When Do Japanese Cherry Blossoms Bloom? A Detailed Guide to the Blooming Period

Japanese cherry blossoms generally refer to Tokyo cherry blossoms (Prunus x yedoensis), a famous early-spring ornamental tree species. When in bloom, the whole tree is magnificent, looking like a stretch of rosy clouds from afar, very beautiful, but the blooming period is very short. So, in which month do Japanese cherry blossoms bloom?

1. In which month do Japanese cherry blossoms bloom?

Japanese cherry blossoms generally bloom in April, but the blooming time varies from place to place. Japan is a long, narrow island nation, and cherry blossoms open in sequence from south to north. The first place to bloom is Okinawa Island in southern Japan, where cherry blossoms open as early as mid-March; the last place to bloom is the Hokkaido region in northern Japan, where cherry blossoms do not open until mid-April to May. For this reason, the Japanese government designated March 15 to April 15 as the Cherry Blossom Festival.

2. Introduction to the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival

The Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival is also called the Cherry Blossom Festival (Sakura Matsuri), held every year from March 15 to April 15. Because cherry blossoms last only seven days from blooming to fading, there is also a saying called "seven days of cherry blossoms." There is a Japanese proverb, "cherry blossoms for seven days," meaning the cherry blossom blooming period is very short. Therefore, Japanese families generally do not plant cherry blossoms, believing it to be unlucky for the prosperity and continuity of the family.

Japanese cherry blossoms bloom in sequence from south to north. The earliest place to view cherry blossoms is Okinawa Island, and the latest is Hokkaido. After the cherry blossoms open, people set out lavish feasts under the cherry trees, either gathering the whole family together or inviting a few close friends, reciting poetry and painting while drinking freely and enjoying themselves to the fullest.