Tokyo's Hanami in March?

[jessie_nol]

Hi All,

It has been 7 years since I last travelled to Japan (Tokyo). I am planning a trip this March for 2 weeks for sight-seeing. One of my main objectives is to see the sakura flower blooming again. I enjoyed it 7 years ago and can't forget the beautiful picture and partying atomsphere.

As the weather now adays are un-predictable, I am worried that this year's hanami may be late.

Does anyone know the period where that Sakura flower will starting blooming this year?

[Alan]

The Japan Meteorological Agency produces a hamami forecast (桜前線 sakurazensen), each year, but there doesn't seem to be one yet this year. They usually do a nice big map, regularly updated to show the flower blooming 'front'.

I did find some archival data here, but it's not as nice as the JMA data, when it's available.

The flower viewing lasts about a week, but that week can move forward/back depending on how the temperatures have been.

Alan

[JonB]

I would say it is more likely to be early this year - but I stress that is just my opinion. It's been a very warm winter so far.

On Saturday I was out and about wearing just a T shirt on top..

We've alrady had hanami in my house - my wife's cousin is an ikebana sensei and the other week we had a delivery of sakura branches in but which then flowered for about the next 10 days.

I do like this Japanese custom of sending things like this and local produce at certain times of the year. My favourites being the biwa from my in-laws in nagasaki and hokkaido potatoes (I think from some school friend of the mother in law)

At the end of the day it is a lottery - but good luck
JonB

[Alan]

If the sakura does flower early & you miss it in tokyo, you could catch the train north to whereever flowering is at it's peak.

[annie]

I would say it is more likely to be early this year - but I stress that is just my opinion. It's been a very warm winter so far.

On Saturday I was out and about wearing just a T shirt on top..

JonB

Yet, we also got a huge dumping of snow in Hakuba on Saturday... maybe the most we've had all season.

But you're right, it's really been unseasonably warm all winter.

[JonB]

my collegue who's parents live in Nagano say that there was no recorded snow in January for the first time since records started in 1891.

[JonB]

Or there abouts apparently. Just saw them putting the lights up on sakura zaka in Roppongi Itchome today

tenki.jp

[annie]

my collegue who's parents live in Nagano say that there was no recorded snow in January for the first time since records started in 1891.

uhh, we had snow here in January.