Tourists and residents flocked to Tokyo’s top cherry blossom destinations on Thursday to take in the full bloom, which arrived later than normal this year due to chilly weather.
The exquisite black trees filled with pink and white flowers known as sakura in Japanese spilled over the Imperial Palace’s moat, where people gathered to snap photos or simply enjoy the beauty.
Sakura season traditionally marks the start of the new fiscal year in Japan, reflecting new beginnings but also the fleeting impermanence of life.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported on Thursday that the country’s most common and popular ‘somei yoshino’ cherry tree was in full bloom, four days later than usual for the city.
While the government blames this year’s late blossoms on cold weather, it warns that climate change is making the delicate petals appear sooner in the long run.
Last year’s sakura began to blossom on March 14, the joint earliest date on record along with 2020 and 2021, and reached full bloom on March 22.
“Since 1953, the average start date for cherry blossoms to bloom in Japan has been becoming earlier at the rate of approximately 1.2 days per 10 years”, the Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) continued.
According to the JMA, the long-term increase in temperature is thought to be a factor along with other factors such as the urban heat island effect.
Tourism to Japan has increased dramatically since pandemic-era border restrictions were lifted, and international individuals were also out enjoying the sights on Thursday.
Katsuhiro Miyamoto, professor emeritus at Kansai University, forecasts that the economic impact of cherry blossom season in Japan, from travel to parties held under the blooms, will be 1.1 trillion yen ($7.3 billion) this year, up from 616 billion yen in 2023.
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