Travel to Japan for cherry blossom seasonShizuoka, Japan

You, a flurry of pink petals, and landscapes so breathtaking they look straight out of your fav anime; that’s Japan during cherry blossom season. But cherry blossom season isn’t just a time of the year, it’s a whole mood. And if you want to experience it without elbowing through crowds in Kyoto, Shizuoka is the place to be.

Just a 45-minute bullet train ride from Tokyo, Shizuoka’s cherry blossoms are serious overachievers, blooming before the rest of the country’s blossoms even wake up. But where exactly is the best place to see ‘em?

There’s the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival in February, where the vibrant pink beauties last longer than your average cherry blossom, making them the ultimate floral flex (and the festival one of the best places to see them). You can wander along the river, soak in the view, and bask in that early-blooming glory.

But if you want even more exclusivity, the Atami Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off in late January - yes January- so you can claim those Insta-worthy shots before the masses start planning their trips. Delicate blossoms line the Itokawa River like nature’s VIP section; trust us, you don’t want to miss it.

And for the grand finale, the Minami-Izu Cherry Blossom and Rapeseed Flower Festival throws in a sea of bright yellow rapeseed flowers alongside the pink sakura. It’s a full on colour explosion, running from early February to March.

So, book your trip, grab a matcha latte, and the let the petals work their magic.

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