Best time to view cherry blossoms in 2014: The season begins in Fukuoka in the last week of March

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

Cherry blossom trees are not only abundant in Japan but also densely planted across the country. For most of the year, they quietly serve as green foliage, but starting in March, the blossoms begin to bloom. The cherry blossom season kicks off first in the warmer southern part of Japan—Okinawa—and then gradually moves northward. Parks, streetsides, mountains, and rivers—all the way up to Hokkaido—are enveloped in a sea of blooming cherry blossoms.


▲ Cherry blossoms in full bloom. (Photo provided by the business)

Predicting when cherry blossoms will bloom has also become one of Japan’s national events.This year, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that the best time to view cherry blossoms in 2014 will begin in Fukuoka in the last week of March, gradually moving northward. By early April, the blossoms are expected to reach Iwaki City, located about 200 kilometers north of Tokyo. Further north, there’s still a chance to see the blossoms, with flowering times in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region expected to be similar to last year..

When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, people gather in droves at the most popular viewing spots to take photos. In addition to strolling through the falling petals, it is also traditional to go “hanami” (flower viewing). This is a centuries-old Japanese custom where people have picnics under the blooming cherry trees. Such a romantic scene has naturally become a popular backdrop for wedding photos, resulting in a blend of past and present—couples in traditional kimonos and office workers in sharp suits unwinding after work, all enjoying the annual cherry blossom season together under the trees.

Starting in March, the romantic and spectacular sight of white, pink, and red blossoms fills the air, bringing a sense of renewal to everyone. However, beyond their beauty, blooming cherry blossoms also symbolize life, death, unity, and the pursuit of perfection—reflecting some of the most important spiritual and cultural elements of Japan. In response to Japan’s cherry blossom season, the renowned booking website Agoda has also joined the trend by selecting several popular cherry blossom viewing areas in Japan and offering special accommodation deals.