It feels embarrassing to say now, however I nearly threw within the towel on my newest journey to Japan, proper because it was starting.
As you’ll know should you visited Japan through the 2026 cherry blossom season, this yr’s bloom was traditionally early. Or perhaps you don’t know this, and occurred into an ideal journey fully by chance. If that’s the case, then good for you!
In my case, nonetheless, two various things had been true. The primary? My even-year spring journeys to Japan by no means focus solely on sakura. Though there’s ceaselessly some overlap, cherry blossoms are a nice-to-have throughout these journeys—they aren’t a need-to-have.
Simultaneous to this, nonetheless, the traditionally early nature of this yr’s bloom meant that until I considerably pivoted the primary portion of my journey northward, I may not see any cherry flowers in mankai in any respect.
Trying again, in fact, this doesn’t appear existential, though I did find yourself making the required pivot.
You see, the nice and cozy winter that triggered the cherry blossoms to be early additionally introduced ahead the blooms of azaleas, wisteria and peach blossoms, to call just some of Japan’s different spring flowers. Had sakura season been on time, I may not have seen these different flowers in the identical glory I did.
On day one in all my journey, nonetheless, plodding by way of Fukushima prefecture with most bushes fully inexperienced, I felt like I had missed the boat completely, a delusion my jet lag was completely happy to bolster, even intensify.
Because the photographs of Japan in spring that I’m about to share illustrate superbly, my disappointment rapidly bloomed into delight. So whether or not you’re planning a future Japan journey that you realize gained’t line up with cherry blossoms season for logistical causes, or are touring now and have missed them as a result of a late or early bloom, I goal to carry you hope and inspiration.
