Cherry Blossom and Full Bloom Forecast for 2025 (Part 4)
News of flowers blooming from Kyushu to Kanto
Beware: cold temperatures return with the peak of blossoming at the end of March
Press Release
Japan Weather Association (JWA) released its part 4 forecast for cherry blossoms and full bloom across 84 locations throughout Japan on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025.
◆Key points for the 2025 cherry blossom forecast (4th edition)
- Cherry blossoms are expected to bloom across a wider area from Kyushu to Hokuriku and southern Tohoku by the end of March.
- Full bloom is expected to be roughly around the yearly average in western Japan, and earlier than average for many places in eastern and northern Japan.
- Many areas from Kyushu to southern Tohoku are expected to reach full bloom in early April.
*The information includes both sample trees from Japan Meteorological Agency’s Local Meteorological Observatories (LMOs), and from independent observation locations of JWA.
The next cherry blossom forecast (5th) is scheduled for April 2nd, 2025.
In case of any extraordinary developments or updates to the forecast between March 27th and April 1st of March, an updated forecast will be published on JWA’s weather forecasting media 【tenki.jp】, on their cherry blossom forecasting page.
For the most recent updates and information on the 2025 cherry blossom please visit the 【tenki.jp】 The Cherry Blossom and Full Bloom Forecast page: https://tenki.jp/sakura/expectation/ (Japanese only)
Cherry Blossom Forecast Map
2025 Blossoming Trend
For 2025, cherry blossoms are expected to bloom roughly in line with the annual average in western Japan, while eastern Japan will bloom close to average or earlier compared to normal years. For the northern part of Japan, the cherry blossom is expected to bloom earlier than average, with some areas experiencing a significant early blooming this year.
This season, we were notified that JWA’s own sample tree in Sukumo was the first to bloom on March 22nd, followed by the first officially recorded blooming on 23rd from the LMO’s sample trees in Kochi and Kumamoto.
Along with the warm weather these recent days, the cherry trees have begun to bloom from Kyushu to Kanto, with Tokyo and Kagoshima blooming on the 24th, Fukuoka and Matsuyama on the 25th, and Shimonoseki, Wakayama and Nagoya on the 26th of March. By the end of the month, cherry blossoms are expected to bloom over the wider area from Kyushu to Hokuriku, and the southern part of Tohoku, and in early April, many areas in Nagano and Niigata will follow. By mid-April, cherry blossoms are expected to bloom in northern Tohoku and parts of Hokkaido, and the cherry blossom front is expected to cross Hokkaido gradually through mid-May.
2025 Full Bloom Trend
The 2025 Full Bloom is expected to start roughly around the yearly average in western Japan, while many parts in eastern and northern Japan are anticipated to experience an earlier bloom than usual. On March 26th, we were notified that JWA’s tree in Uwajima is in full bloom, making it the first sample tree to reach Full Bloom in 2025. Then among the LMO’s sample trees, Tokyo and Kochi are predicted to reach full bloom on March 29th.
The blossoms are expected to be at their fullest for Kyushu, Shikoku and parts of Kanto by the end of March. Then across the wider areas from Kyushu to southern Tohoku, Full Bloom is expected to arrive in early April. The Full Bloom is expected to reach northern Tohoku from mid- to late April, and many places in Hokkaido will be able to enjoy the Full Bloom around the Golden Week holidays in the beginning of May.
On the last weekend of March, cold temperatures will return in western and eastern Japan, so remember to dress warmly while enjoying this year’s hanami.
*Hanami comes from the words “flower” and “view”, and is a word describing the act of enjoying the cherry blossoms, often during a picnic.
The Appearance of Cherry Blossom Buds
Cherry Blossom Forecast Information
For more detailed information about JWA’s Cherry Blossom Forecast, please visit the link below.
https://www.jwa.or.jp/english/service/seasonal-news-cherry-blossom-forecast/
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan
For more detailed information on the cherry blossom forecast vocabulary and development, please visit the link below.
https://tenki.jp/sakura/english/160.html
[Description of words]
Normal: Average of 1991-2020
Much earlier: 7 or more days earlier than normal
Earlier: 3 to 6 days earlier than normal
Near normal: 1 or 2 days earlier or later than normal
Later: 3 to 6 days later than normal
Much later: 7 or more days later than normal
References Material
Frequently asked questions regarding cherry blossom forecast
Q1: What is the 2025 schedule for the cherry blossom forecasts releases?
A1: Here are the scheduled releases:
Q2: What are the criteria for the flowering and full bloom dates?
A2: The criteria are the same as those used by Japan Meteorological Agency. The flowering period starts the first day when 5 to 6 or more flowers have started to bloom on the designated observation tree (i.e. sample trees), and the full bloom date is the first day when more than 80% of the buds have opened on the sample trees.
Q3: How many locations are expected?
A3: We announce forecasts for 84 locations nationwide. The forecast locations consist of 53 sample trees observed by each Local Meteorological Observatory and 31 locations where observation data are obtained from cooperating agencies such as municipalities/local governments and parks.
Q4: What are the methods and characteristics of the Japan Weather Association’s cherry blossom forecast?
A 4: We use our proprietary forecasting model that focuses on the temperature trends from autumn onwards, which significantly influence the growth process of the cherry blossom buds. Our forecasts are based on accurate observation data from sample trees at the Local Meteorological Observatories and cooperating agencies, emphasizing meteorological principles. Japan Meteorological Association has been conducting cherry blossom forecasts since 2007, making this year the 19th year of our endeavour.
Q5: What data are utilised for forecasting cherry blossoms?
A5: The following data are used.
1. Temperature observation data from the previous autumn to the forecast date
2. Temperature forecast data from the forecast date to the blooming period (from Japan Weather Association’s point forecasts and long-term forecasts).
The temperature from the previous autumn to spring significantly influences the cherry blossoming period. Cherry buds form during the previous summer and then enter dormancy. Exposure to a certain period of low temperatures during winter breaks this dormancy, and the buds grow and bloom with rising temperatures. It is believed that higher temperatures promote faster bud growth and earlier blooming.
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