Effective January 1, 2024, Departures® will no longer be available.

Card Members will no longer have access to Departures.com content or receive any print Departures magazines.

From Our Archive
This story was published before Summer 2021, when we launched our new digital experience.

Interactive Map Reveals the Best Time to See Japan’s Cherry Blossoms

The sakura come to life starting late March.

MOST READ TRAVEL

Sublime Stays in Japan's Capital City

Guides

Sublime Stays in Japan's Capital City

Navigating the art of Japanese hospitality among the finest hotels and ryokans in...

A Guide to Copenhagen’s Architecture and Design

Guides

A Guide to Copenhagen’s Architecture and Design

Mette and Rolf Hay, co-founders and creative directors of Danish design brand Hay,...

Exquisite Central Park Views, Museum Getaways, and a Classic London Stay

Stays

Exquisite Central Park Views, Museum Getaways, and a Classic London Stay

Plus, a new Ritz, cool Copenhagen hangouts, and Antwerp opulence.

It might not feel like it, but spring is just around the corner. And for those who love the seasonal blooms, there’s no better place than Japan. More than 60 million people visit the country each year to witness the colorful pink cherry blossoms known as sakura. But it can be challenging to determine the best spots to go for flower viewing—hanami—and when. That is until now.

This year InsideJapan Tours gathered the latest intelligence and created a Japan Blossom Guide that helps travelers navigate this busy season. The interactive map, along with their custom travel itineraries, shares with guests the prime viewing spots away from crowded locations. The tour company suggests spots like Tohoku, Nagano, Niigata, and Toyama that have just as stunning blooms without as many visitors. Plus, you can find sake breweries, onsens, and snow-capped mountains to round out your vacation.

Click here for InsideJapan's interactive cherry blossom map.

In addition to releasing the map, InsideJapan Tours created a 15-day Northern Highlights self-guided itinerary for the ultimate viewing experience. On it, you’ll start in Tokyo before heading to Nikko, Sendai, Kakunodate, Mount Haguro, and Sado Island and ending back in Tokyo.

Along the way, you’ll check out Takada Park in Niigata and Hirosaki Park in Aomori for prime viewing and also see samurai houses, go hiking and spend the night in a traditional temple lodge. Other natural highlights include the stunning Kegon waterfalls, the 1,000-year-old Miharu Takizakura tree, and the sacred Mount Haguro. The operator recommends that travelers visit Takada Park in mid-April, while Hirosaki is better to visit towards the end of the month.

The cherry blossom season starts in late March or early April and continues through late May and attracts more than 60 million visitors each year. InsideJapan's 15-day trip starts at $6,411 per person.

Newsletter

Let’s Keep in Touch

Subscribe to our newsletter

You’re no longer on our newsletter list, but you can resubscribe anytime.