Photo/Illutration The sample Somei-Yoshino cherry tree confirmed March 23 to have five flowers, putting Kochi ahead of the rest of the country in announcing the start of the cherry blossom season. (Kazunori Haga)

KOCHI--The city’s Somei-Yoshino cherry trees are now officially in bloom, putting Kochi ahead of the rest of the country in announcing the start of the cherry blossom season.

The Kochi Local Meteorological Observatory said March 23 the flowers bloomed six days later than last year and one day later than usual.

It marked the first time since 2018 that Kochi has beaten other prefectures in reporting the earliest spring blooms.

Observatory staff members confirmed five blossoms on a sample Somei-Yoshino cherry tree in Sannomaru, the site of the city’s impressive Kochi Castle foundations, at 4 p.m. that day. The temperature in Kochi was 14.7 degrees.

Junichi Masuda, an official at the meteorological observatory, said cold weather on March 20 and 21 likely delayed the blooming.

The trees are expected to reach full bloom in around one week to 10 days.

“Tomorrow’s forecast is rain, so I was hoping for today’s announcement,” said Kochi resident Yuka Takeuchi. “I plan to come back and see them when they are in full bloom.”

Related News