Delicate Spring Messengers: Cherry Blossom Season Officially Begins in Tokyo - Tokyo's cherry blossoms bloom early for fifth time in years
Tokyo's cherry blossom season has begun earlier than usual this year. The city officially declared the start after Yoshino cherry trees at Yasukuni Shrine produced at least five open flowers. This marks the fifth time in recent years that the blooms have arrived ahead of the long-term average.
The first buds opened on 14 March in 2020, 2021, and again in 2023—setting records for the earliest starts in decades. This year, the season arrived five days sooner than the typical date of 24 March. Warm weather since mid-February had already prompted forecasts of an early bloom.
In 2021, the blossoms appeared on 22 March, breaking a 20-year streak of later starts. Now, with the trees in full bloom, residents are preparing for hanami, the traditional picnics held under the cherry blossoms. Parks across Tokyo will soon fill with visitors enjoying the fleeting spectacle.
The early arrival of the blossoms follows a pattern of shifting seasonal timings in recent years. City officials and meteorologists have noted the trend, linking it to rising temperatures. Locals and tourists alike will now gather beneath the pink canopies for the annual celebrations.
