![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YGB6E2N26XR33YQXWG62IMW7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=99c5713c37559e01fb51e48ad9f3c107c548adf8620d4f5985c97b4494096cfe&width=400&height=225)
Cherry blossoms came to full bloom five days later than the previous year. AFP
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Cherry blossoms in full bloom at the moat near the Imperial Palace in Chidorigafuchi, Tokyo. AP
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The Japan Meteorological Agency declared the full bloom of cherry blossoms in the capital in March 2022. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKILCN22TGAX2Z75CIM2HLR3Z4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c7ba0738d91ed1afc9e58dcd2251c5c8cdf3a3e15db5b2bdd9dbe9cf45b60311&width=400&height=225)
Cherry blossoms in Japan often bloom between late March and mid-April. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5M24B3RFSLTNEZFXCTGAPJ52SU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4cba7fd97128e12281662c4d5c73f5a4bf409ff9e103d1516dfcc68dcbc42742&width=400&height=225)
A newlywed couple stand under cherry blossoms in Tokyo. EPA
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Authorities imposed restrictions in parks where cherry blossoms bloom owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Reuters
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Visitors envoy the view at the Chidorigafuchi moat. AP
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Authorities in Tokyo declared the first bloom on March 20, 2022. EPA
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Blossoms of the Somei-Yoshino variety came to full bloom in Tokyo four days earlier than on an average year. AP
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It was the first variety of cherry blossom to come to full bloom in Japan in 2022. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CPX4T3NCDW5CTK6XDTP2ZOQJG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=44563636ff44b7698d792ce51e60af99d12a7734b5a03efb8c226559e56d8a9d&width=400&height=225)
The bloom only lasts for about a week and marks the beginning of spring in Japan. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YGB6E2N26XR33YQXWG62IMW7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=99c5713c37559e01fb51e48ad9f3c107c548adf8620d4f5985c97b4494096cfe&width=400&height=225)
Cherry blossoms came to full bloom five days later than the previous year. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MXOR7I4HKNWOOQNCKOAJZC7DAA.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff0f79eca095f5de3f7ac46b7ef1ce64eceee7da5f3d46fe49ff513b2175d172&width=400&height=225)
Cherry blossoms in full bloom at the moat near the Imperial Palace in Chidorigafuchi, Tokyo. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BEEF24NB3JRMYE4T3DLZ5ZESRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad6083713675522540e36570cd304c9c6690ccb0910be7e88a8f0ab4a221ee09&width=400&height=225)
The Japan Meteorological Agency declared the full bloom of cherry blossoms in the capital in March 2022. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKILCN22TGAX2Z75CIM2HLR3Z4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c7ba0738d91ed1afc9e58dcd2251c5c8cdf3a3e15db5b2bdd9dbe9cf45b60311&width=400&height=225)
Cherry blossoms in Japan often bloom between late March and mid-April. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5M24B3RFSLTNEZFXCTGAPJ52SU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4cba7fd97128e12281662c4d5c73f5a4bf409ff9e103d1516dfcc68dcbc42742&width=400&height=225)
A newlywed couple stand under cherry blossoms in Tokyo. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JN7FCPFVATZ4BIPW5MDLZ4JUOQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=4cb9e8d2e6bd87695a24e62621ed72d6cc63ad2b52cd23e01f8d53e96eb95b8d&width=400&height=225)
Authorities imposed restrictions in parks where cherry blossoms bloom owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2IQV2CT2GPT6NKBPQ73NAZOFOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=12e7e70a02539ca4339b0281219d844cd1b04044574db54c27bdfb8863a9d0c6&width=400&height=225)
Visitors envoy the view at the Chidorigafuchi moat. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AM7TGVJFYMOLAK2FHQE3AQJ7IA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e0fe187287822267212d44030dd84a87977998c139cf6285a146b436fe827be8&width=400&height=225)
Authorities in Tokyo declared the first bloom on March 20, 2022. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GDQTH4EY5JYUOVWE4ZKAKS57XM.jpg?smart=true&auth=31f3cbdb2566cace0a46176d93aa96e9bd8995a3342275b957df0c44b76eab58&width=400&height=225)
Blossoms of the Somei-Yoshino variety came to full bloom in Tokyo four days earlier than on an average year. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/THNLF42B3NHSRQ42BASKVQKQVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=995e0e80524a47c1456cc3d8fccb9ffaefc6c0e3e9900768f09648492839462f&width=400&height=225)
It was the first variety of cherry blossom to come to full bloom in Japan in 2022. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CPX4T3NCDW5CTK6XDTP2ZOQJG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=44563636ff44b7698d792ce51e60af99d12a7734b5a03efb8c226559e56d8a9d&width=400&height=225)
The bloom only lasts for about a week and marks the beginning of spring in Japan. Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3YGB6E2N26XR33YQXWG62IMW7E.jpg?smart=true&auth=99c5713c37559e01fb51e48ad9f3c107c548adf8620d4f5985c97b4494096cfe&width=400&height=225)
Cherry blossoms came to full bloom five days later than the previous year. AFP
Japan's cherry blossom season gets under way - 600 sakura trees bloom in pink
Tokyo's trees have reached full bloom but most tourists still can't visit nature's annual show in Japan
![Hayley Skirka](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5aa171d9-e19e-4724-894f-afdab957726f.png?smart=true&auth=0060497e4d6de279036bf67ee0e69c23726110ddc9067f6419a245b2b05cf91d&width=70&height=70)
Hayley Skirka
28 March, 2022
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