Japan's beautiful cherry blossoms are always a huge attraction when they bloom in spring, but the country’s nationally-revered pink blossoms - known as sakura - are expected to appear a bit earlier than usual this year in various locations.

 

The timing of their appearance depends on the weather conditions leading up to spring, as the flowering and full bloom dates of cherry blossoms results from the temperature patterns from autumn of the preceding year. The Japan Meteorological Corporation has updated its cherry blossom forecast for 2021, in which it estimates the flowering and full bloom dates for Somei Yoshino trees in approximately 1000 viewing locations.