Updated to: 02/17/2022. Cherry blossoms are an event in Japan. There is even a Japanese word to refer to such an event: Hanami , a centuries-old tradition consisting of look at the flowers and welcome spring.
The official data of the Japan Meteorological Agency on the forecast of the cherry blossoms are falling, but in the meantime, here is the report of the forecast company of Osaka Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC).
The JMC forecast allows us to know the dates when the cherry blossoms will begin to bloom (kaika) and also when they will reach their full bloom (mankai) .
To do this, they take references from 1,000 locations in different cities (from Hokkaido to Kagoshima) .
Megruo Canal, Tokyo.
WHEN DOES FLOWERING BEGIN?
According to the latest update of the Japan Meteorological Corporation, dated February 17, 2022, the flowering phenomenon begins around March 19 (Fukuoka) and ends in early May (Hokkaido).
During these days hanami becomes the national pastime and Japanese people gather for picnics under cherry trees and flower-viewing.
In tokyo flowering is expected to start on March 25th and reaches its peak on April 1.
The cherry trees furthest behind will be those of Sapporo (Hokkaido), which will begin to bloom on 28th of April.
March 24 is the scheduled date in Nagoya and March 28 in Kyoto and Osaka. From April 5 to 11 is the expected period for the cherry trees to begin to bloom in Sendai, Kanazawa and Nagano.
Cherry blossom forecast map.
HOW IS FLOWERING MEASURED AND FORECAST?
The flowering meter is a tool that provides a quantitative measure of cherry trees' progress toward blooming and full bloom.
Otenki Navigator is the gauge used by the JMC to forecast cherry blossom dates, based on existing research on forecasting bloom and full bloom dates for cherry trees. Somei Yoshino trees (Yoshino Cherry), the most famous variety.
JMC estimates the flowering and full flowering dates for each area based on the low temperatures during fall and winter , the cherry tree growth stage , the accumulated temperatures and past data for each area.
The flowering meter has three indices corresponding respectively to the three stages of cherry blossom development: awakening level, growth level and full bloom level.
Hanami in Ueno Park, Tokyo.
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO JAPAN DURING TRAINING
The entire process – from birth to flower fall – usually lasts around two weeks.
Despite the fact that inclement weather can never be 100% predicted, looking at data from previous years, the best time to travel to Japan and enjoy hanami is between the end of March and the beginning of April , although in some areas flowering begins earlier and in others it comes later.
Hikone Castle, Shiga Prefecture.
HISTORY OF HANAMI
Hanami is made up of two characters: 'hana' means flower and my' look or see . all together means observe the flowers.
They say that Toyotomi Hideyoshi , a unifier of Japan known for his invasions of Korea and for his interest in culture, held a hanami for his followers at the end of the 16th century, at the Daigojo Temple in Kyoto, and by the 17th century, this practice was generalized among the population.
The great Japanese festival dedicated to the cherry blossom has been celebrated for hundreds of years. sakura is the word used to designate cherry blossoms. Today, friends and family gather during hanami to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Hanami Festival in Maruyama Park, Kyoto.
HOW TO CELEBRATE HANAMI LIKE A TRUE JAPANESE
In Japan, no one misses an event like hanami. Get ready to spend hours and hours under the cherry trees admiring the beauty of the small red and white flowers. And remember that what prevails here above all else is nature and respect for these beautiful trees.
Don't let so much contemplation overwhelm you, because all evenings are enlivened with music, talks and tablecloths with hundreds of delicacies.
The obento It is the lunch box that the Japanese carry under their arms full of delicious products to taste under the cherry trees.
Let's not forget the attire either: the traditional kimono or yukata to celebrate your picnic under the pink blanket.
If you want to celebrate hanami like a true Japanese, don't forget your kimono and make a reservation at the picnic area.
WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR PICNIC BASKET?
Japanese stores have been preparing for hanami for weeks and there is no shortage of seasonal products such as: onigiri , or stuffed rice balls , red beans and sakuramochi , a variety of wagashi made from sweet pink mochi and red bean paste topped with a sakura leaf.
For the laziest, there are prepared picnic boxes with products designed especially for the occasion.
Don't forget to book your picnic area in advance!
Picnic with typical products prepared for the occasion
WHERE TO ENJOY THE HANAMI?
sakura kai , the Japan Cherry Blossom Association has compiled a list of the 100 best places to celebrate hanami in Japan.
Among these sites are: Mount Yoshino , in Nara prefecture, encompassing more than 30,000 cherry trees of 200 varieties.
We must also highlight the Takato Old Castle Park (Nagano) with more than 1,500 cherry trees; the Hirosaki Castle Park ( Aomori), with more than 2,500 cherry trees, Shinjuku Gyoen Park (Tokyo), Hamarikyu Japanese Garden (Tokyo) , Ueno Park (Tokyo), the course of the Meguro River (Tokyo), Shi-Tennoji Temple (Osaka) and the Garden of the Coin Museum (Osaka).
Mount Yoshino, with the cherry trees (skura) in full bloom