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SCMP’s Asia desk

This year’s cherry blossom season in Tokyo has begun, but sands originating from deserts in China may obscure idyllic views of flowers blooming on cherry trees across Japan.
At least six blossoms had flowered on a cherry tree in Tokyo earmarked to signal the start of the season, the Japan Meteorological Agency confirmed on Monday afternoon, according to local media reports.
The announcement was greeted by a round of applause from waiting crowds at the Yasukuni Shrine in the city, where the tree is located.
However, a vast area of Japan may experience a wide storm of yellow sands on Tuesday and Wednesday, potentially blurring views of cherry blossoms.
The sands could reduce visibility in western and northern Japan to less than 10km, while some areas may see visibility of just 5km, according to the weather agency.
“If visibility falls to less than 5km, please be aware that traffic disruptions may occur,” the agency said on Monday.
Officials have advised citizens to wear masks or take other precautions to prevent symptoms caused by yellow sands, such as asthma.


Five or six flowers blooming on a benchmark tree would typically signal the start of the cherry blossom season in Tokyo, according to national broadcaster NHK, citing a weather official.
Cherry trees in the city were expected to reach full bloom in a week to 10 days, the NHK report added.
This year’s cherry blossom season arrived five days earlier than in 2024.
Flowering was delayed last year due to unseasonal coldness, while seasonal moist air from the southern part of the country had raised the temperature in Tokyo this year, the weather agency said in a report by Asahi News.
The city is expected to see a sunny day on Sunday after a round of rain, making it an ideal day for cherry blossom viewing.
Besides Tokyo, cherry blooming was also confirmed in Nagasaki, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures on Monday. A day earlier, Kochi and Kumamoto prefectures in southwestern Japan reported the country’s first sakura blossoms this year.


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The season began in Tokyo on Monday, while Nagasaki, Kochi and other prefectures have also reported their first sakura blossoms


The season began in Tokyo on Monday, while Nagasaki, Kochi and other prefectures have also reported their first sakura blossoms.


Asia travel

Tourism

Weather

Japan welcomes cherry blossom season but China sands threaten to spoil views

The season began in Tokyo on Monday, while Nagasaki, Kochi and other prefectures have also reported their first sakura blossoms

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