Hey!
I'm planning a trip to Tokyo and Kyoto in April. I'm very keen on hanami (cherry blossom viewing).....is mid-end april too late? has the local TV reported on when the first sighting is expected?

What else is good to do in April?

Almost surely too late for city viewing. You will probably need to go north and to mountain areas for cherry blossoms. I have seen cherry blossoms in Shirakawa-go the last week in April pretty consistently. In Kanazawa, they are usually finished before April 10th or so, earlier still in Tokyo and Kyoto.

In April, the weather should be nice...not too hot, not too cold. It's a good time for sightseeing.

Our local TVs have not yet reported here in Tokyo.
It will not be forecasted before early March, because
weather in February has an immediate effect on blooming.
Usually, cherries in Tokyo start blooming in late March and become their best
in early April.
Last year we had a very warm winter so they started and ended earlier.

yes, I read that last year's blossoms arrived about 10 days earlier than the norm. How's the present winter? Perhaps I can check out with you guys again in Feb how's the situation going to be like. The earliest I can 'force' my travel itinerary is to arrive 10 April. If it comes as early as last year, i'll not likely be in time anyway....

present winter,
until December it was quite warm
but in January it turned colder and snowed more than usual.

It depends on how cold it will be in Feb & March.
Weather forecast (not cherry blossom one) says
we'll have a little more clowdy and rainy February.
Concerning temperature, it will be normal or a bit warmer in Feb & March.

Well if you come later than 10 April,
then you could consider visiting Nikko, Okutama, Hakone, maybe colder area like
Tohoku or such.

Hi,

We know we will be to late in mid-April for the cherry blossoms in the Kyoto area. Does anyone know if there are cherry trees in the Lake Toya area or Sapporo area. We will be there the end of April.

Thanks

Hi! We will be in Kyoto late March, is this the right time for hanami or too early?

cwn,

1) Sapporo
*Maruyama park
http://www.all-hokkaido.net/marugoto.../200204-01.htm

*Moere-numa Park
Address: 599-1, Okadama-machi, Higashi-ku, Sapporo
bus #east79 #east69 from Kanjo-dori Higashi Station, subway Toho Line. 20 minutes.
http://www.sapporo-park.or.jp/moere/

2)Lake Toya area
*Zenkoji Park
in Zenkoji temple, popular for its 1000 cherry trees.
20 minute walk from JR Usu Station.
Address: 124-1 Date-city
(park might be closed until around 19 April so you'd better phone before visiting)


Hoshiko,

Late March, it might be a little too early to view.
Usually Kyoto cherry blossoms are at their best in early April like those in Tokyo.
Though, Feb & March weather could affect, so it depends.
Last year we had very warm winter and they were in full bloom in late March in Kyoto too.