Every spring, Japan gets covered in pink. From late March to early April, cherry blossom trees (sakura) bloom across the whole country, from south to north. It only lasts a few weeks. That's part of why so many people plan an entire trip around it.

The Japanese have celebrated this for over a thousand years. Gathering under the trees to eat, drink and enjoy the flowers is called hanami, and it's still very much a thing today. Walk through any park during peak bloom and you'll find families, friends and strangers all doing exactly that, usually with a bento box and something to drink. There's something about it that makes people stop, even in the busiest cities.

A long history

Sakura has deep roots in Japanese culture. The word itself is believed to link back to a deity of rice fields. For early farmers who followed the Shinto religion, the blooming of cherry trees marked the start of the planting season. The trees were read like a calendar.

By the 8th century, hanami had become a tradition at the imperial court. Emperor Saga invited aristocrats to gather under the cherry trees at the Jishu Shrine in 812, and from there the practice spread through noble gardens across Kyoto. Over time, cherry trees were planted in public spaces too, so that anyone could take part. Many of those original groves are still there today.

Sakura became a symbol of beauty, youth and the passing of time. The idea that something is more precious because it doesn't last is still very much how the Japanese think about the flowers.

When and where the blooms happen

Sakura season doesn't arrive everywhere at the same time. It starts in the south, around Nagasaki and Kagoshima, in late March, then moves north through Hiroshima, Kobe and Tokyo through April, reaching Hokkaido by early May. In any one city, peak bloom lasts about a week. Miss it by a few days and the petals are already on the ground.

Locals track this closely. The Japan Meteorological Corporation releases a sakura forecast every year that maps where and when the blooms are expected. Checking it before you travel is a good idea.

Places to see the blossoms

Nagasaki is a good starting point in the south. It's a city shaped by its history: the Peace Park, a 19th-century Catholic church, Buddhist temples and old trading quarters all sit on steep hillsides that look beautiful in bloom. The local market in Hamanomachi is a great spot to eat and watch daily life carry on around the flowers. If you want to explore this part of Japan by sea, the “Authentic Japan 2027” sailing departs in late March and starts its journey from just across the water in Busan, heading south through Nagasaki and Kyushu.

Kumamoto has one of the few original feudal castles still standing in Japan. The cherry trees around its base are some of the most photographed in Kyushu. The castle was badly damaged in the 2016 earthquake and is still being restored, which adds something to the visit. It's one of the stops on “Tokyo Blooms on the Horizon 2028”, a sailing that takes its time along the southern coast before finishing in Tokyo.

Miyajima Island near Hiroshima is a place most people have seen in photos and still find surprising in person. The floating torii gate, the deer walking freely among visitors, the Itsukushima Shrine. Go early in the morning before the crowds arrive and it feels like a different place. In Hiroshima itself, Shukkeien Garden is a quiet and lovely spot during blossom season.

Further along the coast, Himeji Castle is nicknamed the White Heron for its shape and is surrounded by cherry trees that look beautiful in late March. The garden next to it, Koko-en, is made up of nine smaller gardens each designed to look good in a different season. Authentic Japan 2027 docks at Himeji before finishing in Kobe, right as the city's cherry trees reach their peak.

In Tokyo, Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the best spots in the city. It has several hundred trees of different varieties so the bloom season lasts longer than in most parks. Chidorigafuchi, a moat near the Imperial Palace, is popular for renting small rowboats and drifting under the branches. For something calmer, Koishikawa Korakuen is one of Tokyo's oldest gardens and sees far fewer visitors than the main spots.

For those who want to go further north, Kanazawa is a real highlight. It has Kenrokuen, considered one of Japan's three great gardens, and a well-preserved samurai and geisha district that feels untouched. Hitachinaka, northeast of Tokyo, has Hitachi Seaside Park, a massive garden that's spectacular in spring and barely on most tourist itineraries. “Regent's Japanese Journey 2028” sails this northern route round trip from Tokyo, stopping at both, as well as Hakodate, Sendai and Aomori. It's the most off-the-beaten-track of the three sailings and starts and ends in Tokyo with time to explore the city at both ends.

Night blossom viewing has its own name: yozakura. Many parks and riverbanks light up their trees after dark and the whole atmosphere changes. The Meguro River in Tokyo and Maruyama Park in Kyoto are both worth seeing at night. Don't touch or shake the trees, take your rubbish with you and if you can visit on a weekday morning you'll avoid the worst of the crowds.

Cruise Japan during cherry blossom season

One good reason to cruise Japan in spring is that you travel with the season rather than staying in one place and hoping the timing is right. Moving from Nagasaki north through Hiroshima, Miyajima and Kobe to Tokyo over a couple of weeks means you're likely to catch the blooms somewhere every day.

Speak to our Japan specialist

Heather B has visited Japan during cherry blossom season and knows it firsthand. As our Japan specialist, she has a deep passion for the country's sights, people and food — from tasting her way through Osaka's Kuromon Market to early morning walks in Nara alongside the friendly Sika deer.

Cherry blossom season is one of the most popular times to visit, and one of the busiest. It often books out 9 to 12 months ahead. If you prefer quieter experiences, Heather also recommends exploring small-town Japan by cruise, or travelling in autumn when the golden leaves colour the landscape. Japan is also a wonderful destination for solo travellers, offering a safe and easy way to explore while unpacking only once on a small-ship cruise.

If Japan is on your bucket list for 2027-2028, Heather would love to help make it happen!