Sakura Flower Viewing

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Dec 19, 2007 | 12:19 pm

ddrewboy

Original Poster

Join Date: May 2006

Location: SAV

Posts: 554

Sakura Flower Viewing

ddrewgirl and I are planning on a stopover in NRT for 5-6 days around 21-26 Apr, 2008. I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion on where to go for a viewing that late in the season.

We're probably landing in NRT from BKK around 3PM so the first day is pretty much wasted. We are then planing on staying in NRT for a couple of days then shinkansen to Kyoto and stay for the remaining days before take the train back to NRT.

We are open for a change in the plan if we need to go further north for a viewing.

Thanks in advance for recommendation.
Drew

PS. Does NRT have a luggage holding facility? We would be coming from BKK onward to SAV.

Dec 20, 2007 | 3:38 am

LapLap

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Jul 2004

Location: London

Posts: 19,078

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrewboy

We are open for a change in the plan if we need to go further north for a viewing.

I'm afraid this flexibility will be a requirement - there is no way to predict this far in advance when or where the sakura will blossom.

The over-riding trend is for the blossoms to appear earlier and earlier each year, but there are exceptions (2005 is one). And wind and rain can make the canopies of pink a very shortlived phenomenon.

Here's a recent thread with discussion on dates and how they've varied
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=728793

This thread has more info
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=670808
Including this link: http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/Topics/l...007/sakura.htm for 2007

Check http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html next year for 2008's forecast and plan accordingly.

----
Baggage:

Narita Terminal 1 - http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guid...svc_06_t1.html

Narita Terminal 2 -
http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guid...svc_06_t2.html

Dec 22, 2007 | 10:19 pm

SuperCarnitas

Join Date: Jan 2002

Location: Oakland, CA USA

Programs: UA MM, Avis CHM

Posts: 123

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrewboy

We are open for a change in the plan if we need to go further north for a viewing.

Good idea. If you're traveling around via rail anyway, just stay on top of the aforementioned forecasts and choose your destination accordingly. You just might be able to make it a daytrip via shinkansen, even.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrewboy

PS. Does NRT have a luggage holding facility? We would be coming from BKK onward to SAV.

Yup. Have seen these places right in the terminal, but never used it. Also don't know about storage costs.