Cherry Blossom Japan

[Richie]

I’m planning a trip, a later blossom towards the end of April suits me better, this is apparently around Sapporo, am I missing much if I don’t go to other places earlier in April?

[yonasl]

I wouldn’t plan around the cherry blossom as it can happen a week before or after your trip and last weeks or a few days.

People also flock to the places when the blossom is taking placing making everything crowded.

If you want to catch nice landscapes then why not do the fall. You can have amazing shades of browns, yellow and greens and climate is still nice (October – early November).

[masaccio]

I’d say pick the destination that suits you and blossom is a major bonus if you happen to be in the right place. This is not guaranteed, and historical dates appear to be changing due to climate change. See this article

Edit:

But to disagree with @yonasl as a tourist the crowds were worth it when we saw blossom on a trip. Watching the Japanese go nuts over blossom is part of the fun and after a while you definitely find yourself doing the same. So I’d say worth it, but just don’t plan for it to happen unless you can afford to be in one region for quite a while or go last minute when the blossom forecasts are available.