Sakura is so popular in Japan that it could become a symbol of the Land of the Rising Sun. Hundreds and thousands of cherry trees of various varieties are planted in the gardens and parks of the country's main cities. Every respectable village considers it its duty to have its own cherry blossom alley. When the time comes, sakura blooms throughout Japan, moving from South to North, beginning its flowering at the end of January in tropical Okinawa and ending in harsh Hokkaido at the end of May. The delicate pink petals swirl in gardens and parks, along rivers, around Buddhist temples, and samurai castles, painting the slopes of Mount Fuji and other Japanese volcanoes in their unique colors of spring.
The most common variety of Japanese sakura is Somei-Yoshino, a special type in which flowers bloom much earlier than leaves. During peak bloom, clusters of flowers appear on the bare branches. Walking into such a grove of sakuras gives the impression of being inside a soft pink cloud. This is likely what the Japanese were striving for when they started planting sakura throughout the country in the mid-19th century.
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Few know that in Japan, sakura is considered a male flower, a symbol of courage and bravery, and a samurai symbol. The petals of the Japanese cherry fall without withering, while still full of life, giving rise to a metaphor of the Japanese warrior-samurai, willing to die at the height of his powers. This is why some of the best places for hanami (sakura viewing) are gardens and parks around Samurai Castles like Matsue Castle or Hirosaki Castle, where the first sakura trees were planted 300 years ago, and where the famous sakura festival is held annually, in the port of Aomori.
Due to the enormous public interest, the Japan Meteorological Agency provides, in addition to regular forecasts, updates on the start and stages of cherry blossom bloom across different regions of Japan.
The bloom usually begins in late January to early February in Okinawa and then moves north with spring. Early April marks full bloom in Kyushu and Shikoku islands, in late March sakura blooms in Tokyo, in the first week of April in Kyoto and Osaka, in Sakiminato and Matsue in mid-April. By early May, the sakura bloom wave reaches Hokkaido, and the cities of Hakodate and Sapporo.
The whole country follows the movement of sakura to the north. On television, after the weather forecast, there is always an update on where the sakura is in full bloom and where it will start blooming any day now.