First submitted to TripZilla.

Sakura can be found in many places around the world but Japan is, without a doubt, the most iconic place to catch them in full bloom. With the term originating in Japan, witnessing the sakura – otherwise known as the cherry blossom – probably occupies a spot on any traveller’s bucket list. And why wouldn’t it, given the season’s unparalleled beauty?

However, the sakura season in Japan is as crowded as it is beautiful. Come March or so every year, throngs of tourists flock to the nation in hope of seeing the canopy of pink with their own eyes. Even the locals celebrate the season with vigour, with various festivals erupting all over the country.

Navigating this season and its crowds might indeed be intimidating for many first-timers – however, arm yourself with these 7 tips and your experience will hopefully be that much smoother.

1. Keep your dates flexible

As unbelievable as it may be, the sakura’s full bloom only lasts for a week, or sometimes up to 10 days if you’re lucky. This might induce some anxiety for travellers trying to plan a trip; any weather irregularities might set the blooming dates forward or back an entire week! It’s not uncommon for travellers to plan a trip based on past blooming dates, only to arrive when the blooms are still buds or already wilted – missing the entire experience altogether. Imagine the frustration of wasting your flight tickets and accommodation fees! And the worst part? You’d have to wait an entire year before trying again. And even if you try again the following year, you might still miss the full bloom. The irony!

However, our advice to you is not to lament the fleeting quality of the sakura but to embrace it as part of the experience. After all, the short and predictable time-frame is what makes any sakura viewing all the more precious. Indeed, to avoid any disappointment, simply regard any past years’ blooming dates as mere ballpark figures. We recommend planning a trip that’s no shorter than 2 weeks; this will give you enough buffer to rearrange your dates should the blooming dates be brought forward or pushed back. If you can set aside the time, a 3-week duration would be even better! As the saying goes, do it once and do it well. After all, why skimp on this once-in-a-lifetime experience?

2. Plan your route according to geographical locations

Besides blooming dates that vary year on year, the sakura’s blooming season also varies with geographical location. For example, the sakura in Okinawa is the first to bloom around mid-January, with sakura blooming in other more central places like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka around end-March to beginning April. Hokkaido is the last place to see the sakura, with the blooms arriving end-April to beginning-May. To add to the uncertainty, places like Lake Kawaguchiko and Hiroshima – which are about a 2-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo and a 1.5-hour train ride from Osaka respectively – see the sakura bloom around the second week of April.

It’s best to plan your route according to geographical location, especially if you’re planning to go on a sakura chase across different cities. A 2-week trip can see you travelling from Tokyo to Osaka to Kyoto and finally to Nara. Alternatively, you can take the unconventional route and travel from Fukuoka to Hiroshima to Fukushima. It’s entirely up to you!

3. Do prior research on the cities' best viewing spots

The sakura does only bloom for a limited period and should you be so privileged enough to catch them in full bloom, you’d want to soak up as much of the season as possible. It’s wise to do ample research on the city’s best viewing spots and how to get there; this will allow you to head directly to these areas and spend ample time appreciating the blooms’ beauty. Planning your transport beforehand will also eliminate any stress of trying to navigate to a place, allowing you to have a seamless and stress-free experience. And trust us, the last thing you’d want to do during this season is to rush through it.

Osaka’s viewing spots: Osaka Castle

In Tokyo, some of the best viewing spots are Ueno Park, Chidorigafuchi Moat, Shinjuku Gyo-en Park, Meguro Park and Yoyogi Park.

In Osaka, some of the best viewing spots are Osaka Castle, Osaka Mint Bureau, Hei-An Jingu Shrine and Kema Sakuranomiya Park.

Kyoto’s viewing spots: (top) Philosopher’s Path; (bottom) Keage Incline

In Kyoto, some of the best viewing spots are Philosopher’s Path, Kiyomizudera Temple, Keage Incline, Kyoto Botanical Gardens and Maruyama Park.

Fukuoka’s viewing spots: (top) an aerial view of Maizuru Park from Fukuoka Castle; (bottom) Ohori Park

In Fukuoka, some of the best viewing spots are Ohori Park, Fukuoka Castle and Nishi Park.

Above all else, plan ahead and use your time wisely!

4. Book your accommodation and flights early

Once you know which cities you’ll be visiting, it’s advised to book your accommodation and flights way ahead of time. Like it or not, you’re not the only ones looking to visit Japan during the sakura season. Many will be entering the country in droves, causing flight and accommodation prices to spike nearing the date. Many accommodations will also likely be booked quickly, with many looking to secure stays near the popular viewing spots.
Once you have your locations and dates, quickly secure all the other collaterals. In fact, some hotels, such as the Hotel Chinzanso in Tokyo – might even be home to their own sakura garden. Or if you’re planning on heading out early to be at the viewing spots before the crowds, it’s ideal to book an accommodation that’s within close proximity of a subway station. This will also come in handy should you be planning to stay out late for the Yozakura (more on this in the next point).

5. Experience both Hanami and Yozakura

For the uninitiated, Hanami refers to the act of viewing the sakura’s beauty in the day and Yozakura refers to viewing the blooms in the night. All across Japan, many cities organise night light-ups where come dusk, the sakura trees will be illuminated with a mesmerising glow. The light-up may even occur in a variety of colours! There might even be night-time cruises organised along rivers lined with cherry trees, where you can glide below a spectacular canopy of pink, purple and blue.

Some night light-ups might charge a nominal entry fee but the ambience and experience of walking through a nighttime wonderland will make it worth every dollar. 

6. Keep your stomach empty

Japan is reputed for its diverse gastronomic scene (think: more sushi than you can imagine), but do exercise some self-restraint and save that stomach space for the sakura festivals. Every year, countless festival stalls peddling food and drink pop up in the public parks, which specially cater for the sakura-viewing crowds. Take your pick from Takoyaki, multiple soft-serve ice cream flavours, bowls of Ramen and so on!

Hence, do yourself a favour and head to the sakura viewing spots on an empty stomach. There’ll be so much to do, see and eat!

7. Set aside time for a sakura picnic

In fact, one of the most enjoyable things to do during the season would be to take a page from the locals’ books and indulge in a sakura picnic. It’s rather common to see groups of locals sprawled on colourful mats beneath the blooms, with a sumptuous picnic spread in front of them. Some even go so far as to bring portable BBQ machines along with them!

So do what the locals do – head to Daiso, pick up a picnic mat and either a) buy your spread from the festival stalls, or b) buy some takeaway fare from department stores. Then head to the parks – you might want to go early to stake out a prime spot – to lay out your mat and enjoy the atmosphere. Bring a book, play some music, snack on delectable fare and even be lulled to sleep under the blanket of pink. 

Set aside ample time to enjoy this experience; a sakura picnic can last anywhere from an hour to the entire afternoon.

You may also choose to rent a kimono for a gorgeous photoshoot amidst the blooms. Some locals also like to dress up in cosplay costumes, so do keep a lookout for those!

8. The end of the sakura season is just as beautiful as the start

Say you’re lucky enough to witness the sakura season at full bloom. Don’t be too eager to move off just yet; for what many fail to realise is that the end of the season is just as beautiful as the start. Towards the end of the season, the sakura petals begin to fall – coating the ground in a stunning carpet of pink and red. The falling petals create a swirling effect, with the ‘rain’ falling gracefully down in a shower of pink.

Take the chance to frolic through the park grounds covered with petals or even take the chance to make a ‘sakura angel’. The sakura season only arrives on Japan’s shores once a year and you should seize any opportunity to enjoy every moment of it!

Yes, the sakura season can be crowded and yes, it can be unpredictable – but venture out with the right mindset and you’ll be in for an experience like no other. We wish you the best of luck!