Watch pink cherry blossoms paint the blue sky in color — the “2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Front Forecast” is out!

▲ The season when you can witness the "explosion of pink cherry blossoms" is coming again!(Photo / from theCafé de OSAKA fan page)

Reported by Tsai Wen-jun / Compiled by staff

Cherry blossoms in Taiwan have just begun to sprout, and Japan is about to welcome its annual cherry blossom season, which lasts around three months. On the 14th, the Japan Meteorological Corporation released the first round of the “2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Front Forecast,” predicting that from March 21, cherry blossoms will begin to bloom in regions of Kyushu such as Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima. If you want to experience the full explosion of pink blooms, around March 30 is the best time.

The Japan Meteorological Corporation has been releasing forecasts for approximately 1,000 famous cherry blossom viewing spots across Japan every year since January, including predicted blooming and full bloom dates for major cities, updating them every two weeks, making it a key guide for cherry blossom enthusiasts.

▲ Japan Meteorological Corporation’s first 2015 cherry blossom blooming forecast. (Photo / from the Japan Meteorological Corporation official website)

According to the forecast chart, northern Japan had lower-than-average temperatures in December last year, but January temperatures were higher than usual, so the blooming period is roughly the same as previous years. In eastern and western Japan, however, warmer temperatures may lead to an earlier blooming period this year.

Looking at major cities, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima are expected to see blooms around March 21, entering full bloom by around March 30. Popular Kansai cherry blossom cities such as Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara will begin blooming around March 25, reaching full bloom around April 2. Tokyo’s predicted blooming date is March 21, gradually extending to surrounding prefectures in the capital region, with the “pink explosion” expected to be felt by around March 31.

If you want to see pink cherry blossoms coloring the skies in Hokkaido cities like Sapporo and Hakodate, you’ll need to wait until around May 4 for full bloom.