For cherry blossoms lovers, the most delighted moment is to see the full bloom of a spot they’ve dreamed about for a long time. However, if you are an overseas viewer, it is not that easy to happen to see full bloom of cherry blossoms in your trip in Japan. Here are 6 tips for you to have a successful cherry blossom viewing trip in 2020.
Tip 1 Focus on one or two cherry blossom viewing spots in one city.
Before planning your trip, just focus on one or two cherry blossom viewing spots in one city, and don’t be insatiable. Check the dates of first bloom and full bloom of the spot in recent years. For example, Hirosaki Park in Aomori Prefecture, full bloom fell on April 23 to 27 in recent five years. Then you can book flight ticket and hotel according to it.
Tip 2 Extend you trip if possible.
The weather is a significant factor of cherry blossom blooming. If it gets warm early or is rainy or blows hard before the first bloom, the date of it will be affected. On top of that, the first bloom date in different region of Japan varies. You can plan cherry blossom viewing trip in two cities that feature staggered full bloom dates. Take Tokyo and Kyoto, their full bloom dates in 2019 is on March 27 and April 6.
Tip 3 Don’t just rely on official forecast.
Taking official forecast for reference is fine. But please remember that the weather will decide the accurate first bloom date. When a cherry blossom viewing spot have issued the first bloom, if the temperature forecast will be above 15 degree celsius in following days, the full bloom date will be 5 to 7 days after the first bloom. After 5 to 7 days, petals will fall.
Tip 4 Follow official social media accounts of cherry blossom viewing spots.
In recent years, quite a few cherry blossom viewing spots have opened their official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. They nearly report status of cherry blossoms every day during cherry blossom season.
Tip 5 If cherry blossoms bloom earlier than forecast in downtown and you miss it, go to the outskirts of a city.
For instance, Omiya Park, one of top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan, just about 1 hour away from Central Tokyo by train.
Taking train from Kyoto station for one and a half hour will arrive at Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture, a blend of traditional castle and cherry blossoms.
Tip 6 Concentrate on the period from full bloom to petals falling.
The period from full bloom to petals falling, often 5 to 7 days, shows the true beauty of cherry blossoms. Full bloom is a perfect time to have picnic under trees and go for a stroll. And photographers long for the dreamlike scenery of petals falling.