Cherry Blossoms Begin Blooming at Niigata Pref. Park in Japan

The Yomiuri Shimbun

17:59 JST, April 2, 2026

Someiyoshino cherry blossoms started blooming at Takada Castle Site Park in Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, on Tuesday.

The park’s cherry blossom festival is set to begin Friday, and the blossoms are expected reach full bloom by next week.

The announcement was made after the Joetsu Tourism and Convention Association, as well as a citizens’ group that works to preserve the park’s sakura trees, observed at least 5 blossoms on a tree that is used for reference at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, about five days earlier compared to last year.