Cherry Blossom season Mount Fuji area
 

Does cherry blossom start a little later around Mount Fuji compared to Tokyo? My husband and I are booking in Yamanakako and Kawaguchiko April 10-13, 2017. What do you think? Thank you so much for your inputs.

http://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/

Good luck!

Here's the Japan Guide forecast so far, it's not complete yet as it's a little far out, and it will be edited as more accurate weather information becomes available: http://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/

We were in Hakone on 1st April 2016 and most of the trees were bare, some were starting to show green leaf, but there were hardly any that were in blossom at all. I'm not exaggerating to say that we saw a handful of blossoming trees in total during our visit. We were disappointed as 2016 forecasts had suggested that blossoms would start early, by late March I think.

Luckily, we'd planned out itinerary so we'd be in some places earlier than forecast and some places later, so we'd hopefully hit it somewhere. We had perfect sakura in Hikone and very good blossom in Kyoto.

Kavey, I hope to have better luck this sakura season than you did. (sorry to hear that). Like the OP, I'll be in Kawaguchiko at the end of my trip, April 11-13. The initial Japan guide forecasts seem to predict a fairly typical season, which would be good news for me as I've organized my itinerary around the "typical" peak times for each location I'm visiting.

I am planning to stop at Hikone for a few hours on the way from Koya-san to Kanazawa. (I will have already sent my luggage on to Kanazawa from Nara, so I will just have a backpack for Koya-san and the day of travel to Kanazawa.) In your opinion, is the castle at Hikone "worth it" to hop off the train and stop for a few hours?

@ MinnBeef: I can't speak to the castle in Hikone, as I haven't seen it -- but I CAN say that you might want to give Koya-san as much time as you are willing and able to give it! Okunoin is magical; I was glad to take long, leisurely strolls through it at both dawn and dusk. Kongobuji has some exquisite screens, and other treasures, too. Garan has some very unusual temples (or at least, I thought them unusual for Japan). The Reihokan Museum holds some amazing pieces....

MinnBeef, have you asked that before or did someone else have a similar question? Anyway, I don't know your time constraints but Hikone is a lovely castle, one of the twelve originals. I was lucky enough to see it when sakura were in full bloom a couple of years back....

The blossoms mostly work their way from south to North, but Tokyo is usually one of the first. It may have to do with the local climate, but there are varieties of cherry trees that open earlier (or later) and Tokyo has a good collection of both. Of course, if there is a lot of rain and/or wind the blooms may not stick. We've gone to japan many times in March and April over the years, but have never hit peak anywhere! We' ll be there March 19-25 this year, so we might hit them, but I won't be shattered if we don't.

This forecast is slightly different than Japan guide:
https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/japan...ossom-forecast

I loved Hikone Castle and definitely think it's worth a visit. Much if what you see is original, whereas many castles in Japan have extensive reconstruction. There are quite a lot of steps, many of which are a bit uneven, but not a problem for anyone of normal fitness. I struggled a little towards the end, but I have some hip problems.

https://www.kaveyeats.com/2016/11/sa...tle-japan.html

I also loved Okunoin and agree that it's worth giving yourself time to visit both in the day time and during / after dusk when the lanterns are lit along the walk way.

Thanks everyone!

@kja-yes definitely. I am staying overnight at Shojosho-in templte based on your's and Kavey's prior recommendations. Since my next day is basically budgeted as a travel day, I can spend much of the next morning in Koya-san as well, subject to train departure times.

@Mara and Kavey: You've convinced me. I will plan to stop in Hikone for a couple of hours along the way from Koya-san to Kanazawa.

Thank you so much for all your info. I was expecting that Yamanaka area will be a week delayed than Tokyo since it is colder there?

Did you look at the information in the link provided upthread? this one:
http://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/

good luck!

I'm allowing myself to get slightly excited. We will be in Tokyo 3/23- 3/26, and the forecast for Tokyo has been moved up a bit:

JR: TOKYO
Estimated Viewing Dates: March 25 to April 3
Blooming start prediction: March 19.

National forecast from the Japan guide above:
Updated March 1, 2017
The cherry blossoms are expected to open approximately according to their average schedule this year, except in Tokyo where they are predicted to open several days earlier than average, on March 22. In Kyoto, they are predicted to open on March 28.

>In your opinion, is the castle at Hikone "worth it" to hop off the train and stop for a few hours?

Yes, it is worth it. There is a tourist info center in front of Hikone station and a tourist loop bus nearby, though not frequent IIRC. It is an easy several blocks walk to the castle though.

Thank you mrwunrfl. I'm definitely going to stop in Hikone to visit the castle on my way to Kanazawa.

lcuy-glad to see the Tokyo and Kyoto predictions have been moved up just a bit. That would not work out almost perfect for my timing.

Me too. I'll be in Tokyo March 22-28

Yes, Kawaguchiko and Yananakoko areas are at the higher elevation. Everything is slower than that in Tokyo.
http://www.fujisan.ne.jp/flower/index_e.php

Currently, Fuji-Kawaguchiko Sakura Matsuri (Festival) is planned for Apr 14-23, 2017 and Fuji Shibazakura Festival for Apr 15 - May 28, 2017, slightly earlier than your stays.
http://www.fujisan.ne.jp/event/info....count=&kensuu=
http://www.shibazakura.jp/eng/