Japan’s 2025 sakura wave typically starts in Okinawa/Miyako and moves north through Kyushu toward Tokyo—each peak lasts about two weeks after first bloom.

How to track it

Follow the annual “sakura front” forecasts from Japanese weather outlets between February and May.

Classic viewing picks

  • Southern openers (Okinawa islands)
  • Kyushu cities (e.g. Fukuoka / Nagasaki area parks)
  • Tokyo riverside and park classics once the front arrives

Book lodging early for peak weekends; pack layers for chilly blossom evenings.