Question
I’m planning a trip to Japan and want to experience the cherry blossoms. However, I’m not familiar with when they bloom. How do I ask someone “When do the cherry blossoms bloom?” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
桜（さくら）はいつ咲（さ）きますか。
Sakura wa itsu sakimasuka?
When do the cherry blossoms bloom?
This is a simple but very useful question to know the timing of cherry blossom or “sakura” season in Japan. “Sakura” refers to cherry blossoms, “itsu” means “when”, and “sakimasu” is the verb “to bloom”. You put it together to ask for the blooming period of the cherry blossoms.
The blooming season varies slightly depending on where you are in Japan, typically beginning in late March in southern regions like Kyushu and moving northward throughout April. Enjoy your hanami (flower viewing) experience!
