Ten weeks of cherry blossom viewing in just one prefecture

It took many, many years of living in Japan to be able to recognize the different cherry blossom varieties. Now that I know the when and where, I enjoy about ten weeks of cherry blossom viewing annually. And I don't have to go outside Saitama Prefecture to do so! Get to know the varieties and you don't have to exhaust yourself chasing cherry blossoms for just the ten days of Somei Yoshino bloom. 

In 2022 the cherry blossom season was the shortest that I remember in my years in Japan. The kawazuzakura, early blooming cherry blossoms, were late and the yaezakura, late blooming cherry blossoms, were early making the season only about seven to eight weeks this year. So this post focuses on a usual year when the cherry blossoms start to bloom around mid February and finish up the first week in May. 

Cherry Blossom Varieties

There are hundreds of varieties of cherry blossoms, I couldn't possibly go through them all in one post so I have grouped them into five main groups:

1. Kawazuzakura
2. Kanzakura
3. Weeping cherry blossoms
4. Somei Yoshino 
5. Yaezakura

1. Kawazuzakura

The Kawazuzakura are an early blooming cherry blossom. They are pink in color. In the Kanto plain you can generally see the as early as mid February, although by and large they bloom around the end of February. Kawazuzakura are quite a sensitive cherry blossom. Unlike other varieties of cherry blossom, they are not guaranteed to bloom every year. Often Kawazuzakura will go from buds to fresh green leaves without having bloomed at all. 

2. Kanzakura

Kanzakura bloom shortly after the Kawazuzakura. There are different types of Kanzakura. For example, the Angyo Kanzakura are generally a pink color whereas the Ookanzakura are generally white in color. Kanzakura are quite full and fluffy and photograph very well. They typically bloom around the first two weeks of March. 

3. Weeping cherry blossoms

Weeping cherry blossoms typically bloom after the kanzakura and just before the somei yoshino. But generally, they overlap with somei yoshino for about a week. There are different varieties and colors of weeping cherry blossoms too. So some will bloom mid March, while others don't bloom until early April. Generally, the best places to see weeping cherry blossoms are on the grounds of temples or shrines. 

4. Somei Yoshino

Somei Yoshino are the "main" variety of cherry blossoms that bloom the last week of March and first week of April. They are actually white, although they often look pink in photos. However, you can see somei yoshino in Nagatoro and Chichibu later than on the flatlands. Generally, around mid April. There are somei yoshino trees literally all over Japan! This is the variety that most people base their hanami outings on. 

5. Yaezakura

Yaezakura are my personal favorite. Within Yaezakura there are dozens of different varieties. The term collectively refers to cherry blossoms with more than five petals that bloom later than Somei Yoshino. They come in different colors, shapes and sizes! You can see yaezakura from early April to early May in Saitama Prefecture. 

Without a doubt, the Somei Yoshino are the most famous, the most common and the most loved sakura in Japan. But several other varieties available, there is plenty of chances to do hanami. You don't have to limit your cherry blossom viewing plans to just the last week of March and first week of April. Generally, without having to leave your prefecture, you can enjoy cherry blossoms for at least ten weeks of the year!

(All photos taken in Saitama Prefecture during the 2022 Sakura Season!)