Cherry Blossoms in Japan 2010
 

Any other fodorites planning to be in Japan this spring for the cherry blossoms? We are planning a short hanami tour March 25 - April 4 in the Tokyo-Fuji-Osaka-Kyoto area. Just wondering if we will bump into anyone along the way and also curious to find out if and when anyone will be going to view the blossoms in Japan this year?

Aloha!

Hi there HT. I'm doing four weeks from the 26th March, following the "sakura trail" from Kagoshima to Hirosaki.

I'll be in Kansai from the 4th to 14th in several locations. It looks like my dates are good for peak bloom in at least a few places, so have fingers crossed,plenty of SD cards and lots of optimism, hoping the weather will do the right thing for us.

Doesn't look like our paths will cross much. I'll be in Tokyo on the 27th, probably somewhat jetlagged as I arrive early am and will leave for points south next day. Osaka on the 4th,probably quite late.

Sorry HT, I'm off to Botswana in March to find a lyin' cheetah.

Next time in Japan for me is in December, part of a longer escapade.

Hey, I'm pretty similar to Eigasuki, though a shorter trip. We're arriving in Tokyo on March 27 and then leaving the next day for Kyushu. We'll be touring around Kyushu for 9 nights, then to Kyoto for two nights and then Tokyo for the last three nights. Going home April 11.

We're excited because according to the current forecast it will be peak blooming time for all our destinations except Tokyo, which we expected. It's tough planning a trip because you need to book things before you really know what the forecast will be. Hopefully there won't be any freak weather to throw off the bloom times!

eigasuki, We did your trip a couple of years ago and I do envy you. Hirosaki will be the highlight if your timing is correct. Please stop by Kakunodate if you have time and timing(after 4/19)for a sakura that has eluded me for the past 6 years.....one day soon....

rizzuto, we are also planning a return to Nippon in very early Dec by way of S Korea. Also may show up in Boston in Oct if someone can contain the Panda for the evening,lol

kelloo, if this is any consolation, my predictions are a couple of days earlier than the Japan Met Agency so lets hope we are all lucky this year.

Aloha!

HT, I used your trip report as a guide for planning mine! I'm certainly planning to visit Kakunodate, on the way to Hirosaki, hopefully with better results. I've always been just that bit too late on previous visits, having had to fit in with school holidays, Easter etc.

Kello are you flying to Kyuushuu or train? Maybe our paths will cross somewhere in Kyuushuu.

Eigasuki, we're training to Kyushu. Airfares for that time period are high and since with the rail pass it is basically "free" we decided to do that. We're leaving on an early train to Fukuoka on March 27 where we'll stay for two nights. Then we go on to Nagasaki, Kumamoto/Mt Aso, Kagoshima, Takachiho, and Beppu. We then go on to Kyoto on April 6.

Four weeks! I'm so jealous. We can only get so much time off from work.

Kelloo, had the same issue with airfares, so train it is. Certainly makes the JR pass pay off.

I'm overnighting in Hiroshima but should arrive Nagasaki late on 29th. Then Kagoshima and Kumamoto/Aso before heading to Takamatsu on the 3rd April.

Gotta love Long-service leave.

eigasuki, Glad to have another fodorite follow our path, you will have fun, you are going to the right places. I wish you luck in Kakunodate. If you are lucky enough to see the full bloom on the banks of Hinokinai-gawa I will indeed be envious. Say Aloha for me to Akiyamasan at the Folkloro Hotel if you are staying there. If you need a nice room ask for the one that we stay in.

kelloo, Try the Tonkotso at one of the yatai stalls in Hakata or Tenjin in Fukuoka it is really a treat. Kumamoto-jo is special at this time of year....you are in for a treat!

Aloha!

Hello everyone,

My husband and I will be in Japan from March 25 - April 10. As a simple explanation we begin in Tokyo and then go to Takayama, Kyoto, Hiroshima and back to Tokyo.
If any of you are in Tokyo on Thursday or Friday nights ( March 25,26)or Kyoto area ( around March 30,31 & April 1) and would like a GTG somewhere we would love to meet you.

This is our first time to Japan so we would be thrilled with any 'expert'advice and/or tips.

We will be coming from Australia.

Will be in Nihon in the first week of April chasing cherry blossoms.

I'm going toward the end of April so don't think I'll see the sakura - but then again I will be up north a bit - am planning to do the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route so maybe there will still be some up that way....

My husband and I will be in Tokyo from April 2-8. It looks like we'll have perfect timing for hanami in Tokyo--we are very excited! Does anyone have suggestions for the best places to view the cherry blossoms in Tokyo? I've heard Ueno Park is good. I'm wondering just how crowded it will be...I really have no idea what to expect!

Ueno Park will be packed!!! But it is a wonderful place to view the cherry blossoms as there are so many trees in that park. Other good venues in Tokyo are the Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Inokashira Park, Yoyogi Park(but not many cherry trees), Chidorigafuchi along the moat,Yasukuni Shrine and the Imperial Palace are some of the good places. Enjoy!

Aloha!

ht, any chance of taking me along? lol

don, is there a pga tour in bots? :-)

> <i>is there a pga tour in bots?</i>

It's the European Tour that's in Botswana this week, but I'll actually be going for the Dewey Weber Surfing Championship.

I'm in the Seniors division.

I had no idea you were a surfer, Rizzuto. Good Luck!

Will you post a report when you get back? I'd have a better chance of dragging my DH to Africa if there was surfing involved.

kuranosuke, Ken you are always welcome, we could discuss over dinner this weekend or next or are you out of town again? :)

Mara, we missed doing the Tateyama Kurobe last fall because we had missed the colors already and there was no snow corridor as it had all melted. Please let us know how your journey thru the pass goes when you return ;) Which end are you starting from Toyama or Shinano Omachi?

rizzuto, Dewey Weber,lol

Gokouun o inorimasu all you sakura fanatics!

Aloha!

you just got home!!!

who is going to put the ink on the press?

ht - starting from Toyama - it opens supposedly the previous weekend if all goes well. I basically planned my trip around it....will report back....

Yes, I read you decided not to do it last fall....
Enjoy your trip - this goes for everyone!