2011 Cherry Blossom Forecast
 

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

For the lucky ones taking the trip this year here is the latest forecast. Hope all your plans coincide!

Aloha!

Thanks. Maybe next year for me.

sigh... one of these years!

I think I might have lucked out and I wasn't even thinking that much about sakura season when I made my plans......:)

because of a western invasion from HI there will be no flowers this year...

Wow. We really chose well (all thanks to HT himself for his crystal-ball-smashing prediction almost a year ago.) We arrive Tokyo on April 9th and head to Kyoto shortly thereafter. Looks like we hit the peak in both places.

Hey Filmwill....one day off from the present day prediction.....one year ago......hahaha
I should sell them next years prediction,lol


Aloha!

"As of February 23, 2011
Estimated Best Viewing
Tokyo April 1 to 11
Kyoto April 1 to 11"

April 11th is still best viewing date in these places?
honestly, i have to say i am very sceptical.
sorry to say that it might be too late even for the "cherry blossom blizzard" of falling sakura petals, in many places of Tokyo/Kyoto.
let's see how the temperature changes over next several weeks.

Waaah! We will be there the week after that. I understand that those are just estimates, but how long do the blossoms stay on the tree after the peak viewing time?

Kristina, no need to cry, you will be in Japan with the all important JR Pass. You can hop on the shinkansen at Tokyo station and be in Sendai in 90 minutes or wherever place the blossoms are blooming that day. I should be crying as we have no Japan travel plans till November. Well no plans yet...........jealousy does breed the want in me though >:-)

Mara, where and when are you going this time?

Kathie, Its time for that retirement,lol!

Aloha!

ht - this trip is Kyoto for a few days, where I will meet a couple of Japanese friends, then about a week in Kyushu - Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Yufuin, then back to Tokyo for two days....Have everything reserved except a bus ride which is too early to make now. Almost a slow trip for me, only staying in six different places... ;-)

Mara, We were going back to Kyushu this fall but other plans prevailed so Okinawa and the return to Kyushu was pushed back a little. Are you staying in a ryokan in Yufuin? Our plan is to rent a car in Kumamoto and drive to the Beppu area and beyond but I know your plan includes the bus. Would love to hear about it when you get home ;)
Sounds like a wonderful trip, don't forget to visit the yatai stalls in Fukuoka one evening and have a tonkotsu ramen with a yakitori chicken skewer for me!

Aloha!

ht, didn't remember that you had been to Kyushu....did I read your report? ;-)
I'm not much into writing Trip Reports as you might have noticed but I could certainly post a link to my photos.....
I'm taking mostly trains, a couple of buses and a plane. Yes, I am staying in a ryokan in Yufuin - that was tough as it's hard for a single person to get a room - I wanted a Japanese style room - and I'm going there on the weekend. Next trip I'll remember to plan a bit differently.

Mara, oh I think this is the one where we went thru Kyushu during the sakura ;)

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...ossom-tour.cfm

Thinking about Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Yufuin and Kurokawa Onsen on our return trip to Kyushu along with about 10 days or so discovering the Kingdom of Ryukyu Okinawa. just have to pick the right time of year.....

Would love to see your photos when you return!

Aloha!

Mara, have you seen the info on the Sun Q bus pass for travel throughout Kyushu? I was doing some future Kyushu planning and when I came across it I thought about you.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_014.html

Aloha!

Hi, ht, yes I am aware of both the Sun Q bus and Kyushu trains passes. However, because of decisions I have made regarding the methods of transportation I plan to use from one place to another, I decided neither would work for me. I'll have a JR Pass to get me as far as Nagasaki. Because I plan to go from Nagasaki to Kumamoto by trains not covered by the pass, ferry and bus rather than just the one Sun Q bus I could take, I would not save anything by using the Sun Q pass even in conjunction with my bus trip from Kumamoto to Yufuin.....
This trip will cost me a lot in transportation (probably over ¥55,000) but this includes a 7-day JR Pass, other trains and buses (including local transport in Kyoto and Tokyo) as well as a plane from Oita to Haneda.

Live reports and pictures are now starting to come in and Kumamoto looks like it will peak soon. Wish we were there. There is also a look at the new N-700 Sakura Kyushu Shinkansen for any interested train buffs.

http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/saku..._kumamoto.html

Aloha!

that should have been N- 700 and the new N-800 series

I think here in Tokyo the peak will be in a few days. The blossoms are just starting to open. Beautiful spring weather here, sunny with clear blue skies.

If the peak is about to happen, are we likely to see any blossoms at all when we are there about two weeks from now?

Mealea,
Welcome back,its been awhile. Glad to see you are ok and thanks for your report.

Kristina,
Today's report here from the JG site with pictures and percentages of buds opening.

http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/saku...402_tokyo.html

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

If all holds true the peak will be 7 days from now and last another 4-7 after that so you will see cherry blossoms in Tokyo in two weeks. Unless of course a storm comes along and blows them all away....or sleet like what happened to us up in Kakunodate one year. The updated Tokyo weather is calling for clear days till the 9th which will help in the opening of the flowers. The ninth and tenth call for showers so depending how much wind and rain is involved you will have blossoms.......I hope ;)
Tokyo is a large city and its east side usually blooms before the west side. Shinjuku Gyoen is my favorite spot on the west end with Ueno Park and Chidorigafuchi are our favs in the east end. Have a great hanami!

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3050.html

Aloha!

Hi Hawaiiantraveler. Nice to see you again too!

Today was really cold in Tokyo, so they say the blossoms won't fully open until Friday or Saturday. I recommend that everyone visit the beautiful Happo-en Gardens in Tokyo. I was just there this morning and saw many Shinto and western wedding ceremonies under the early blossoms. Very beautiful. Let me know if you need more information about anything in Tokyo.

kanazawan, you gotta believe,lol. peak is right now in Tokyo, wish we were there.

http://www.japan-guide.com/blog/saku...411_tokyo.html

Aloha!

We were in Kyoto on Sunday (10 April) and saw the cherry blossoms at their peak at Kodaiji Temple, Maruyama Park, Yasaka Shrine, Gion, and Heian Jingu. A beautiful array, but very few tourists to enjoy them.

The mountain cherry blossoms are just opening in Hakone and should be in full bloom over the next week.

Mara,

Planning for a fall trip to Nagasaki and from there on to Kumamoto. How did you plan to go from Nagasaki to Kumamoto, by which private rail line? Just trying to cover my options as we will be flying into Nagasaki from Shanghai and starting there. Want to avoid a JR Pass till I need it.

Aloha!

ht, I know of three ways to do it - why don't you email me - to my screen name add b1 (it the number one not an el) at hotmail dot com....