hawaiiantraveler

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!

mrwunrfl

Thanks. Maybe next year for me.

Kathie

sigh... one of these years!

Mara

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

rhkkmk

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

filmwill

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.

hawaiiantraveler

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


Aloha!

kanazawan

"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.

Kristina

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?

hawaiiantraveler

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!

Mara

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... ;-)

hawaiiantraveler

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!

Mara

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.

hawaiiantraveler

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!

hawaiiantraveler

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!

Mara

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.

hawaiiantraveler

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!

hawaiiantraveler

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

Mealea

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.

Kristina

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?