When to go to Japan in April 2015 (blossoms but avoiding Golden Week)
 

Just starting to plan our first trip to Japan. We'd like to go for two weeks when the cherry blossoms are in bloom in April 2015, but avoiding super crowded times like Golden Week (is this last week of April? Not sure) and the week I've heard when school kids are on vacation if possible.

Realize that the blooms can't be predicted exactly and times vary by region. Probably flying into Tokyo but not staying there. So far am interested in area from Hakone to Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara and Mt Koya.

Will be posting more detailed questions once I do more research, but want to know more about the best time to visit in April 2015.

Thanks for your advice!

About Golden Week 2015, see: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2282.html

The conclusion to be drawn is that cherry blossoms where you will be traveling will be gone before Golden Week.

"We'd like to go for two weeks when the cherry blossoms are in bloom in April 2015, but avoiding super crowded times" -- I haven't been in Japan for the cherry blossoms, so I could easily be mistaken -- but is that one of the most crowded times?

Peter (hawaiian traveler) should chime in here. He follows weather patterns closely and can give you good advice. Just last night at dinner he was indicating "late"cherry blossoms next year. Hope he will jpin this conversation.

This is not too much help I know, but we were in Kyoto April 15-19, 2006 and they were in full bloom to beginning to falling which was outstanding. See if you can find some historical dates (the last several years peak time for the area) and try to straddle that period.

The Japan-guide link that mrwunrfl posted above at 2:24 has a lot of info including links to their last few years of Cherry Blossom reports. You can check out the ones for the places you plan to visit.

Yes, ht....please chime in - I am already planning for a spring visit to Tohoku next year.....:)

mrwunrfl-thanks for link to Japan Guide cherry blossoms and Golden Week...have just started using it for looking at places to visit but didn't think to look up cherry blossoms. Super helpful!

kja - assume that this would be one of the more crowded times, but trying to avoid the even more crowded things like Golden Week. Thanks and hope you can chime in when we need more specific advice on places to visit as have seen your name often as a contributor here!

Finally - do either one of you know when the school kids typically get their spring vacation?

Japan public school spring break usually is from the last week in March through the first week in April....

I was in Japan during cherry blossom (but not Golden Week) both this year and last. As long as you aren't going to the prime spots at the weekend, it's very enjoyable, and quite relaxed--few tourists and mostly Japanese families enjoying themselves. Last year I explored around Nara, Uji, Iga-Ueno, but didn't attempt Yoshino (the top cherry blossom site). This year I was traveling through Kanazawa (Kenrokuen is opened at night a couple of times), Gokayama, and the area around Fukui. There were a lot of pleasant local events: a children's matsuri in Fukui, and a festive event at Maruoka castle. Very enjoyable.

Someotherguy - great stuff. Think I've got enough information now to start planning the timing part of our trip. Am going to look up all the places you mentioned in the Japan Guide...such an incredible resource.

Great advice about the weekends. The Japan Guide link from mrwunfl on cherry blossoms has a list of prime spots for viewing, so will keep that in mind.

Mar, thanks for the spring break information, too.

leslieq, some of the places I mentioned are a bit off the beaten track. I enjoy lesser-visited sights but I get it that Kyoto and Tokyo are priorities for a first visit. However, after them, the place I would put top of the list is Matsue. I wrote an encomium to it here: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...omment-6088979 . Few Fodorites seem to have been there so it doesn't come up here very often, but for general sightseeing (as opposed to specific interests) I'd rank it far above the usual suggestions.

A bit further down the San-in coast (where I guarantee you will not see another westerner) is Hagi, the seat of the Meiji restoration, with a really excellent outdoor museum to Yoshida Shoin and the others, plus a very fine temple (and, of course, the Izumo shrine is on the way). I've only been there in summer, but cherry blossom season should be great.

Another contrary suggestion is that Nagoya is a good base: easy access to the Ise Shrines, the places around Lake Biwa (Hikone [not Hakone], Ishiyamadera), cormorant fishing at Gifu, Inuyama, Meiji-mura. Taking a couple of days to travel between Kyoto and Nagoya via these sites is a good trip.

I also enjoyed Inuyama and Meiji-mura, as well as the cormorant fishing (ukai) at Gifu, but I don't think ukai can be seen before mid-May or so....

someotherguy - thanks for the link to your post - that is really old news...lol....sorry I didn't notice it earlier - I went to Matsue this spring - my 9th trip to Japan - and I agree it is very interesting - I spent 3 nights there - visited Izumo Taisha and Adachi....as you say, though not really for an initial Japan trip.

As far as both sakura season and Golden Week, I was in Kyoto for both this year. Of course, the most famous sites are crowded but there are many, many other ones. I found a lot of info at the main Tourist Information office at Kyoto station. They have a monthly magazine and also there is a bi-lingual brochure that lists cherry blossom locales that are a bit off the beaten track....

Here's a good site - the English part is currently down for maintenance though...
http://www.kyotojoho.co.jp/

About a week later than an average year. Don't ask how I know cause I don't ;)

Mara, we r looking at two n a half weeks in N Tohoku starting around 4/20. Will be more detailed when we get back from Indonesia

Aloha!

ht, I recently d/l'd your 2008 Cherry Blossom TR.....very interesting. Enjoy your upcoming trip!

From my experience during three weeks of koyo in November of 2008, the color was magnificent, the technique of arriving early or late helped a lot, and also I was happily surprised to see how quiet the Japanese were in temples, gardens, and museums. Learned also that if you are last in a group, you get the experience of seeing things alone. (Some wonderful gardens in Kyoto are only available in group tours. Also, don't miss the Moss Gardens--a hassle to arrange from here, but well worth it.

p.s. if at all possible go to the Miho museum about an hour into the mountains out of Tokyo, one of my best museum experiences anywhere ever.

cmstraf - are the Moss Gardens at Kokedera (Moss Temple)in Kyoto? I had seen in Japan Guide and it was very intriguing. Did you copy sutra when you were there? Sounds like a fantastic experience.

someotherguy - Lafcadio Hearn...what an incredible story! Going to his house and the museum sounds awesome. I need to get the rest of the trip started to see if we can make it to Matsue and some of the other places you mentioned. We have only two weeks and this is our first trip to Japan (mine actually; my husband visited for a week 30 years ago). We're planning to skip Tokyo this time in order to have more time in Kyoto and more traditional areas, plus hope to do some walking/hiking too.