BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One of Japan's biggest tourist draws, the spectacular
cherry blossom (sakura) that occurs every spring, looks set to
delight those that wish to travel to the country once again in
2021.
Gatherings of crowds for Hanami cherry blossom viewing
festivals were discouraged in 2020 due to pandemic-related
restrictions. However, it seems that tourists will have more access
than ever before to Japan's ideal
viewing locations in its countless beautiful parks and gardens, by
using innovative virtual technology from home.
The experience of witnessing the wonderous bloom of pink and
white cherry flowers has long been a cherished annual tradition in
Japan, and picnics and
flower-viewing parties are popular for locals as well as an
increasing number of international tourists.
Sakura usually starts in March at the south of the
Japanese peninsula, where temperatures begin to rise earlier,
before making its way north to the island of Hokkaido by early May. Once the blossom
begins, the flowers usually take around a week to reach full bloom,
known as mankai, which also usually lasts about seven
days.
As the cherry blossom is such a big attraction and lasts for
such a short window of time, the Japan Meteorological Agency
(JMC) frequently publishes and updates forecasts for the event
every year.
The forecast is based around flowering and full bloom dates from
previous years, as well as the temperatures during autumn and
winter, but is often closely monitored and updated well into the
spring so enthusiasts don't miss out on it!
The bloom is expected early this year
In general, the Japan cherry
blossom forecast for 2021 predicts that the flowers will begin to
bloom earlier than in a normal year thanks to a relatively warm
winter.
The expected flowering date in the Kinki region, which includes
Osaka and Kyoto, and the Kanto region, where the capital
of Tokyo is located, is expected
in mid-March. Meanwhile, sakura is currently expected to begin in
the Kyushu and Tohoku regions either later in the month or in early
April.
On Hokkaido, the cherry bloom
is expected a little later than in 2020, beginning from late April
in the southern and central parts of the island to early May in
western and eastern regions.
Some of the most popular places for sakura viewing in
Japan are the many parks and
gardens of the vast number of shrines, castles, and temples across
the country, including at the thousands of Hanami cherry blossom
festivals that take place during the period.
Although most international travelers were not able to
experience the cherry blossom in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions,
many popular Sakura viewing sites have ensured that this won't be
the case in 2021 by introducing a number of virtual
experiences.
Cherry Blossom 2021 can be
enjoyed from home too
Even if you're not planning to travel to Japan in spring 2021 to experience the natural
phenomenon for yourself, you'll still be able to enjoy it from home
through numerous virtual experiences, including 360 panoramic video
tours of iconic cherry blossom viewing locations.
Additionally, a number of other Japanese virtual travel
experiences have been set up to allow those planning to visit the
country to get to know popular attractions before their visit, as
well as to provide a digital alternative to those currently unable
to travel.
These include virtual tours of many of the most popular museums
as well as live video feeds of iconic attractions such as Mount
Fuji and the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, so you can get plenty of
ideas for planning your next trip to Japan and decide on the attractions you most
want to visit in person!
For more information, please visit
https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/japan-virtual-travel.
Photo -
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1385104/japan_cherry_blossom_forecast_2021.jpg