Spring is just around the corner and we’ve got the latest cherry blossom forecast to prove it. The Japan Meteorological Corporation has just released their seventh sakura forecast for the year, which currently predicts that hanami season is less than two weeks away.
According to JMC, Tokyo is now anticipating its cherry trees to flower on March 21 (three days earlier than usual). Peak bloom is forecast on March 29.
In Kyoto and Osaka, the blossoms are expected to arrive bang on time on March 26, with peak bloom hitting Kyoto on April 2 and Osaka on April 3.
Meanwhile, Hokkaido will be the last prefecture to see cherry blossoms, with the flowering date projected on April 28 and peak bloom set to overlap with Golden Week on May 2.
We’re still in the second week of March, so it’s quite possible that these forecasts – based on the Somei Yoshino sakura species – will change as we approach the sakura season. Still, you might want to start thinking about hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spots to give yourself something to look forward to.
Watch this space for more updates.
This article was originally published on January 17 and updated on March 11.
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