Japan’s Wakayama City Welcomes its 1st Cherry Blossoms 2 Days Earlier than Last Year

The Yomiuri Shimbun

17:36 JST, March 25, 2026

WAKAYAMA — Someiyoshino cherry blossoms have begun blooming in Wakayama City, two days earlier than last year and on par with the average, the Wakayama Local Meteorological Office announced Tuesday. The blossoms are expected to reach full bloom in about a week to 10 days.

A staff member of the office confirmed that at least eight flowers had bloomed on the sample tree in the Kimiidera temple’s grounds in the city in the afternoon of that day. He said, “Warm weather is forecasted to continue.”

Wakayama City is home to Kimiidera temple, whose flight of 231 stone steps is the site of an intense running race every January.