YAMANASHI - Reports of cherry blossoms blooming continued to arrive from across Japan on March 24th, with Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture declaring the nation’s earliest full bloom, marking the long-awaited start of the spring viewing season.
In Tokyo, nearly one week after the official announcement of Somei Yoshino blossoms opening on March 19th, attention has turned to when the capital will reach full bloom.
At Dogo Park in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, at 10 a.m. on March 24th, officials from the local meteorological observatory checked the number of blossoms on a standard sample tree, confirming that seven flowers had opened, officially marking the start of the cherry blossom season in the city. According to investigator Tetsu Sakamoto of the Matsuyama Local Meteorological Observatory: "Seven blossoms have been confirmed. We have observed the opening of cherry blossoms in Matsuyama on March 24th."
The timing was in line with the annual average and one day earlier than in 2025, with full bloom expected in about a week, signaling the beginning of hanami season across Japan.
Cherry blossoms also opened in Miyazaki City on March 24th, one day later than average but matching the timing in 2025, while Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture also reported its first blooms.
Meanwhile, the season of farewells has also arrived, as seven students graduated from an elementary school in Saganoseki, Oita City, which had been affected by a large-scale fire in 2025.
In central Tokyo, signs of spring are becoming more apparent. Along the Meguro River, one of the capital’s most famous cherry blossom spots, Somei Yoshino trees have begun to bloom. While only two to three blossoms per branch were visible when Tokyo’s flowering was announced on March 19th, by March 24th the trees appeared noticeably more in bloom.
With daytime temperatures in central Tokyo reaching 18.1 degrees Celsius on March 24th, the pace of blooming accelerated rapidly. Visitors strolling along the river expressed their excitement, with one noting that although the trees were not yet in full bloom, the blossoms brought a sense of spring, adding that Nakameguro is synonymous with cherry blossoms.
At the same time, new safety measures have been introduced. Pink banners reading "No Stopping" were displayed on bridges over the Meguro River, along with notices encouraging one-way pedestrian flow. In previous years, large numbers of visitors stopping on bridges to take photos caused congestion and safety concerns.
As a result, authorities and local groups have begun urging visitors not to stop on certain bridges through banners and signage. Tatsuaki Motohashi, chairman of the Nakameguro Station Front Shopping District, said: "Tens of thousands of people gather here, which makes it extremely dangerous given the narrow streets. For safety, we must enforce one-way traffic. This year, we’ve made the warnings more visible. Vehicles cannot pass through these narrow areas, and disputes are inevitable, so we are doing everything possible to ensure safety."
Some visitors expressed mixed feelings about the restrictions, with comments such as: "It’s a bit disappointing since it wasn’t like this before. It’s sad that we can’t take photos from there anymore," while others acknowledged the necessity, saying, "I think it can’t be helped for safety reasons."
At Ueno Park, another of Tokyo’s most popular cherry blossom viewing spots, the warm weather on March 24th led to significant blooming, with many visitors gathering around trees in fuller bloom to take photos. The park, already about halfway to full bloom, is nearing its peak.
However, noticeable differences in blooming were observed even among trees of the same variety. Some appeared more than 60 percent in bloom, while nearby trees remained dominated by buds.
Tree doctor Hiroyuki Wada explained that differences in sunlight exposure are a key factor, noting that trees on the east side, which receive more sunlight, tend to bloom earlier, while those on the west side, often shaded by surrounding forests, lag behind due to lower temperatures.
Variations can also be seen within individual trees. Wada added: "The lower parts of the tree tend to bloom more, while the upper sections still have many buds. This is because radiant heat from the ground warms the lower areas, while the upper parts are more exposed to wind, which lowers temperatures and delays blooming."
Weather conditions from March 25th onward may also play a role. Rain is forecast in central Tokyo on March 25th and 26th, with temperatures expected to remain relatively low, followed by more rain on March 28th.
According to Wada, rain before full bloom is unlikely to cause petals to fall, meaning the blossoms should not be significantly affected at this stage. However, after reaching full bloom, rain can cause the flowers to scatter more easily.
Across Japan, cherry blossom spots are progressing toward peak viewing. Kofu City in Yamanashi Prefecture declared full bloom on March 24th, the earliest in the country.
Along the Meguro River in Nakameguro, blossoms were about 30 percent open as of March 24th, with full bloom expected after March 28th. Ueno Park, already around 50 percent in bloom, is forecast to reach its peak on March 26th.
Following Ueno, peak viewing is expected to spread to Showa Memorial Park and Asukayama Park in Tokyo’s Kita Ward around March 28th to 29th, and to Shinjuku Gyoen and Sumida Park around March 29th, suggesting a wave of full bloom across Tokyo heading into the weekend.
Source: FNN
