From this point on, blossoms will begin dropping their petals.

Saw some cherry blossoms today in Hirakata shedding. Petals were dropping off and blowing in the wind creating the snow effect that many people long to see. The ground was a beautiful mix of brown and whitish pink.

The next stage of cherry blossoms will add more color as the green leaves begin to spring forth. This point of hanami is my favorite. The bright and dark contrasting colors make for excellent photos.

With the warm weather we had during the daytime yesterday and today, the blossoms should open a little faster Monday.

Give the sakura cherry blossoms a few more days and they will be fully blossomed. Cherry blossoms should be 100% by Thursday. By Saturday, the flowers will be falling off creating the beautiful snowing effect.

On my way back to Kyoto, I stopped along the way checking cherry blossoms.

Cherry blossoms in Osaka seem to be opening a bit faster than Kyoto. It didn’t matter if trees were out in the open or hidden behind a building. Trees in the Minoh area of Osaka have a lot more blossoms opened than trees in southern Kyoto.

I would estimate Osaka cherry blossom trees are about 20% open as of today. Kyoto cherry blossom trees are about 5% or less. However, most of the buds on trees in Kyoto are already pink and look like they are all about to pop open in the next day or two.

Expect blooms to be opened more along the 40% level on Saturday in Kyoto. If you want to view trees with more blossoms opened this weekend, Osaka would be the better city to visit.

Heading to Nara to check the cherry blossoms this afternoon! Will report on Nara blossoms later tonight.

It’s Monday, April 2nd and April Fool’s Day is over. So no fooling around when I say the cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom.

Yesterday, April 1st, was a rather warm day in the afternoon. Tonight will be cool and tomorrow even warmer than today. So sakura, cherry blossoms, should begin to open a bit faster from tomorrow.

Look to see cherry blossoms at about 40 to 50% opened by this weekend in the Kyoto area of Japan.

Rain began to fall yesterday afternoon and continued throughout most of the day today tapering off around 2pm. Temperatures at that time were warm, around 12 degrees Celsius. Shortly thereafter, the winds began to pick up and strong cold air started blowing in.

Tonight, temperatures will be down near freezing as well as tomorrow night. But this shouldn’t deter the already budding cherry blossoms. It might confuse us, but there should be some cherry blossoms bloomed on trees around the Kansai region by this coming weekend.

Trees won’t be mankai, fully-bloomed, but anyone venturing out to parks, shrines or any other place where cherry blossoms are growing will have a good time viewing the beginning of spring Japanese style.

I will make another cherry blossom assessment later at the beginning of this next week starting Monday.

For diehard hanami participants, the rain is actually a blessing. Wet grass and dirt deter many from leaving their homes, which means those who do venture out will not have to beat the crowds to popular cherry blossom places.

So if you are thinking that the rain tonight is going to spoil your cherry blossom viewing tomorrow, you might want to stick to your plan because the sun will come out tomorrow and you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be beautiful anywhere cherry blossoms are blooming.

Tomorrow blossoms will be mankai (fully bloomed) in most places around the Kansai region. Just don’t forget to take a sheet or chair to sit on if you plan to sit and admire the blossoms, or else you may need a change of clothes!

The cherry blossoms right now are at about 20 to 30% bloomed. Mountain and hillsides are turning a light shade of pink.

If you wish to see a mix of cherry blossoms and cherry blossom buds, now’s a good time to go. If you wish to see them in full-bloom, mankai, this weekend would be the best time to go.

Every year just before cherry blossom season, spring brings rain to the Kansai area of Japan, which fuels the trees to bloom forth the beautiful sakura “cherry” blossoms.

Rain has been falling every other day or so here in the Kansai region of Japan this spring. Those braving the elements to sightsee or do hanami, cherry blossom viewing in Japanese, should take an umbrella or at least wear a jacket that repells rain.

If you don’t have a jacket that at least resists water, have no fear. There are tons of cheap umbrellas for sale that visitors can easily buy at convenient stores, and convenient stores can be found within a few hundred yards of almost any train station.

As for the cherry blooms, they are just starting to show. Trees in the Kyoto area are at about 20%.

The best time to see cherry blossoms in Kyoto should be this coming weekend. Saturday and Sunday, of rain doesn’t fall, should be prime cherry blossom time. From this coming weekend to next weekend will be the best week for viewing sakura flowers.

The cherry blossoms should be fully bloomed, mankai, by the end of next week.

Another update will be written in another day or two.

Just stopped by the park to check out the cherry trees and saw the buds are already out. Some of them are even green with a little pink showing.

It’s time to start cherry blossom watching! Cherry trees this spring could bloom a little earlier this year.

If you care about seeing the cherry blossoms in full-bloom, you had better start keeping an eye on the news.

Cherry blossoms come and go in a matter of weeks. Depending on your idea of the most beautiful cherry blossoms, whether it is when the blossoms are at the beginning, middle or end of their lives, to catch them at the right time takes planning.

Stay tuned into Kansai News and get up-to-date news on cherry blossoms around Kyoto and Osaka.

At Akamanma in Arashiyama, a cafe gallery along the Nagatsuji Dori, sakura are in bloom! Kyoka Okumura is showing her fine sakura art and sakura goods on the 2nd floor of Akamanma.

Sakura Kyoka art and goods will be on display and for sale at Akamanma in Arashiyama until March 18th. The cafe restaurant gallery is open from 10am to 10pm, but the gallery will only be open until 6pm.

For more information on Sakura Kyoka, visit her website: SakuraKyoka.com or stop by the gallery!

Sakura Tapestry

Akamanma Cafe Restaurant Arashiyama