The Best Time to See the Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossom season is famously short and famously unpredictable. Peak bloom lasts only about a week, and it shifts a little every year depending on the weather.

As a general rule, Tokyo peaks in late March to early April, while Kyoto follows a few days later. Northern regions bloom later still, so if you miss the wave in one city, you can often chase it north.

My advice: build flexibility into your itinerary and plan around the blossoms rather than fixed dates. And wherever you are, take a moment to simply sit beneath the trees. That quiet is the whole point.