2023 Cherry Blossom Forecast (Part 2):
The Earliest Bloom in Fukuoka and Kochi on March 14th.
Press Release
On Thursday, March 2nd, 2023, Japan Weather Association (JWA) announced the forecast of the dates when cherry blossoms will bloom at 84 locations throughout Japan.
Blossom Forecast Map
Forecasted Blossom Date (Main Locations)
Forecasted Full Bloom Date (Main Locations)
| [Explanation of Terms] | |
|---|---|
| Normal | The average for 1991–2020 |
| Fairly Early | At least 7 days earlier than normal |
| Early | 3 to 6 days earlier than normal |
| Nearly Normal | Within 2 days of normal |
| Late | 3 to 6 days later than normal |
| Fairly Late | At least 7 days later than normal |
Bloom Trends
From early to mid-March, temperatures are likely to be very higher than average years throughout Japan. This makes the blossom date earlier than normal in many areas. This trend of high temperature is expected to be more pronounced in eastern and northern part of Japan, and some locations in these regions are expected to approach the earliest bloom records.
The blossoms will likely occur in Fukuoka and Kochi on March 14th. The blossoms are expected on 16th in Kumamoto and Miyazaki, 17th in Hiroshima, and 18th in Nagasaki, Saga, and Tokyo. By the end of March, we will see the cherry blossoms in a wide area from Kyushu to Kanto, and Hokuriku, Nagano, and a part of Tohoku area. The cherry blossom front will cross Tsugaru Strait in late April. The blossoms will occur in Hakodate on April 25th, and 26th in Sapporo.
The high temperature trend in March is expected to subside in the second half of the month, but temperatures will remain above normal, so the date of full bloom as well as the date of bloom will be earlier than normal nationwide. In late March, many areas from Kyushu to Kanto and a part of Hokuriku and Tohoku will have full bloom, and Tokyo is expected to be in full bloom on March 25. In some areas of Hokuriku and Tohoku, the cherry trees will be in full bloom about 10 days earlier than normal.
This winter (from December to February), strong cold air flowed in frequently across the country, and the temperature of December was lower than normal years nationwide. Since there were many days of bitter cold throughout the country, the dormancy breaking＊ of cherry blossom buds went smoothly. On the other hand, the high temperature will be expected throughout Japan, which will create conditions for earlier blooming and full bloom.
*Dormancy breaking: a phenomenon in which the dormant flower buds that were formed in the summer of the previous year come out of dormancy in winter when exposed to low temperatures for a certain period of time.
JWA’s Cherry Blossom Forecast
For more detailed information about JWA’s Cherry Blossom Forecast, please find the link below:
https://www.jwa.or.jp/english/service/seasonal-news-cherry-blossom-forecast/
Cherry Blossom Forecast Information in tenki.jp
The forecasted blossom dates for cherry trees in all 84 locations are available on the cherry blossom forecast page (https://tenki.jp/sakura/expectation/) of “tenki.jp,” the weather forecast media operated by JWA (Japanese only).
Originally released in Japanese: 2023/03/02
PDF DOWNLOAD：2023 Cherry Blossom Forecast (Mar 2nd, 2023)
