Japan in April - too crazy during cherry blossom season?
 

Hi, so glad to be back on Asia forum, which I've found to be so helpful over the years. Quick question: considering a mother/daughter trip for 65/35 birthdays and only time DD can leave her hubby and kids is early April 2018. Are we crazy to consider going during what could be the height of cherry blossom season? It would be quick trip from LA -- working assumption is 4 nights Tokyo and 4 nights Kyoto, with day trip to Hiroshima, and will try to fly into Tokyo and return from Osaka. Before considering further, checking if prices are considerably higher during beginning of April even if we plan and book way in advance....or if crowds at general sightseeing places are out of control.
All input appreciated!

Hmm. How to answer?

Query: explain "out of control."

The simple fact is that there will be additional visitors to Japan during the sakura and there will be additional customers at the various "sightseeing places." Tokyo is one of the largest cities in the world and it's pretty gawdang crowded all the time, so going from well-stuffed to really piled-in is only a moderate increase. Kyoto along the riverside will be stacked with tourists, outside perhaps less so.

This is ultimately your choice. If you're going to Tokyo and Kyoto to see those places AND the blossoms, that's a bit crowded in all likelihood. If you're going primarily for the sakura, consider arranging trips to some smaller cities that are known for their blossomscapes. japan-guide.com will have that information.

We were at both for the koyo season and the only places that were really stuffed were Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari in Kyoto. I'm guessing the sakura would be worse, generally, but both cities can handle crowds.

Nope, only going at that time since it's the time of year that works best for my daughter. I just want to be sure that I'm not looking at a HUGE premium for hotel costs or more crazy crowds than we want. Since NYC is my favorite city in the world, I guess crowds aren't really an issue....;-)

Tourism has increased significantly over the last few years according to my friends and cherry blossom time is a very popular time to visit. A lot of Chinese tourists apparently. Do book your hotels as far in advance as possible.

Can't be sure of this but i suspect if trying to avoid the mainlanders then do check into a smaller boutique style hotel. Most of the mainlanders travel in big groups and can be a terrific nuisance, and loud, OMG.

>>only time DD can leave her hubby and kids is early April 2018

Then go. It was busy in Kyoto in early April this year but not out of control. I got a very good business class fare by departing LAX before the end of March. I bought it in August.

If you want to use miles for a premium cabin then you can shop now. If you are buying then you can wait. I would buy at $700 for economy (to Tokyo, from Osaka). I would not buy at $1000 or more.

It is too early to book hotels. I would want to book by the end of the year, but keep looking.

There was a pretty high surge in prices in Kyoto during the peak blossom week, and there was a short holiday on one weekend early in the month that made that even more the case. Tokyo, didn't notice much of a surge, there's so many hotel bedrooms there, perhaps it's not as affected...

If you have any interest in sakura, then you should go. I've been to Japan twice--first for koyo and then last month, for sakura. Yes, it was crowded. That's not necessarily a bad thing as I find it creates fun energy, particularly for me as a solo traveler. Yes, sometimes I get a bit perturbed waiting to capture a particular scene while gawky teenage girls or 20-something geeky guys pose for pictures in front of the sakura, pagoda, etc. but that just comes with the territory. Like Big Russ recommended, look to get out of Tokyo in particular to lessen the crowds somewhat and certainly see more interesting things. I enjoyed Kamakura on this last trip.

I can't speak much to surge pricing as I just didn't care much about it. I wanted to see sakura and it cost what it cost.

Shinjuku Gyoen with blooming cherry trees was gorgeous on April 10. I had read that it was full bloom there a week earlier. But there is such a variety of trees that the have blossoms over the course of a few weeks. I loved that park and Ueno Park because they were spacious though they had many visitors.

Kyoto was, once again, somewhat annoying.

I agree that visiting Japan during sakura season is worthwhile, we loved seeing both the blossoms themselves and the reaction to them from everyone around us.

That said, having done this, we'll likely revert to autumn visits from now on as we did find the crowds in March/ April quite tiring.