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When Is Cherry Blossom Season in Japan, and When Should I Book?

Travel Booking and Deals Editor, ShopBack12 October 2026

Cherry blossom season in Japan runs from mid March in the south to early May in Hokkaido, and Tokyo's average full bloom is 31 March. Here is what the 2026 season looked like, when Australians should book flights and hotels for 2027, and how to pay less with Trip.com, Agoda and Klook through ShopBack.

Cherry blossom season in Japan usually runs from mid March in the south to early May in Hokkaido, and for Australians the classic window is late March to early April. Japan Meteorological Agency averages put Tokyo's full bloom on 31 March and Kyoto's on 4 April. In 2026, Tokyo hit full bloom on 28 March. Book flights and free cancellation hotel rooms by the end of the previous year, then fine-tune when forecasts appear.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you Cashback when you book or shop online at stores such as Trip.com, Agoda and Klook. Open ShopBack, tap the store, then book as usual. Join ShopBack Australia for free.

When is cherry blossom season in Japan?

Cherry blossom season moves north through Japan over about seven weeks, from mid March in Kyushu and Shikoku to early May in Hokkaido. JNTO, Japan's national tourism organisation, says the season begins on Kyushu in March and the "sakura front" then moves north.

These are the Japan Meteorological Agency averages (its "normal" dates) for the cities Australians visit most:

City	Average first bloom	Average full bloom
Fukuoka	22 March	31 March
Tokyo	24 March	31 March
Nagoya	24 March	2 April
Hiroshima	25 March	3 April
Kyoto	26 March	4 April
Osaka	27 March	4 April
Sendai	8 April	13 April
Sapporo	1 May	6 May

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency, first bloom and full bloom records, at the time of writing.

First bloom vs full bloom. First bloom is the day the agency's sample tree opens its first few flowers. Full bloom is when most of the flowers are open, usually around a week later in Tokyo and Kyoto. For photos and hanami picnics, aim for the days around full bloom.

Cherry blossom season in Japan in 2026: how it played out

The 2026 season ran a few days early in Tokyo and Kyoto. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, these were the 2026 dates:

City	2026 first bloom	2026 full bloom	Average full bloom
Tokyo	19 March	28 March	31 March
Kyoto	23 March	30 March	4 April
Osaka	26 March	3 April	4 April
Nagoya	17 March	30 March	2 April
Fukuoka	24 March	3 April	31 March
Sapporo	18 April	24 April	6 May

JNTO's 2026 forecast, based on Japan Weather Association data, flagged Tokyo as "Early" and Sapporo as "Very Early", which matched what happened.

Why this matters for your next trip. One early or late year tells you little about the next one. The safest plan is to book around the averages and stay flexible by a few days either side.

How much the dates move from year to year

Bloom dates can shift by up to two weeks between years, which is the single biggest reason to book flexibly. Japan Meteorological Agency records for 2021 to 2026 show:

Tokyo full bloom fell between 22 March (2021 and 2023) and 4 April (2024).
Kyoto full bloom fell between 24 March (2023) and 5 April (2024 and 2025).
Osaka full bloom fell between 27 March (2023) and 6 April (2024).

So a trip timed for one exact date is a gamble. A trip of 10 days or more that covers late March and early April, and moves between Tokyo and the Kyoto and Osaka area, gives you two chances to catch full bloom.

When should I book flights and hotels for cherry blossom season?

Book flights and hotels for late March and early April as early as you can, ideally by the end of the previous year, and choose rates you can cancel for free. Cherry blossom season is usually a busy time for travel in Japan, so the rooms that are good value and well located usually go first.

A simple timeline for a 2027 trip from Australia:

Now to December 2026: book flights and refundable rooms. Pick travel dates around the averages, for example arriving in Tokyo around 24 March and finishing in Kyoto or Osaka around 5 April. Choose free cancellation rates so you can change cities later.
January to February 2027: watch for forecasts. Japanese weather services usually publish bloom forecasts in the first months of the year, and JNTO posts its spring forecast page.
March 2027: fine-tune. The Japan Meteorological Agency updates bloom status daily from December to June. If Tokyo is running early, spend your first days there; if late, start in Kyoto or Osaka.
A few weeks out: book activities. Tours, garden entry tickets and day trips are easier to time once the forecasts settle.

Australian dates to keep in mind. Easter falls on Sunday 28 March 2027, right in the peak window, so expect more Australian travellers if your dates overlap the Easter long weekend or school holidays in your state.

Avoid Golden Week if you are going late. Japan's Golden Week holidays run from late April into early May, including Showa Day on 29 April and Children's Day on 5 May. That is peak domestic travel time in Japan, which overlaps with the late bloom in the north.

Cherry blossom season Japan deals for Australians in 2026 and 2027

The best deals for a sakura trip usually come from booking early, being flexible on where you stay, and paying less after you book. Here is what tends to help.

Book refundable early, rebook if prices drop. A free cancellation room booked early protects you if prices rise, and you can rebook if you find something better. Cashback is based on what you keep: if you return or cancel part of an order, the Cashback adjusts to match. Open the store from ShopBack again for the new booking.
Stay one or two train stops out. Rooms near famous viewing spots fill first. A neighbourhood with a short train ride in is often better value.
Fly mid-week where you can. Mid-week departures are often cheaper than Friday and Sunday flights. Compare fares across a few dates before you book.
Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack. Open the store from ShopBack before you pay, so part of the cost comes back.

For a wider look at Japan trips, see our guide to the best Japan holiday packages from Australia.

Trip.com vs Agoda for cherry blossom season hotels in Japan

Neither site is always cheaper for Japan hotels in sakura season, so compare the same hotel, room and dates on both. Trip.com and Agoda both list a wide range of Japanese hotels, from business hotels near stations to ryokan, and prices for the same room often differ by date and by cancellation terms.

How to compare fairly:

Same hotel, same room type, same dates. A "double room" and a "double room with breakfast" are not the same price.
Compare the total. Check the final amount including taxes and fees, not just the nightly headline.
Compare cancellation terms. In sakura season, a free cancellation rate that costs a little more is often worth it, because your dates may change with the forecast.
Open the winner from ShopBack. Start from the ShopBack Trip.com page or the ShopBack Agoda page and book in that same visit.

Booking.com and Expedia also list Japanese hotels and are on ShopBack Australia, so add them to your comparison if you have a favourite.

Trip.com, Agoda and Klook for a cherry blossom trip

Each of the three covers a different part of a sakura trip, so most Australians use more than one. Here is how they fit together.

Store	What it covers for a Japan sakura trip
Trip.com	Flights, hotels, car hire, airport transfers, attraction tickets
Agoda	Hotels and other places to stay
Klook	Tours, attraction tickets and day trips

Each store's page on ShopBack shows which purchases earn Cashback and the live rate.

For tours, see our guide to the best way to book Japan tours from Australia, and for Osaka, cheaper Universal Studios Japan tickets.

How ShopBack lowers what you pay for a Japan trip

ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay. You open Trip.com, Agoda, Klook or another travel store from ShopBack Australia, book as usual, and part of what you paid comes back to your ShopBack account.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

How it works for each booking:

Open the store from its ShopBack page and finish the order in the same visit. On your phone, open the store from the ShopBack app and finish the order there.
Go through ShopBack before you pay and the Cashback tracks to your ShopBack account.
Cashback shows as pending in your ShopBack account soon after you pay, and confirms after your trip.
The store's page on ShopBack shows which purchases earn Cashback and the live rate.

No code needed: go through ShopBack before you pay and part of what you spend comes back as Cashback. On Trip.com there is no code to find: go through ShopBack before you book, and part of what you pay comes back as Cashback.

Card rewards and ShopBack

You can usually earn your card's points and Cashback on the same purchase, because they come from different places. Check foreign transaction fees with your card issuer if you pay in yen.

Frequently asked questions

When is cherry blossom season in Japan?

Cherry blossom season in Japan usually runs from mid to late March in the south to early May in Hokkaido. Japan Meteorological Agency averages put first bloom in Tokyo on 24 March and full bloom on 31 March, Kyoto full bloom on 4 April, Osaka on 4 April and Sapporo on 6 May.

When should I book flights and hotels for cherry blossom season from Australia?

Book as early as you can, ideally by the end of the previous year, and choose free cancellation hotel rates where you can. Bloom dates move by up to two weeks from year to year, so lock in a refundable room for the late March to early April window, then fine-tune once the Japanese forecasts come out early in the year.

When did the cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo in 2026?

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Tokyo's cherry blossoms first bloomed on 19 March 2026 and reached full bloom on 28 March 2026, a few days earlier than the averages of 24 March and 31 March. Kyoto reached full bloom on 30 March 2026 and Osaka on 3 April 2026.

How much do cherry blossom dates change from year to year?

Quite a lot. Japan Meteorological Agency records show Tokyo's full bloom fell between 22 March and 4 April across 2021 to 2026, and Kyoto's between 24 March and 5 April. That is why a trip of a week or more across late March and early April is the safest bet.

Where can I see cherry blossoms in Japan in April and May?

Head north. According to Japan Meteorological Agency averages, Sendai reaches full bloom around 13 April and Sapporo around 6 May. JNTO lists late-blooming spots such as Aomori, Nikko and Matsumae Park in Hokkaido for later spring trips.

When does the cherry blossom forecast come out?

JNTO publishes a cherry blossom forecast each spring using Japan Weather Association data, and the Japan Meteorological Agency updates its daily bloom status from December to June. Use them to fine-tune city order and day trips once your flights and refundable rooms are booked.

Is Trip.com or Agoda cheaper for Japan hotels in cherry blossom season?

Neither is always cheaper. Both list a wide range of Japanese hotels, and prices for the same room can differ by date and by cancellation terms. Search the same hotel, room type and dates on both, compare the total with taxes and fees, and open the one you choose from ShopBack before you book.

How do I save on a cherry blossom trip to Japan?

Book flights and refundable rooms early, stay in a less central neighbourhood with a short train ride, and avoid stacking your trip on Japan's Golden Week holidays from late April. Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack, which lowers the effective price after you pay.

Can I use a promo code on Trip.com and still go through ShopBack?

On Trip.com there is no code to find: go through ShopBack before you book, and part of what you pay comes back as Cashback. Open Trip.com from its ShopBack page and finish the booking in the same visit.

Can I book a flight and hotel package through ShopBack?

The Trip.com page on ShopBack shows which purchases earn Cashback and the live rate, and the Agoda page on ShopBack does the same for Agoda. Open the store from its ShopBack page and finish the booking in the same visit.

Key takeaways

Cherry blossom season in Japan runs from mid March in the south to early May in Hokkaido.
Tokyo's average full bloom is 31 March and Kyoto's 4 April, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, but dates move by up to two weeks between years.
Book flights and free cancellation rooms early, ideally by the end of the previous year, and fine-tune with the spring forecasts.
Compare Trip.com and Agoda on the same hotel, room and dates, and book flights and hotels as separate orders.
Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack, starting from the ShopBack Trip.com page.

Disclaimer

Cherry blossom dates are from the Japan Meteorological Agency and JNTO at the time of writing; future bloom dates depend on the weather and forecasts change. Hotel and flight prices, availability and cancellation terms are set by each travel company. Credit card rewards and fees are set by your card issuer. Cashback rates on ShopBack vary by store and booking type; the live rate and terms are shown on each store's ShopBack page. This article is general information only and is not travel or financial advice.