🌸Spring in Japan: A Season of Blossoms, Beauty, and Traditions

KeeeeN-G

This article is
・What is spring like in Japan?
・What tastes good in the spring in Japan?
・Where can I go in the spring in Japan?
That’s what this article is about.

🌿 A Morning in Bloom: Experiencing Spring in Japan

One early April morning, I found myself walking along the Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto. The air was cool but pleasant, carrying the gentle scent of blooming cherry blossoms. Petals floated down like snow, and each step felt like part of a dream. Locals picnicked beneath the trees, children played, and tourists—like myself—were lost in the beauty of the moment.

Spring in Japan isn’t just a season. It’s a fruitfulness, a celebration, and a starting point. Let’s take a journey through this unforgettable time of year.

🌸The Beauty of Blossoms: Spring Flowers in Japan

Spring in Japan begins in March and continues through early April, with a breathtaking display of flowers that color the landscape.
Most famously, cherry blossoms “sakura” paint parks and riversides in soft pink, symbolizing beauty and impermanence. You’ll also find plum blossoms “ume” blooming earlier in February and March, offering sweet fragrance and delicate petals. In late spring, wisteria “fuji” hang like lavender waterfalls, and canola flowers “nanohana” brighten fields with vibrant yellow.

🌸 Curious about seasonal flowers in detail? → [Read More: Seasonal Flowers in Japan: A Blooming Journey Through the Year part1］

🎎 Traditions and Festivals: Spring in Japanese Culture

Spring is full of rich traditions. The most iconic is hanami “flower viewing”, where families and friends gather under sakura trees to eat, drink, and enjoy the fleeting beauty.

In early March, Hinamatsuri “Doll’s Festival” celebrates the health and happiness of young girls with beautiful doll displays and traditional sweets like hina-arare.

Spring is also a time of new beginnings—the school year and fiscal year start in April, so you’ll often see students in fresh uniforms and new employees with hopeful eyes.

Hanami

Hinamatsuri

👃 Feel Spring with All Five Senses

Japan’s spring is not just something to see—it’s something to feel.

• Smell: The soft fragrance of plum and cherry blossoms
• Sight: Petals fluttering in the breeze, parks glowing with color
• Sound: Warblers “uguisu” singing, the distant laughter of children
• Taste: Sakura mochi “sweet rice cakes”, fresh bamboo shoots
• Touch: The cool breeze against your skin, a warm cup of green tea

Warblers

Sakura mochi

These small details turn a trip into a memory.

🌸Where to Go in Spring: Travel Tips

Here are some recommended spots to enjoy spring to the fullest:

• Tokyo: Ueno Park and Meguro River—perfect for hanami picnics
• Kyoto: Maruyama Park, Philosopher’s Path, and Kiyomizu Temple
• Tochigi: Ashikaga Flower Park—famous for its stunning wisteria tunnels “late April to early May”
• Hokkaido: Later blooming sakura in May, great for late-spring travelers

Tip: Bring layers! Spring days can be warm, but mornings and evenings are often chilly. And if you have allergies, prepare for high pollen levels!

🍱Food & Flavors of Spring

Spring brings not only flowers but also fresh flavors.
Seasonal delights include:

• Sakura-flavored sweets and drinks “like Starbucks’s sakura latte”
• Sansai “mountain vegetables”—only available in spring
• Takenoko “bamboo shoots”—used in soups and rice dishes
• Strawberries—popular for picking and dessert-making

Sansai

Takenoko

Strawberries

Eating seasonally is a big part of Japanese culture, and spring is one of the tastiest times to visit.

🌞Conclusion: Spring as a Fresh Start

More than anything, Japanese spring is about hope, beauty, and new beginnings. Whether you’re admiring blossoms in a busy city or walking quietly through a garden path, this season invites you to pause and appreciate the moment.

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, spring might just be the most magical time to come.

Coming next: [Summer in Japan – Festivals, Fireworks, and Flavors!]

P.S.

For me, I feel that spring is a time beyond the year that ended with winter, a time when trees turn and wither their leaves and new life begins to sprout, a time when people make new beginnings.

I wish you could see Japan with moderate temperatures, warm sunshine, flowers and greenery.

またね(Matane)!