Sakura season is here again.

From south to north

Every year, Japan’s cherry blossoms first appear in February or March in southern Japan, Okinawa, before moving northwards to Hokkaido by early May.

They can start blooming as early as January, such as this year.

The blooming of bright cherry blossoms, otherwise known as Sakura, coincides with spring.

Even though the blossoming follows an upward shift from the south to the north of the archipelago, cherry blossoms in different parts of the city peak at different times.

Natural factors such as weather and unprecedented rainfall play a role.

Most Sakura flowers take a week to reach full bloom and that the full bloom also lasts around a week.

Kawazu, located in the Izu Peninsula, is home to a unique variety of sakura that blooms typically at the beginning of February.

The cherry blossoms, called Kawazuzakura, last for about a month, compared to the usual Sakura that blooms and wilts within one to two weeks.

Here is a forecast of cherry blossoms in Japan in 2019:

According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation, the sakura season is expected to arrive slightly later than last year.

For instance, cherry blossoms in Tokyo start flowering on Mar. 22 this year, five days later than last year.

In the North, first bloom in Sapporo is expected to be on May. 4, eight days later than last year's full bloom.

As such, you might be able to catch Sakura flowers in the second week of May in the North.

Top photo from Japan Rail Pass.