Photo/Illutration Tokyo’s first cherry blossoms of the season are observed at Yasukuni Shrine in the capital’s Chiyoda Ward on March 24. (Tatsuya Shimada)

Cherry blossoms in central Tokyo are officially blooming, weather officials announced around 2 p.m. on March 24.

The announcement was met with a roar of applause from the waiting crowd around Yasukuni Shrine in the capital’s Chiyoda Ward, where six blossoms have opened on the Somei-Yoshino cherry tree, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

This year’s bloom is five days earlier than last year’s and on par with the average year’s. The trees are expected to reach full bloom in about a week.

According to the JMA, warm, moist air from the south is expected to continue raising temperatures in central Tokyo, hastening the blooming process.

While there is a high chance of rain on March 29, the following Sunday is expected to be sunny and ideal for cherry blossom viewing.

Also on March 24, the blooming of Somei-Yoshino cherry trees was confirmed in Nagasaki, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures.

Kochi and Kumamoto prefectures reported this year’s first sakura blossoms in the country on March 23.

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The Asahi Shimbun has started a sakura map featuring pictures from across the country taken by its reporters and photographers.

The platform offers the latest cherry blossom conditions nationwide. (The page is in Japanese. Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.)

Japan Sakura Map

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