Japan's famed cherry blossoms are expected to bloom early once again in 2019, according to the first forecast this link opens in a new tab for 2019 released by the Japan Meteorological Corporation on Jan. 10.
The popular Somei Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry) trees are expected to arrive as early as mid-March, starting in the Kochi Prefecture on March 18 before reaching full bloom in Kochi by March 25.
Fukuoka is expected to follow, with a forecasted flowering date of March 20 and a forecasted full bloom date of March 29.
Next, the cherry blossoms are expected to arrive in Nagoya and Tokyo by March 22, and then in Hiroshima by March 23. They should reach full bloom in Tokyo on March 29and in Nagoya and Hiroshima on April 1.
In some areas, like Tokyo, current forecasts show flowering and full bloom starting four days earlier than usual. Weather experts say higher temperatures that started in October of 2018 are contributing to early blooms in some parts of the country.
Locations like Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto, and Kagoshima are all also expected to see flowering start before the end of April, with full bloom approaching by the first week of April.
