for me. I'll keep on trying..........

........meant track,,,,,,,

HT,
The ride to Izu on Sunday PM was really nice- much to see on the high way. For a while I could forget I was in Japan. It reminded me so much of Hawaii & some subdued Las Vegas with the properties by the beach & the loudness of the hotel colors & architecture (LV).

Sakura are still asleep. Buds are real tight. I am told the "tunnel of sakura trees" by the National Park where we stayed at will come out in a week or two. Monday was a dready rainy day- wanted to go up to the Oomuroyama via cable car but we were totally fogged over.

The drive was really interesting. Reminded me of home- HWY 1 in SFO !!!

Thanks for the live report bmt! I am hoping they don't start to really explode for at least another week but I can see by the live webcams of the jnto site that trees around the National Theatre(central Tokyo) are just starting to bloom while the ones at The Imperial Palace are still in tight buds(but starting to show color).

I hope we get there in time, 4/6 seems too far off now.....

Aloha!

HAve a wonderful trip, hawaii. Did any of you see Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations episode on Osaka on the Travel Channel last night? The okonomiyaki made me hungry.