Chasing Cherry Blossoms
Mar 29, 2006 | 3:46 pm
#1
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Chasing Cherry Blossoms
I am pretty sure we will miss the cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto (arriving Tokyo April 12). But they will probably be in bloom somewhere in Japan. One place I was looking at was Mt. Yoshino - which is a not too far train trip from Osaka or Kyoto. The only cherry blossom "time maps" I can find on the internet are in Japanese - and neither my husband nor I can read Kanji. Do any of you have access to a newspaper or similar which has the predicted blossom time for Mt. Yoshino? Any other suggestions for chasing cherry blossoms from Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto on a day trip (guess we should probably be looking for cooler, mountainous areas)? Robyn
Mar 29, 2006 | 5:04 pm
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Originally Posted by robyng
I am pretty sure we will miss the cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto (arriving Tokyo April 12). But they will probably be in bloom somewhere in Japan. One place I was looking at was Mt. Yoshino - which is a not too far train trip from Osaka or Kyoto. The only cherry blossom "time maps" I can find on the internet are in Japanese - and neither my husband nor I can read Kanji. Do any of you have access to a newspaper or similar which has the predicted blossom time for Mt. Yoshino? Any other suggestions for chasing cherry blossoms from Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto on a day trip (guess we should probably be looking for cooler, mountainous areas)? Robyn
JR
Mar 29, 2006 | 6:32 pm
#3
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Correction to my last. It is now snowing in Nagoya, at 10:30 am. You'll have to excuse me now as I have to leave for the airport <sigh>.
This might be an interesting day.
JR
This might be an interesting day.
JR
Mar 29, 2006 | 8:37 pm
#4
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Beautiful and sunny here in Fukuoka.......great day to open the window and let the warm spring breeze in......tonight I will go and see the blossoms around Kumamoto Castle and drink a few for you.......have a good flight!
Mar 30, 2006 | 12:33 am
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Originally Posted by abmj-jr
I don't know, the 12th might not be too bad for inland areas. I am sitting, looking out my hotel window in Nagoya at cloudy, foggy, cold conditions and the sakura have not come fully out yet. As I indicated in another post, they are just starting to peek out here, they were several days away in Himeji and still not even close in Okayama and Kurashiki this week. I'm thinking a week from now would be close to perfect and if it stays cool and not too windy or rainy, the 12th will still be very showy around here.
JR
JR
Oh man... I'll be there in Tokyo Saturday. Hope I'll get to see something. Thanks for the update.
Mar 30, 2006 | 6:51 am
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Don't worry, bobes, from all I can tell from various reports you've got the timing perfect for Tokyo--this weekend should be the peak, although it sounds like some places the blossoms are starting to fall a little bit. I'm hoping the winds stay down.
And robyng, the sites I see say the cherries in Kyoto and Osaka haven't started blooming yet, so you may be OK. Someone more familiar with Osaka may know better than me, but I think that the cherry trees near the old Mint are yaezakura, a later blooming (and I think prettier) species.
And robyng, the sites I see say the cherries in Kyoto and Osaka haven't started blooming yet, so you may be OK. Someone more familiar with Osaka may know better than me, but I think that the cherry trees near the old Mint are yaezakura, a later blooming (and I think prettier) species.
Mar 30, 2006 | 10:02 am
#9
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Originally Posted by Pointeater
Is May too late?
JR
Mar 30, 2006 | 10:07 am
#10
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Originally Posted by Q Shoe Guy
Beautiful and sunny here in Fukuoka.......great day to open the window and let the warm spring breeze in......tonight I will go and see the blossoms around Kumamoto Castle and drink a few for you.......have a good flight!
I'm back in San Francisco now, waiting in the RCC for my connecting flight. I've decided that NGO is my new favorite international airport. After I get some sleep and back to what I laughingly think of as normal, I'll probably write up a short report to post.
JR
Mar 30, 2006 | 10:18 am
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Originally Posted by abmj-jr
Unless you are going to northern Japan, like the northern part of Honshu or Hokkaido or the higher elevations, then yes. The cherry blossom season is very short - typically a couple of weeks or less. For Tokyo, mid-April is almost always the last of it. As Calcifer indicated, there are later blooming varieties, but even those will probably not last into May.
JR
JR
If you check out the other thread on this topic, you will find some links posted by DoubleJ and Calcifer, which provide maps of when the cherry blossoms can be seen in various parts of Japan:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...07#post5512907
Probably (nothing can be guaranteed) -
Aomori (the Northern tip of Honshu) might be in full bloom in the first couple of days of May.
Hakodate (Southern Hokkaido) in earlyish May
Sapporo (further North in Hokkaido) mid May
Wakkanai or Shiretoko peninsular (The extremities of Hokkaido) end of May
If you have the time and inclination to go up North or climb to higher altitudes please send us your trip report.
Mar 30, 2006 | 5:54 pm
#12
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Originally Posted by bobes
Oh man... I'll be there in Tokyo Saturday. Hope I'll get to see something. Thanks for the update.
. Robyn
Mar 31, 2006 | 12:12 am
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Originally Posted by robyng
I just got some email from some friends in Tokyo - and they said they expect this weekend in Tokyo to be *it*. You lucky devil . Robyn
. RobynI just brought my phone with vga resolution... I'd say this is a good reason to pick up a new 3G phone with 2 a Megapixel camera.
Apr 3, 2006 | 1:59 am
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Things look great here in Tokyo. But it rained last nite and it's really windy today. I'm not sure how long it will hold up.
I was walking up some street in tonanomon (sp?) right behind Hotel Okura South Wing and found a street lined with sakura trees. It is lighted at night and there's even a crepe stall.
I was walking up some street in tonanomon (sp?) right behind Hotel Okura South Wing and found a street lined with sakura trees. It is lighted at night and there's even a crepe stall.