The difference is pretty easy to spot once you know, and I have included a couple of image examples for your reference.

Basically Japanese Plum Blossoms have 5 oval shaped petals while Japanese Cherry Blossoms have 5 round circle petals that generally have a split at the end.

Another difference is the time of year you will see the two different types of blossoms. From Late February to late march you will see Plum Blossoms and from late March for 2 weeks only you will see Cherry Blossoms.

Japanese Plum Blossom photos (click for larger image)

Japanese Cherry Blossom photos (click for larger image)

Sakura (桜 or 櫻) is the Japanese name for ornamental cherry trees, Prunus serrulata, and their cherry blossoms. Cherry fruit (known as sakuranbo) come from a different species of tree.

In Japan we celebrate this time of the year with Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees. Cherry blossom viewing has been a Japanese custom since the 7th century when the aristocrats enjoyed looking at the cherry blossoms and wrote poems, People drink, eat, and sing during the day and night.

I took the following photo along the river near my house. I get to enjoy these  Japanese Cherry Blossoms every day walking to the train station for about two weeks.

I took the next photo at Ueno park, it is a spacious public park located in the Ueno section of Taito-ku. Right next to Ueno station.

When is the best time to see Japanese Cherry Blossoms?

Cherry blossoms usually begin blooming in January in Okinawa, and they are at their peak in late March to April in Honshu region. In Hokkaido, sakura usually become in their peak in late May. But, cherry blossom flowering dates change every year. The blooming period of sakura is very short. I recommend you to make your trip flexible. Average Cherry blossom flowring Date Map might help you plan your trip to Japan. Every year, Japan Meteorological Agency announces cherry blossom flowering forecast in early March. Japan Meteorological Agency report archives are available.

Where are the best places to see Japanese Cherry Blossoms?

During spring cherry blossom festivals are held all over Japan. Visit castles, parks, temples, or shrines near your destinations.

Cherry Blossom Desination Map

Great Places for Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossom Festivals in Japan

As the cherry blossom season approaches I am sure there will be a few more Cherry Blossom Tattoo’s being inked onto the girls here in Japan. If you are not aware of the whole tattoo issue here in Japan, let me enlighten you.

Basically Tattoo’s in Japan were the mark of a criminal or associated to the Yakuza or Japanese Mafia. From my limited experience this is not exactly true. There are two types of Tattoo’s I have seen in Japan, the Japanese Yakuza Tattoo which is a very serious piece of work and covers most of the upper body and down the arms, and even up the the top of the neck line , as seen in the first photo, and then there are the other styles which is everything else you wouldn’t look twice at. I think it would be fair to say a Cherry Blossom Tattoo on a 21 year old Japanese girls is hardly the mark of a criminal.

The next problem is the popularity of the Onsen here in Japan, and the Onsen’s aversion to allowing people with tattoo’s to enter. Usually you will see a sign board at the front entrance of 90% of Onsen’s that says “No Tattoo’s” in Japanese and in “Perfect” English, in fact it’s probably the only English signs that don’t get screwed up and featured on Engrish.com or some other wacky sign site.

So as you can imagine that making the decision to get a tattoo here in Japan is a very serious decision. Also you need to be careful as some of the design go beyond a nice tattoo that could fit on you shoulder or foot as pictured in the second and third photos. As you can see in the last photo, this young lady went a little overboard and has basically destroyed any chance she may have had to enter any of the popular Onsen’s here in Japan.

One small tip for those considering getting a Cherry Blossom Tattoo, please make sure it is a Cherry Blossom Tattoo and not a Plum Blossom. The easy way to spot the difference is that Cherry Blossom leaves have a small “V” cut on the tips of the leaves, the Plum Blossom doesn’t, it is rounded all the way.

For those who are interested in Cheery Blossom Season here in Japan, it starts around the end of March in Southern Japan and works it way up to the North of Japan finishing around the end of April. For any one spot in Japan you will get only two weekends to enjoy the cherry blossom season and then it’s all gone for another year. The standard practice is to get together with friends on one or both of the weekends, find a spot in a nice park( if you can find room) filled with Cheery Blossoms, and drink like there’s no tomorrow. No doubt I will have a bunch of photos to share later on this month, hopefully in focus and safe for public viewing……

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