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It’s finally here! After Tokyo announced the official start of its cherry blossom season last Thursday, March 19, we have been eagerly waiting for Osaka's turn. Good news: spring has arrived in the Kansai region.
According to the 2026 cherry blossom data compiled by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the first sakura blooms were sighted in the city today, March 26, thus marking the start of Osaka’s 2026 cherry blossom season.
In Kyoto, the sakura season began a few days earlier, on Monday March 23. Nara and Wakayama started blooming a day after that, on Tuesday March 24.
Cherry blossoms are celebrated for their fleeting beauty. From first bloom, it takes roughly a week for the trees to reach full bloom (known as mankai). After that, the flowers remain at their peak for only a few days before withering. This means the clock is ticking – you have at most a two-week window to enjoy these iconic symbols of spring.
To help you plan your sakura outing, we’ve compiled the best cherry blossom experiences across Osaka, Kyoto and the surrounding Kansai region. Keep in mind that Osaka, Kyoto and Nara are expected to reach mankai around March 31. Here are your definitive guides:
- 6 best places to see cherry blossoms in Osaka in 2026
- 5 best cherry blossom events and illuminations in Osaka in 2026
- 7 best cherry blossom events and illuminations in Kyoto in 2026
- 9 best cherry blossom day trips from Osaka in 2026
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Kansai, cherry blossoms are expected to reach full bloom in Wakayama on April 2, Kobe on April 3, and Hikone on April 5.
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