KOCHI, Mar 16, 2026 (News On Japan) - Cherry blossom season has begun, with flowering officially announced in Kochi and Gifu, and past records suggest that even people with hay fever may still be able to enjoy the blossoms at their peak.
Six Somei-Yoshino flowers were confirmed blooming on the morning of March 16th on the sample tree at Kochi Castle in Kochi City, marking a start to the season seven days earlier than in 2025.
Gifu also confirmed its first cherry blossoms during the morning, tying 2023 as the earliest flowering ever observed there.
Later in the afternoon, flowering was also confirmed in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, setting a new record for the earliest bloom on record.
In contrast, the Somei-Yoshino trees at Ueno Park in Tokyo were still in bud, suggesting it will take a little more time before the capital reaches its official opening date.
One woman in her 20s visiting the park said, "The cherry blossoms were not out yet, but it was nice because there were not many people." Others said, "It was a little too early," and "I want to come back again because it felt a bit lonely."
According to Weather Map’s forecast released on March 16th, Tokyo is expected to see its first blossoms on March 18th, with flowering then spreading across much of the country.
The 2026 forecast calls for cherry blossoms to open on March 18th in Tokyo, March 19th in Hiroshima, March 20th in Fukuoka, March 21st in Kumamoto, March 24th in Osaka, and March 29th in Sendai.
For people struggling with pollen allergies, timing may make a difference when heading out for cherry blossom viewing.
Presenter Takahiro Inoue said many viewers are likely concerned about the severity of the pollen season and asked a weather forecaster about the best times to go out for hanami.
The recommended times are from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., when lower temperatures tend to keep pollen dispersal down, and again in the evening after sunset, when the day’s peak has passed and pollen levels are lower. Daytime hours are considered less favorable.
A comparison between the dates of full bloom and the point at which cedar pollen peaks out shows that the two often occur around the same period.
In 2025, cherry blossoms reached full bloom on March 30th, while cedar pollen peaked out on March 28th. In 2024, full bloom came on April 4th and pollen peaked out on March 30th. In 2023, the dates were March 22nd and March 20th. In 2022, full bloom was on March 27th, while pollen did not peak out until April 2nd. In 2021, the dates were March 22nd and March 23rd, and in 2020 they were March 22nd and March 14th.
According to the weather forecaster, cedar pollen tends to be around its peak at the time cherry blossoms reach full bloom, meaning allergy sufferers may still need to choose their timing carefully even during the height of the sakura season.
Source: TBS
