Rite of Spring: Hoshino Resorts Unveils 2026 Sakura Stays Across Japan
Japan’s cherry blossom season in 2026 is forecast to begin a few days earlier than usual across much of the country after a mild winter with some cold snaps. The Japan Meteorological Corporation and Weather Map expect Kyoto and Tokyo to see first bloom in the second half of March, with full bloom following about a week later, while northern regions from Tōhoku to Aomori should reach their peak in early to mid‑April. To make the most of the season, Hoshino Resorts has curated a series of sakura stays from Kyoto to Aomori, pairing prime viewing spots with local culture, food and hot‑spring experiences. Here are just some of them:
HOSHINOYA Kyoto – Kyoto Prefecture
Hanami Forecast: Late March to early April
Arashiyama is one of Kyoto’s best‑known cherry blossom districts, so it is also one of the busiest. Hoshinoya Kyoto lies about a kilometre upriver from the Togetsukyō Bridge in Oku‑Arashiyama, where the gorge narrows and the tourist boats thin out, and every room looks onto the Ōi River with wide views of riverside cherry trees and wooded slopes.
Evenings are spent on the Hanazakura Terrace, a deck shaded by weeping cherry trees, where dinner is served under illuminated branches. The menu centres on spring ingredients such as cherry sea bream sashimi, clam soup with white miso and bamboo shoot rice. The next morning, guests enjoy sakura tea in the small Floating Tea Room above the river and admire the pale blossoms of yamazakura, the ancient wild mountain cherry considered the precursor to most cultivated varieties, on the opposite bank. Afterwards, they board Hisui, the property’s houseboat, for a private breakfast cruise through the Ran-kyō Gorge. The Hisui is finished in Kitayama cedar and cypress with copper fittings and hand dyed cushions, drawing on Kyoto craft traditions as it sails past sakura.
KAI Tsugaru – Aomori Prefecture
Hanami Forecast: Early to mid‑April
Cherry blossoms arrive much later in Aomori’s Tsugaru region than in central Japan. Here, KAI Tsugaru in the highlands of Ōwani, runs the “Harumachi Sakura Lantern Terrace” (14 March–14 April 2026) in its Tsugaru Four Season Water Garden so that guests can enjoy Hanami at night as well.
The Tsugaru Four Seasons Water Garden is illuminated with lanterns crafted from Tsugaru Vidro glass and Kanayama-yaki pottery, arranged to create hana akari—the ethereal, soft glow that cherry blossoms cast at twilight. Floating lamps drift across the ponds, while walkways are lit to highlight new shoots emerging in the surrounding plants. Guests who book this package can sit in the garden and enjoy a Snow Thaw amuse bouche featuring yukimuro apples, traditionally stored under snow and served as canapés with prosciutto and cheese, alongside chilled soup and hot cider served in Tsugaru Vidro glass. The experience pairs local crafts and pristine produce with tranquil views of the illuminated garden.
Aomoriya – Aomori Prefecture
Hanami Forecast: Mid‑April
In Misawa, Aomoriya brings together three things the prefecture is known for: Nebuta festival floats, apples and hot springs – a combination that is warmly welcomed when late cold snaps put a dampener on outdoor blossom viewing. From 4 March to 31 May 2026 it will host ‘Tange Hanasaka Matsuri’ (Great Blossom Festival), an indoor hanami‑themed event that continues even after most trees have dropped their petals, usually by early May.
A short corridor lined with Nanbu sakiori, a local textile, and Tsugaru Vidro glass leads to a central hall where a three-metre-tall Nebuta figure stands over more than 200 lanterns shaped like apple blossoms—a nod to Aomori’s reputation as apple country. A limited-edition Spring Bouquet Crepe made with Aomori apples and cassis is available from a small festival stall, while another offers rice crackers printed with blossom-themed fortunes. Outside, guests can soak in an onsen beneath an illuminated cherry tree and floating lamps.
KAI Anjin & KAI Ito – Shizuoka Prefecture
Hanami Forecast: Late March to early April
The Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture is known for coastal hot springs and a wide range of cherry varieties. From 27 March to 7 April 2026, KAI Anjin and KAI Ito in Ito City will run the “Sakura Open Bus Tour”, a three‑hour trip designed to take guests to see peak blossom at Sakura no Sato near Mount Ōmuro.
Guests ride an open‑top bus operated by Tokai Bus and by the company behind Sky Bus Tokyo, enjoying unobstructed views along the route. The itinerary passes through Umenokitaira, where cherry branches hang close to the upper deck, and Sakura no Sato, a well-known viewing spot with 1,500 trees representing 40 varieties, including Somei Yoshino, Kawazu-zakura and Ito-zakura. KAI staff act as guides, explaining the formation of the Izu landmass and pointing out differences between sakura cultivars, before leading a short walk in the park.
Participants can pre-order one of two special hanami bento boxes: a seafood chirashi from Izu Tarō, or a sandwich bento featuring egg sandwiches and soft-serve ice cream from Sweet House Wakaba. Guests are invited to dine under the cherry trees at Sakura no Sato before returning to KAI Anjin and KAI Ito by bus. After the tour, they can enjoy the onsen at both properties: KAI Anjin offers a large bath overlooking Suruga Bay and the city, while KAI Ito’s high-flow spring supplies 600 litres of water a minute from four sources. Seasonal cherry drinks are available in the lounges for guests to enjoy between and after baths, exclusively during the hanami period.
KAI Kinugawa – Tochigi Prefecture
Hanami Forecast: Late March to early April
Kinugawa Onsen in Tochigi Prefecture developed in the early twentieth century as a riverside resort for Tokyo residents, and now also serves as a base for visiting Nikkō’s World Heritage-listed shrines and temples. KAI Kinugawa is situated on the bank of the Kinugawa River, with most rooms and communal areas facing the gorge. With cherry blossoms blooming in the river valleys from late March to early April, the ryokan focuses on simple, on-site hanami rather than large-scale events.
Seasonal kaiseki dinners showcase Tochigi ingredients such as mountain vegetables and river fish. In the evenings, selected terraces and lounges are illuminated to frame the cherry blossoms on the opposite bank. Staff lead walks around Kinugawa, explaining its history as an onsen town and pointing out quieter viewing spots along the gorge, allowing guests to enjoy the blossoms without leaving the area.
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