In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms reached full bloom on March 30, but due to swift changes in weather and temperature, they are still holding on a week into April.

We took a day trip to Odawara Castle in coastal Kanagawa Prefecture—just an hour from Tokyo by local train or 33 minutes by shinkansen. We arrived a few days after the cherry blossoms had peaked, but the trees were still beautifully pink and made for a stunning sight. It was a quiet Tuesday, just after the new school year had started in Japan, so the castle grounds felt surprisingly uncrowded. Exploring the Main Keep and the Samurai Museum made the visit all the more memorable!

Over the next few days, the petals will begin to fall—a breathtaking phase of the sakura season when it looks like pink snow is drifting through the air. If you're hoping to catch the last of the blossoms, there are still a couple of days before the trees shift fully to green.

When will the sakura bloom in Tokyo? Cherry blossom season is determined by the bloom of Somei Yoshino cherry trees, the most common variety in Japan. Tokyo's bloom officially begins when five or more blossoms open on the "reference tree" located at Yasukuni Shrine. During our visit at 6:45 in the morning, we saw several buds that might pop open by the afternoon! In fact, the start of the 2025 season was officially announced at 2 PM that day.

If you're in Tokyo this week, don't miss the cherry blossoms along Chidorigafuchi Moat near the Imperial Palace—one of the city's top viewing spots. The Somei Yoshino variety here is especially beautiful in the evening. Learn more about this area here.

Hibiya Park, located about a 10-minute walk southwest of Tokyo Station, opened in 1903 as the country's first Western-style park. In spring, it comes alive with small clusters of gorgeous cherry trees, plus rapeseed flowers, tulips, and nemophila ('baby blue eyes'). Despite its central location, Hibiya Park was not particularly crowded during our visit in the late afternoon, and many folks were relaxing on the park benches while gazing out at the beautiful scenery.

Many areas around the city - including this 'sakura tunnel' between the Bank of Japan and Nihombashi Mitsukoshi - are still in glorious bloom.
But with rain forecast for much of this week, the delicate petals will likely remain for only a few days more in the greater Tokyo area.
Meanwhile, areas in northern Japan will start seeing their own blooms over the next two weeks.

Tokyo's cherry blossoms officially peaked on March 30, a day earlier than average.

One of the most popular spots for cherry blossoms in Japan’s stunning Midwest, Osaka Castle is home to around 3,000 cherry trees spanning several species. When we strolled through the grounds, it felt like everyone visiting the Osaka area had gathered in the park at once!

If you plan to enter the castle or join one of the popular boat tours, be sure to book your tickets in advance.

Between 5:30 and 6 PM, the blossoms are especially breathtaking in the glow of the setting sun. And from 6 PM to 9 PM, a collaboration of light and flowers unique to this location unfolds, as the illuminated castle tower rises beautifully from the sea of cherry blossoms—a must-see.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Osaka reached peak bloom on April 4, 2025—right in line with the annual average. While the blossoms typically last about two weeks, rain is forecast for this coming weekend, which may cause the petals to fall. So if you’re in the Kansai region over the next few days, don’t miss your chance to visit Osaka Castle!

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