It is a unique moment in Japan, followed each year by several hundred thousand Japanese and tourists.
The flowering of the cherry trees, called
hanami,
is a real spectacle in itself, as the observation of the
sakura
in bloom constitutes a unique, because ephemeral, moment.
Indeed, although the flowers generally appear in April, they have all fallen by the end of May.
For the most curious, you should not miss the start of this phenomenon, closely followed by the Japan Meteorological Corporation, the country's meteorological agency.
If at the beginning of January, she had given her first estimates, these became clearer in the preceding days.
From March 22 in Tokyo
According to a press release issued on January 25, flowering is expected to begin on March 20 in Nagoya, March 22 in Tokyo and March 25 in Osaka.
It will be later for the north of the archipelago, since the phenomenon should occur at the end of April.
In the Japanese capital, “
Full Bloom
”, the peak of flowering, should take place on March 29, two days earlier than the previous year.
In Kyoto, the first flowers are expected on March 23, three days earlier than in 2023, and are expected to reach peak bloom eight days later.
The map of cherry blossoms according to regions in Japan.
Japan Meteorological Corporation
Also read Do you want to see the cherry trees in Japan?
We (finally) know when flowering begins in 2024
An early season, which is not unrelated to global warming.
Already last year, observers were worried about too premature flowering.
The same is true for this 2024 vintage. The very mild autumn of 2023 could have reversed the process, but the high temperatures expected in February and March should on the contrary accelerate it.
The calendar, once again turned upside down, should not be without impact on Japanese society, but also on tourism.
The high tourist season, which usually began at the beginning of April, should be brought forward to the end of March.
Faced with unpredictable nature, there remains an essential tool: Sakura Navi, an application made available by the Japan Meteorological Corporation.
It allows you to precisely follow the flowering of cherry trees.
To avoid losing a crumb (or rather a petal).
In video -
In 2023, cherry trees will bloom very early in Tokyo