It is truly a magical experience. The cherry blossom celebration in Japan is a world unto itself, a time filled with blossoming trees in hundreds of shades of pink, pretty paper lanterns and people beautifully dressed in their traditional formal clothes. And as you can imagine, with Japan in bloom, early April is rather busy with blossom season festivals and the cultural sights and sounds that go along with that. Luxury vacations to Japan are incredible any time of year, but cherry blossom season – also called Sakura season – is more than special.
Similar but wider in scope than Sakura Matsuri, the day-long street festival of Japanese culture celebrated in Washington, D.C., Japan’s blossom season begins in the south and works its way northward. Here are a few tips to maximize your experience.
Follow the blooms
The Sakura Zensen is also referred to as the Cherry Blossom Front, the forecast of approximate dates, wherein the blooming begins in Japan in the south and works its way northward. Viewing the blossoms is known as Hanami in Japanese. It all begins in the southern regions of Okinawa and Kyushu in mid-March and hits the northern island of Hokkaido by mid-May – that’s a whole two months to fit yourself into the plan.
Head out early
Expect to see large crowds moving through the Sakura season, many with their families in tow. Early morning visits to the parkland sites are best, before the crowds have had time to amass. The early afternoon is also fairly calm, before the office workers take off work early to have their annual Hanami parties. If you do wade into the crowd, know that the Japanese are extremely polite, so your experience will assuredly be orderly.
Do your research
Brush up on your cherry blossom horticulture to make your visit more interesting in a gardening way. There are more than 20 species to look out for, from white petals to dazzling pink.
Step out at night
The historic temples at night are incredibly lit to celebrate blossom season, particularly in Kyoto. The best tip is to arrive at sundown as the color of the sky is about to change, wandering the colorful streets and reveling in the festive atmosphere. Then, you experience the transformation of light on the temple grounds, before wandering out to dine. It’s like a pre-dinner show! There are seasonal foods to try, too, including rice bean treats, sticky buns and special bento boxes filled with traditional fare.
Book in advance
Hotels fill up months ahead of time for Japan’s cherry blossom festivals. The Tully Travel Designers can make sure you get front-row seats wherever you land, but the bullet-train travel means you can really stay anywhere and still reach the preferred gardens and avenues on your list.
Bring a jacket
The pictures make it look bright and sunny, which it often is, but spring temperatures in Japan may require you to bundle up a bit – usually around the 60º to 70º range. You could experience some wet weather, too, especially if you’re visiting at the end of March.
If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo, a vacation in Osaka or a trip to Kyoto, there are a number of Japan travel itineraries to choose from with the help of Tully Luxury Travel. Start making your cherry blossom-viewing plans today.