Photo: Pakutaso
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Cherry blossoms set to bloom even earlier in Japan this year

21 Comments
By Oona McGee, SoraNews24

Now that we’re past the Dec 22 winter solstice here in Japan, the days are gradually becoming longer, carrying us gently towards the warmer months of spring.

That means it won’t be long until cherry blossom season is upon us, and every year we await the forecast that lets us know when the nation’s somei yoshino trees, Japan’s most popular sakura variety, are expected to bloom.

Japanese weather site Weathernews was first with the forecast again this year, and according to their predictions, it’s going to be yet another early start to the season, not just in Tokyo but at all major locations around Japan.

So let’s get started by taking a look at this year’s forecast around the nation.

▼ Sakura flowering dates for 2022

Sakura-2022-Japan-ha.png

According to the forecast above, we can expect the sakura season to begin in Japan on 15 March, with Tokyo and Hiroshima being the first places to enjoy the blooms. Flowering will continue around the country shortly afterwards, with the season predicted to be 5-10 days earlier than the average year recorded from 1991-2020.

We’ve listed all the dates for the regions on the map below:

  • Kagoshima: 23 March
  • Fukuoka: 16 March
  • Kochi: 21 March
  • Hiroshima: 15 March
  • Osaka: 22 March
  • Nagoya: 18 March
  • Kanazawa: 25 March
  • Tokyo: 18 March
  • Nagano: 1 April
  • Niigata: 1 April
  • Sendai: 31 March
  • Akita: 8 April
  • Aomori: 15 April
  • Sapporo: 23 April
  • Kushiro: 8 May

A lot of these regions are home to some famous hanami flower-viewing spots, so let’s take a look at the predicted start dates for these popular sightseeing locations.

Sakura-2022-Japan-ha.jpg

The sites listed above are:

  • Kumamoto Castle (Kumamoto Prefecture): 20 March
  • Maizaru Park (Fukuoka Prefecture): 16 March
  • Peace Memorial Park (Hiroshima Prefecture): 21 March
  • Kochi Park (Kochi Prefecture): 21 March
  • Arashiyama (Kyoto Prefecture): 29 March
  • Tsuruma Park (Aichi Prefecture): 18 March
  • Sunpu Castle Park (Shizuoka Prefecture): 21 March
  • Takato Joshi Park (Nagano Prefecture): 29 March
  • Ueno Onshi Park (Tokyo Prefecture): 16 March
  • Shiraishi Riverbank Thousand Trees at a Glance (Miyagi Prefecture): 1 April
  • Hirosaki Park (Aomori Prefecture): 17 April
  • Goryokaku Park (Hokkaido Prefecture): 21 April

Most of these start dates are similar or slightly earlier to last year’s first forecast, which predicted the start of the season to occur in Tokyo on 18 March, although it ended up arriving much earlier than expected, on 14 March.

When the temperature from February to March is higher than normal, as it’s predicted to be this year, flowering tends to occur earlier than usual, so there’s a chance that this year’s blooms might also begin unfurling their petals earlier than expected.

Regardless of what happens, though, we’ll be keeping you updated with all the latest sakura news as the season progresses, so watch this space!

Source: Weathernews

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

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© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

21 Comments
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I wonder why Okinawa is not mentioned. Is the blossoming of Sakura down here not important to the nation? I believe Okinawa is part of the " Nation" ?

"So let’s get started by taking a look at this year’s forecast around the nation"

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Might have to change the school year start dates. As the flowers are not cooperating.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Looking forward to another beautiful spring in Japan.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

With these efforts at modern forecasting, seems like ‘organized’ viewing could be ‘planned’, in advanced without creating crowd surges and clusters of traffic”. - Eh? ‘People with be people’ and do as they see fit for themselves.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Correction to *@8:05am: ***“People will* be people’ … *if you will, Moderator.- Regards.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I’ve still got my under thermals on and here we have an article about cherry blossoms in January.

Slightly premature?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Okinawa has trees in bloom now,not just winter cherries.

Going up the hill today to have a look here.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Plenty of hikanzakura,too.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Beautiful!

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

Fabulous news!

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Not surprising that it's coming in early. Winter came in like a storm in mid-November which is pretty early for these parts.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"A lot of these regions are home to some famous hanami flower-viewing spots, so let’s take a look at the predicted start dates for these popular sightseeing locations."

So, basically this is a map of the next clusters. I mean... you know... the virus simply MUST make an exception for cherry blossom viewing.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Another Matsuri' season begins...without me there..bummer. Open up Japan

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

" This is Japan "....not Okinawa. That's the Ryuku Nation, boi.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Wow, government setting sakura bloom date to earlier so tourist can't come to see it. Why not set it in May?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Cherry that blossoms about a month only. Is it that special? I love the flowers thats all year around, makes people happy any day of the year, not like just one season.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I saw a different prediction with March 23 fir Tokyo. Anyway it often changes.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Warm weather is always a well welcomed news, glad to hear it's EARLIER.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Every year these stories say the same thing. Yet it blossoms around the same time as usual.

Winter is far from over. You can't wish it away by saying otherwise.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Love Japan spring, LOVELY for sure, Beer, Yakiniku, Bar B Q's , kids running around, the blossoms fragrance in the air, just can't wait.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This whole pandemic better be over by march. Because without tourists, there isn't much good news for many shops. I

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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