Tokyo: Still Closed

Today, I visited Tokyo to check the state of the blossoms. It has been a week since Schauwecker kicked off this year's sakura reporting with two reports in Tokyo on March 18 and in Kyoto on March 20, and reported that the blossoms were still closed. Despite the comparatively warm winter, the temperatures in the last 30 days have been cooler than average, resulting in the slow progress for the cherry blossoms to develop and open. Judging from the state of the blossoms from today's visit to Tokyo and the warm weather forecast from the end of the week, which should accelerate the progress of the blossoms, I expect the opening of the first blossoms in Tokyo to be announced within this week and the best viewing to start in the first week of April.

Elsewhere in Japan, Kochi announced the opening of the first cherry blossoms on March 23, while Miyazaki and Hiroshima reported the opening of their first blossoms on March 25. For those wondering if the sakura season in Tokyo is late this year, it is worth noting that the average opening of the first blossoms in Tokyo is March 24.

I started my day at Yasukuni Shrine, where Tokyo's representative cherry tree is located. The opening of the first blossoms in Tokyo is declared once 5-6 blossoms are open on the representative tree. Today, I found 2-3 blossoms on the brink of opening, but majority of the blossoms were still in their buds. I expect Tokyo's cherry blossom season to be declared open within this week as warmer temperatures are forecast for the later half of this week, and the best viewing should start in the first few days of April.

Rikugien is one of Tokyo's traditional Japanese landscape gardens. Seasonal foliage can be seen at the garden, and in spring, the large weeping cherry tree at the main entrance attracts the most attention. From March 16 to 24 and March 29 to 31, the garden is illuminated in the evening from 18:30 to 21:00 (entry until 20:00). Admission during the illumination time period costs 1100 yen for same-day tickets purchased at the counter or 900 yen if purchased in advance online.

Finally, I made my way to Ueno Park, one of Tokyo's popular cherry blossom viewing spots. Today, I found that virtually all of the mainstream cherry blossoms were still in their buds, while the other early flowering varieties were at various stages of bloom. Until March 31, there is a Sakura Festival held in the large space in Ueno Park from 10:00 to 21:00 (until 19:00 on March 31), not far from the Ueno Zoo entrance. Visitors can expect over 50 food and drink stands as well as stands selling cute souvenirs.