Now that we're at the end of February, this year’s cherry blossom season is about a month away. And it's approaching fast: the Japan Meteorological Corporation recently released its fifth 2025 sakura forecast update, giving us a good picture of when to schedule cherry blossom outings this year.
According to this updated forecast from February 20, it seems that in most places across Japan, the cherry blossoms will bloom generally around the same time as they have in the past few years, with fluctuations only by a couple of days. Although it’s only February, the weather could still have a massive impact on when this year’s blossoms open up. Take last year for example, when cooler temperatures in early spring eventually resulted in the flowers blooming a few weeks later than usual.
So far for Tokyo, the cherry blossoms are predicted to start flowering on March 25 and will potentially reach full bloom by April 2.
In Kyoto, the blossoms are expected to open up on March 30 with full bloom by April 8. Nearby, Osaka is also looking at March 30 for its initial flowering date and full bloom arriving by April 7.
Taking a look further north, Sapporo will be the last to see the cherry blossoms open up, with the expected flowering date on April 28 and full bloom by May 2.
We'll continue to keep you posted as the forecast changes. The next update from the JMC is scheduled for February 27. In the meantime, you can now see beautiful winter cherry blossoms in Tokyo and around Japan.
This article was published on January 17 2025 and updated on February 21 2025.
More from Time Out Tokyo
Tokyo is ranked as one of the world’s best cities for 2025
teamLab Planets has expanded with new artworks
Enjoy hi-fi tunes on the streets of Tokyo at the city’s first mobile listening bar
These are the 11 award-winning travel experiences in Japan for 2025
Le Pristine Tokyo at Hotel Toranomon Hills now offers weekend brunch
Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.