Several cities in Japan have announced the cancellation of their cherry blossom viewing festivals after tourists flocked in numbers exceeding 10,000 per day, raising concerns about the impact on local residents' way of life. Meanwhile, meteorologists expect cherry blossoms to bloom earlier than usual this year.
On 27 Feb 2026 GMT+7, NHK News reported that while cherry blossom festivals are planned across many parts of Japan in the coming weeks, some municipalities have decided to cancel their events due to overwhelming tourist crowds. One affected location is Arakurayama Sengen Park in Yamanashi Prefecture near Tokyo, a famous viewing spot offering views of Mount Fuji alongside a five-story pagoda. This image has gone viral on social media, attracting around 200,000 visitors per season, particularly foreign tourists.
Officials noted that during the tourist season, more than 10,000 visitors arrive daily, causing severe traffic congestion, overflowing litter on streets, and significantly affecting the quality of life for local residents. As a result, authorities decided to cancel this year's cherry blossom festival to protect the community's well-being, while acknowledging it is still uncertain whether the event can resume next year.
Meanwhile, the Japan Meteorological Association released the latest forecast indicating that the Somei Yoshino cherry blossom variety will bloom earlier than average in many areas. It is expected that central Tokyo and Fukuoka will see blooming begin on 20 Mar, followed by Nagoya and Kochi on 21 Mar, Hiroshima on 22 Mar, Osaka on 24 Mar, Sendai on 1 Apr, and Sapporo on 27 Apr.
The earlier blooming this year is attributed to a severe cold wave in January, followed by above-average temperatures in February, and a trend of continued warm weather into March.
Source: NHK