In spring, Japan slowly sees the countryside gradually turn into a light pink shade, due to the famous cherry blossoms. These famous flowers gather crowds from around the whole world, with eager people waiting to become a part of the hanami (flower appreciation) experience. It isn't easy to plan your trip around this even though, as the date is different every year.
There are different natural factors that influence when the blooming season begins, such as the weather, temperature and amount of rainfall. That's why it is best to study different regions in Japan, and find out which region blooms during which period. Okinawa, for example, usually starts to see its first cherry blossoms turn pink during mid-January, while in Tokyo this happens between 29 March and 4 April.