Tokyo: Full Bloom

In a short three days since the last time Matt visited Tokyo on April 1, when there were scant open blossoms, full bloom was declared in Tokyo yesterday on April 4. Today, I visited three popular cherry blossom spots in the city to see how the blossoms were faring. It was a cold and drizzly day in Tokyo, but this light rain will not impact the longevity of the blossoms. I found that all of the three spots I visited were in their best viewing period already. I expect the best viewing period in Tokyo to continue for another week or so before the petals start falling. Light rain is forecast over the next three days, however, I do not expect any major damage or shortening of the best viewing period as blossoms are typically resilient to slight wind and rain in the first few days after opening. That said, heavy rain is forecast for next Tuesday, and that may cause some petals to fall prematurely.

As the cities in Kyushu, Shikoku and western Japan start to reach full bloom, the frontline is moving towards regions in higher elevations in central Japan as well as northwards to the Tohoku Region. Matsuyama, where I was on April 2, Kyoto, where I was last on April 3, and Hiroshima, where Schauwecker was on March 27, have officially announced that their cherry blossoms are at full bloom.

I started my day at Ueno Park where it was cold and drizzly. I found the cherry trees to already be quite attractive and almost reaching full bloom. The cherry trees at the Shinobazu Pond area had also exploded open blossoms, with more on the way in the coming days. I expect the best viewing period at Ueno Park to continue for about another week or so, though there is a chance that the forecast rain early next week may cause some petals to fall prematurely.

Until April 7, there is a sakura festival at the large open space by the fountain in Ueno Park. Festival food and drink stalls are open from 10:00 to 21:00 (until 19:00 on April 7), and live events are also held during the festival. Over at the Shinobazu Pond area, food and drink stands will remain open until April 7, and the cherry trees in the area are illuminated from 17:00 to 22:00 until April 14.

From Ueno, I headed west to the Sumida Park in Asakusa, another popular cherry blossom spot in Tokyo. I observed the cherry trees here to be at around a similar state of bloom to Ueno Park - they are already attractive but not quite yet at full bloom. I expect the best viewing period at Sumida Park to continue for another week or so, though the forecast rain early next week may cause some petals to fall prematurely.

Until April 7, there is a cherry blossom festival at Sumida Park, during which time the trees are illuminated in the evenings.

My last spot in Tokyo was a section of the Meguro River in Nakameguro, which is known for its cherry trees that flank the river. I observed the cherry blossoms at Nakameguro to be at full bloom, and thought that they looked the fluffiest and the best out of all the spots I visited today. The branches of the cherry trees used to hang over the canal, in which the river flows, but many of the overhanging branches have been cut - probably due to age and safety concerns. I expect the cherry blossoms to remain at their best for another week, although the forecast rain on Tuesday might take the petals down prematurely.