Cherry blossom in Japan: What we actually saw in April

Firstly let’s get one of the initial confusing part out of the way, in Japan cherry blossom is called sakura!

Both terms refer to the delicate and beautiful pink and white flowers that bloom on trees in spring, so don’t get confused when some people switch terminology without the explanation or clarification.

You might also see the word hanami, this is the name of the cultural tradition where you go to the annual viewing of blossoms,

When can you see cherry blossom in Japan?

The frustrating part is that peak bloom doesn’t last long! The best viewing period can only be around a week, and weather can shorten it even further. Which is not helpful when you’re planning your trip in advance!!! We found that the best cherry blossom when we were there was Tokyo, then after that the quantity of trees in each location dropped significantly. I think some of the photos online make it look like there’s loads of trees when there’s actually maybe only a couple.

We went to the following places as they fitted in with the route we were going on, not because we were hunting down the cherry blossom trees, and I think that is the best advice I can give you! Prioritise where you would like to visit in Japan, and go to the places you want to explore because for us, the best place to see the beautiful trees was by far Tokyo and I’m sure you will have that as your starting or finish point.

Did we plan our trip around the cherry blossom season?

Yes and no!

When we originally decided to travel to Japan in April 2026, cherry blossom wasn’t the sole reason for choosing our dates. In fact, we were quite conscious that peak sakura seasons can bring HUGE crowds and inflate prices, so we didn’t want to build our entire trip to hit those perfect days.

That said, we knew we still wanted to see the blossom on the trees and not on the floor like confetti.

By the time we arrived, Tokyo and some warmer areas had already passed their peak. We were honestly not gutted because we still managed to see lots of beautiful cherry blossom trees. As we travelled into cooler areas and higher elevations, we started finding blossom again. That’s probably one of the biggest things we learnt; that there’s not one single 'cherry blossom week’ for the whole of Japan. Where you’re traveling makes a huge difference.

Where can you see the cherry blossom in Tokyo?

Tokyo was the first place we went and we were so excited to see if we could get a glimpse of these beautiful trees. We were not disappointed, we had breakfast in the park and then lost hours walking around and taking in the beauty. Were there some trees that looked like they were past their peak, yes absolutely but we still had a great time.

Shinjuku Gyloen National Garden is a great place for cherry blossom & lakes. It’s very easy to get to with it being located a short walk from Shinjuku Station, the park's spacious lawns, meandering walking paths and tranquil scenery provide a relaxing. We actually got our breakfast from a convenience store and then took it to the park with us, it was so peaceful.

Yoyogi Park is one of Tokyo's most lively and iconic spots, you will find quite a few crowds here at the peak times.

The Sumida River is a 27-kilometer-long waterway flowing through central Tokyo, Japan, branching from the Arakawa River and emptying into Tokyo Bay. We didn’t quite make it to the blossom trees as the river is very vast, so ensure you get the location right and you have it planned into your day.

When to see cherry blossom in Tokyo: Late March to early April

Cherry blossom at Mt Fuji

April is a peak time to visit Lake Kawaguchi for views of Mt. Fuji, particularly from mid-to-late April when cherry blossoms (sakura) typically bloom, peaking around April 20th. The northern shore offers iconic views of the mountain, lake, and flowers together, especially during the Fuji-Kawaguchiko Cherry Blossom Festival. 

When we got off the train, we headed to the tourist information point to understand where we should spend our time and what to see. We decided to the Kawaguchiki Natural Living Center. There is a bus route which runs in both directions, we jumped on the Red-line (you just tap your bank card when you get on, the price was 570 yen per person), we got it there and then walked back to the train station as it was a lovely day

Where can you see cherry blossom in Matsumoto?

Matsumoto Castle Ground: Matsumoto Castle, a 16th-century "Crow Castle" with a striking black exterior, offers a stunning, iconic spring scene (early to mid-April) as its white and pink cherry blossoms bloom in stark contrast. The grounds,, specifically the Honmaru Garden, feature illuminated trees and traditional performances during the Nighttime Cherry Blossom Viewing, with free entry to the inner grounds. 

In both daylight and at night, this places was beautiful and one of the most impressive castles we have ever seen.

Where can you see cherry blossom in Kanazawa?

Kenrokuen Garden is celebrated as one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens"

Kanazawa Castle Grounds is one of Kanazawa's key historic landmarks. Once the home of the Maeda family, who governed the Kaga Domain – present day Ishikawa and Toyama – for over 280 years

Where can you see cherry blossom in Kyoto?

Unfortunately Kyoto got the best of us and we didn’t make to either of these, they were however on our itinerary list and the research we did suggested these are the best places to go.

Philosopher’s Path is a scenic path follows cherry-tree lined canal and is named after a Kyoto University philosopher, Kitaro Nishida, who used it for his daily walk.

Maruyama Park in Gion (Kyoto’s premier historic geisha district and it is renowned for its well-preserved, narrow streets) is Kyoto’s oldest park.

Would we travel back to Japan in April?

Absolutely!

This time of year was honestly perfect, it was sunny most of the days, we travelled around easily and even managed to see some beautiful cherry blossom. If we travelled during the peak sakura period, we would feel differently!

Is the cherry blossom worth the hype?

Yeah definitely, because it was honestly beautiful!

HOWEVER, we were outside of the typical window, so we were after the crowds and the extorsunate prices

If seeing cherry blossom is the ONLY reason you’re travelling to Japan, then you’ll obviously want to give yourself the best possible chance of hitting peak bloom. But if, like us, it’s something you’d love to see without making your entire holiday depend on it, don’t get to obsessed with finding the perfect dates.

Follow the forecasts, research the best spots along your route and then enjoy whatever nature decided to give you.

We hope you have an amazing trip!!