Dates for surrounding areas are listed according to color in the box on the left. Photo: Weathernews
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Cherry blossom forecast 2021 released: Sakura set to bloom early in Tokyo again this year

13 Comments
By Oona McGeek, SoraNews24

Despite the distinct chill in the air, and masses of snow covering some of Japan’s coldest areas, spring is actually just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start making plans for the sakura cherry blossom season.

Helping out in that regard is Japanese weather forecasting company Weathernews, who just released its first cherry blossom forecast for 2021. And according to their predictions, it’s going to be another warm start to the season, meaning the sakura will be unfurling their petals earlier than usual in Tokyo this year.

This image released by Weathernews shows the predicted starting date for the blossoming of the nation’s somei yoshino trees, Japan’s most popular sakura variety, in capital cities famous for their blooms.

The capital cities and predicted start dates above are:

  • Kagoshima: 23 March
  • Fukuoka: 20 March
  • Kochi: 20 March
  • Hiroshima: 23 March
  • Osaka: 24 March
  • Nagoya: 21 March
  • Kanazawa: 29 March
  • Tokyo: 18 March
  • Nagano: 5 April
  • Niigata: 2 April
  • Sendai: 1 April
  • Akita: 14 April
  • Aomori: 17 April
  • Sapporo: 23 April
  • Kushiro: 9 May

Once the sakura start blooming, it’s often a mad dash to see them before they disappear, as the delicate flowers only blossom for a week or so. For those heading out to some of the country’s most famous hanami flower-viewing spots, the stating dates may differ slightly, depending on their proximity to the capital, so these dates will be helpful:

Sakura-cherry-blossoms-Japan-2021-forecast-hanami-spring-travel-when-best-opening-blooming-season-March-April-3.jpg

The sites listed above are:

  • Kumamoto Castle (Kumamoto Prefecture): 22 March
  • Maizaru Park (Fukuoka Prefecture): 20 March
  • Peace Memorial Park (Hiroshima Prefecture): 24 March
  • Kochi Park (Kochi Prefecture): 20 March
  • Arashiyama (Kyoto Prefecture): 1 April
  • Tsuruma Park (Aichi Prefecture): 22 March
  • Sunpu Castle Park (Shizuoka Prefecture): 23 March
  • Takato Joshi Park (Nagano Prefecture: 1 April
  • Ueno Onshi Park (Tokyo Prefecture): 19 March
  • Shiraishi Riverbank Thousand Trees at a Glance (Miyagi Prefecture): 2 April
  • Hirosaki Park (Aomori Prefecture): 18 April
  • Goryokaku Park (Hokkaido Prefecture): 22 April

Most of these predicted start dates are similar, or slightly earlier to last year’s initial forecast, which predicted the blossoming period in Tokyo, for example, to kick off on March 19, a week earlier than average. The blossoms actually appeared slightly earlier than that, though, on March 14, so we’ll have to wait and see how this year’s initial predictions fare as the season progresses.

Source: Weathernews

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Japanese weather site reveals the secret to knowing when a sakura cherry blossom will fall

-- Snow Sakura in Japan: A magical hanami cherry blossom viewing experience【Pics & Video】

-- Cherry blossom photography from celestial digital artist is otherworldly beautiful【Photos】

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

13 Comments
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Once the sakura start blooming, it’s often a mad dash to see them before they disappear, as the delicate flowers only blossom for a week or so. For those heading out to some of the country’s most famous hanami flower-viewing spot

How about DONT. Stay home. Stay safe.

Only travel if it is absolutly essential. Looking at flowers is not, no matter how pretty they are.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

They flower early? Time to change the start of the school year. Can't get that photo.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Japan has its priorities in line hey

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I'm looking forward to that!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Full marks to them for giving the specific dates for popular sakura sites that will be completely mobbed if the local authorities are stupid enough to let people go. The article speaks to many when it says "these dates will be helpful".

I wouldn't trust any forecast of more than ten days, but its looking like a mild end to January after more snow tomorrow. After that, I have no idea. Most of 2020 was warm, but its been back to average or cooler since October.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

it will not be too much longer when the Cherries will bloom in February. Thanks to Exxon and the coal industry which has many government in their pockets, like Japan.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

But you will only allowed to watch on NNK.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Every year the same thing, once again, kicking Okinawa out of Japan!

In Okinawa the trees blossom north to south, unlike mainland, which is the opposite. The blossoms have started and are very beautiful!

https://www.kyuhoshi.com/cherry-blossom-in-okinawa/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I write this separately to the author here; quit discriminating against Okinawa! Just because YOU dont know, doesnt mean WE dont have it!

You SHOULD be ashamed! But you wont will you?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Chico3

I'm looking forward to that!

Me too!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Pretty sad a week long flower is the best time of the year. And so important it haults any change hermogany with major trading partners visa University timetable. but every year I have to pass people who I saw last year taking photos of flowers. Did they loose that photo are they so deficient they can not remember the last decades of their life? Yes obviously so. I do remember a flower I saw when was 7.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

For those heading out to some of the country’s most famous hanami flower-viewing spots,

I'm waiting for Suga to urge people not to do so, with the same success as he urged people not to go out on the booze.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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