Cherry trees in full bloom near the Imperial Palace with Tokyo Tower in the background, Tokyo, Japan

© Jon Arnold/Danita Delimon

Spring blossoms in Tokyo. Cherry blossom season in Tokyo

Each spring, folks across Japan observe 'hanami,' a treasured tradition of viewing nature's breathtaking display of cherry blossoms. Japanese cherry trees, known as 'sakura,' reach full bloom in March in the south of the country. Our homepage picture shows cherry blossoms cascading over the moats which surround the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Blooms progress northward throughout March and April, with the final flowerings gracing the slow-to-thaw Hokkaido prefecture as the season ends. To help people seek out the best displays, the Japanese Meteorological Agency carefully tracks the 'cherry blossom front' across the island nation. This year, the earliest blooms are expected to start flowering in Tokyo on or around March 16.