The earliest in all of Japan！Okinawa’s cherry blossoms have already bloomed & can be viewed until mid-February

▲Cherry blossoms in Nago City, Okinawa. (Photo／courtesy ofOkinawa Convention & Visitors BureauFacebook)

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While cherry blossom forecasts in mainland Japan have just begun, Okinawa’s cherry blossoms are already in bloom！Every year in late January, the northern part of Okinawa’s main island enters cherry blossom season, making it the earliest blooming cherry blossoms in Japan. Starting with the Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival on January 23rd, you can enjoy cherry blossoms until mid-February.


▲Cherry blossoms at Kakinohana Castle Ruins. (Photo／courtesy ofOkinawa Convention & Visitors BureauFacebook)

The Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that the northern Yambaru region of Okinawa’s main island enters cherry blossom season in late January, marking the earliest blooming cherry blossoms in Japan. The variety is the Taiwan cherry (also called the Kawazu-zakura), which has bell-shaped flowers that hang downward, with colors varying from light peach to deep pink depending on the tree.

Cherry blossoms require low temperatures to bloom, so they start in the highland areas of northern Okinawa, then gradually spread southward over about 1 to 2 weeks. Across Okinawa, cherry blossom festivals begin in late January, often accompanied by evening illuminations. Locals enjoy drinking and admiring the flowers under the trees, as well as taking strolls among them.

2016 Okinawa Cherry Blossom Festival Schedule
1/23–2/7 Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival
1/23–2/7 9th Kakinohana Castle Cherry Blossom Festival ～ World Heritage 'Kakinohana Castle Ruins & Illuminated Cherry Blossoms' (Evening illumination requires a fee)
1/30–1/31 Nago Cherry Blossom Festival
2/13–2/14 Uruma City nu-ri River Cherry Blossom Festival
2/13–2/14 Naha Beautiful Cherry Blossom Festival
2/7 Yaese Cherry Blossom Festival