In Japan, the appearance of cherry blossoms, known as sakura, signals the beginning of spring. The arrival of these flowers is an annual event so significant, that there are forecasts pinpointing exactly when and where the flowers are expected to bloom.

From an outsider's perspective, this may seem excessive. However, when taking into account the fact that sakura are only in bloom for a maximum of about two weeks, it's understandable that people would want to find out both the ‘kaika’ (blooming) and ‘mankai’ (full bloom) predictions in order to make the most out of the ‘hanami’ (flower viewing) season.

The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC)'s cherry blossom forecast is based on various factors, such as the low temperatures during autumn and winter, cumulative temperatures, past area data, and cherry tree growth status.

For 2019, Tokyo’s sakura blossoms are expected to start opening around March 22, with peak bloom around March 29.

In the colder areas of Northern Japan, cherry blossom season typically occurs later than the rest of the country. Sakura in Aomori in the Tohoku Region are forecast to open on April 24. The last cherry blossoms opened are expected to be in Hokkaido: Hakodate on May 2, Sapporo on May 8.

Based on information available on the Japan Meteorological Corporation's website.