Japanese cherry blossoms have now become famous all over the world. Even for Japanese people, taking photos of the cherry blossoms at their peak is difficult for three reasons: 1. It’s difficult to predict when the blossoms will bloom. 2. The weather is often bad during cherry blossom season. 3. It’s extremely crowded.
We hope that knowing about cherry blossoms in advance will help you have a more enjoyable trip to Japan.
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1.It’s difficult to predict when the cherry blossoms will bloom.
There are many varieties of cherry blossoms. The most famous is the Somei Yoshino. This variety was planted by Japanese people throughout Japan, appearing everywhere—as street trees, in parks, and at shrines.
The Somei Yoshino typically only blooms for about two days.
Therefore, even for Japanese people, it’s practically impossible to photograph only this variety.
For this reason, it’s essential to have other varieties of cherry blossoms in mind beforehand.
In Tokyo, Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden have many varieties of cherry blossoms planted, so you can encounter some kind of cherry blossom no matter when you visit from late March to late April.
2. The weather is often bad during cherry blossom season.
Japan has four distinct seasons.
The weather is often unstable during seasonal transitions.
Cherry blossoms bloom during the transition from winter to spring, a rainy season.
Weather forecasts are often inaccurate.
Therefore, if you want to take family photos with cherry blossoms as a backdrop, you need to be flexible with your shooting schedule. Alternatively, you can either shoot regardless of the rain.
3. It’s extremely crowded.
Famous cherry blossom viewing spots become extremely crowded with people wanting to take photos with the blossoms.
If you want to take family photos with the cherry blossoms as a backdrop, it’s recommended to go early in the morning.
Also, Japan has a culture of viewing cherry blossoms at night, and some locations become crowded from evening to night, so the morning is the least crowded and most peaceful time.
Flexibility for Travel Plans
If you’re looking to take family photos during cherry blossom season in the Tokyo area, we can discuss dates and locations. Please feel free to contact us by email if you have any questions.
A recent spring session in Tokyo 🌸
A calm and relaxed moment with a family visiting Japan.
Looking for location ideas?
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