Overview
- On March 16, meteorological offices confirmed Somei-Yoshino blossoms in Gifu City and Kochi City as the earliest among Japan’s observation sites.
- In Gifu, staff observed the Shimizugawa embankment sample tree around 10 a.m. and verified at least five blossoms, the threshold for an official declaration.
- Gifu’s bloom came nine days earlier than both the long-term average and last year, tying its earliest on record there in 1989, 2021, and 2023.
- In Kochi, six blossoms were confirmed on the Kochi Castle Sannomaru sample tree, seven days earlier than in 2025 and six days earlier than the average.
- Kochi maintained its status as the nation’s first bloom for a third consecutive year.