Mealea

Just to let those of you who are coming to Japan soon know, the estimated peak time for cherry blossoms this year is expected to be the days around March 30 in Tokyo and April 2-3 in Kyoto. This is the latest information that I found today. Hope this helps.

Hoshiko

Hi! Please advise where can I find more detail info re the cherry blossom period this year?

emd

Thanks Mealea. Looks like we wil be a bit too soon- leaving Kyoto on March 26th, but maybe there will be some early blooming going on by then...

Hoshiko- there have been prior posts on here about a site that has updated cherry blossom blooming info each year. Search for it here and you'll find it.

mrwunrfl

The Japan Meteorological Agency put out their 2005 Japan Cherry Blossom Flowering Forecast just yesterday.

Go to the following website and follow the link that is front and center:

http://gojapan.about.com/

mrwunrfl

Kochi 25-Mar
Kyoto 26-Mar
Shizuoka 27-Mar
Matsuyama 28-Mar
Fukuoka 28-Mar
Nagoya 28-Mar
Nagasaki 28-Mar
Osaka 29-Mar
Kobe 29-Mar
Gifu 29-Mar
Tokyo 30-Mar
Nara 30-Mar
Takamatsu 30-Mar
Yokohama 1-Apr
Kofu 1-Apr
Hiroshima 1-Apr
Okayama 2-Apr
Tottori 5-Apr
Fukui 8-Apr
Mito 8-Apr
Kanazawa 10-Apr
Toyama 12-Apr
Niigata 15-Apr
Nagano 16-Apr

emd

OK then, so we are right on time for Kyoto. I am generally not a lucky person, but maybe this one will be a winner. Thanks...

Mealea

There's a big snow storm in Tokyo today! It's expected to snow for quite a long time. The cherry blossom estimates are just guesses, but usually somewhat accurate. I love the time before the blossoms open fully - that's very beautiful. I also love the time after the blossoms have fallen - then the streets are filled with pink flowers. There are many different kinds of cherry blossoms trees and they all bloom at slightly different times. So whenever you come, I'm sure you'll see something great.

The numbers for updates on cherry blossoms, festivals, etc. are:
Tokyo Tourist Office: 03-3201-3331
Kyoto Tourist Office: 075-344-3300

emd

and maybe I should stick around and spend the big birthday in Tokyo. Then come back to D.C. for the Sakura Matsuri on 4/9, which is during the scheduled peak bloom here. That would be alot of cherry blossoms in one year.