Kanazawa: Full Bloom

The cherry blossom season is almost over in the main cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. This year's sakura season so far has been on average about a week to ten days earlier compared to the average year. The warm temperatures of the last month caused the cherry blossoms to open and reach their peak earlier.

Today, I headed to Kanazawa where the opening of the first blossoms (kaika) was announced on March 29, 2018. And just four days after kaika, full bloom was reported on April 3, 2018. I am pleased to report that the cherry blossoms are at their peak and will remain at their best viewing through the weekend. Some rain and relatively strong winds are forecast for the next few days which may shorten the best viewing period by a couple of days.

Kenrokuen Garden is one of Japan's top three most beautiful gardens. There are about 420 cherry trees in the garden, and today, I found them to be at full bloom. I expect the best viewing period to continue through the coming weekend. Until April 8, 2018, the garden is free to enter and open from 7:00 to 21:30. The garden is also illuminated from 18:00 to 21:30 during the same period.

Kanazawa Castle was the seat of the second richest clan in Japan, the Maeda Clan. There are about 400 cherry trees on the castle grounds which I found to be at full bloom today and expect the best viewing period to continue through the coming weekend. Until April 8, 2018, the castle grounds can be entered from 7:00 to 21:30 while the storehouse and turrets will be open till 21:00. The castle grounds is also illuminated from 18:00 to 21:30 during the same period.