10 Cherry Blossom Types You Can Find in Japan

Have you ever wondered how many cherry blossom types there are in Japan? Did you know there are also yellow and green coloured cherry blossoms? Or for that matter, pretty multi-layer petaled cherry blossoms? 

In this article, we introduce various cherry blossom types you can find in Japan including the most common types, early and late blooming ones, and ones that you would be surprised to know are of the same family! 

First Published: 2022-04-01
Updated: 2024-02-02

Table of Contents

1. When is the Cherry Blossom Season in Japan
2. How many cherry blossom types are there in Japan? 
3. Cherry Blossom Types You Can Find in Japan
   1. Most Common Cherry Blossom Types
   2. Early and Late Blooming Cherry Blossoms
   3. Rarely Seen and Hard to Identify Cherry Blossom Types 

Cherry blossoms, called 桜 (Sakura) in Japanese, are symbols of spring in Japan. Hidden amidst their gentle beauty are important messages of life. They represent life and death, their ephemeral beauty reminding us that life is fleeting and so we should appreciate the present moment and the beauty of life. 

When is the Cherry Blossom Season in Japan

The cherry blossom season in Japan generally lasts from mid-March to early May. They bloom gradually from the south to the north. From January, weather media start releasing early forecasts of when the cherry blossoms will start blooming and when they will reach full bloom. They are a good indicator for local residents and overseas tourists alike to plan a trip to see the cherry blossoms. 

The Japan Meteorological Corporation releases a cherry blossom forecast from January, and updates the forecast as the actual dates approach. 

Japan Meteorological Corporation Cherry Blossom Forecast

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How many cherry blossom types are there in Japan? 

There are more than 600 cherry blossom types in Japan. Originally, there were only around 10 base wild cherry blossom specieses. From there, the number grew to approximately 100 through the course of natural cross-breeding between different plant varieties. Through horticulture, another 200 or so cherry blossom types were introduced. And from there, the number of cherry blossom types just kept on increasing as the hundreds of evolved cherry blossom varieties naturally cross-bred. 

Though the number of cherry blossom types at the moment is over 600, there is no telling how many more will come to exist in the following years. 

Cherry Blossom Types You Can Find in Japan

We can’t possibly introduce all 600 cherry blossoms there are, but we can tell you about those that particularly stand out. 

Most Common Cherry Blossom Types

Starting with the most commonly available cherry blossom species you can find in Japan.

1. Somei-Yoshino (染井吉野・ソメイヨシノ)

Somei-Yoshino are the most common and popular type of cherry blossom in Japan. When talking about sakura, they are the iconic five petal and soft pink species that immediately come to mind. It can be said that they are the “representative cherry blossom”. 

Somei-Yoshino are characterised by their five pink almost white petals to each flower. The flowers grow in small clusters of at least three to five flowers. And, they have stamens that are yellow to orange in colour. 

Somei-Yoshino carry a special meaning. Orderliness is important to the Japanese who strive for systematic approaches in life, and Somei-Yoshino are the perfect living representation of that. The Somei-Yoshino’s flowers and leaves do not grow at the same time. Only after their flowers have budded and blossomed do the leaves start growing in. 

Another important thing to know about the Somei-Yoshino is that due to their large numbers across Japan, cherry blossom forecasts are based on them - when they start to blossom, and when they come into full bloom. 

2. Yamazakura (山桜)

Yamazakura is a wild cherry blossom species found all across Japan. As its name suggests, 山 (Yama) meaning “mountains”, Yamazakura are typically found in mountainous areas. It is one of the oldest species of cherry blossoms in Japan, and are “ancestor” to many “modern” cherry blossom types that exist after crossbreeding with Yamazakura. 

Yamazakura produce flowers in a colour range of white to soft pink. As the ancestor species to Somei-Yoshino, their flowers are almost identical. The biggest difference is that Yamzakura’s flowers grow at the same time as its leaves. 

3. Shidare-zakura (枝垂桜)

Shidarezakura are “weeping cherry blossoms” due to its similar appearance to a weeping tree. Like a weeping willow, its branches droop down at the tips. This unique characteristic makes the Shidarezakura one of the most popular cherry blossom types, as its dropping branches covered with cherry blossoms resemble a curtain of pink. 

Shidarezakura is actually not a cherry blossom species. Rather, “Shidarezakura” is a term used to identify all cherry blossom types with “weeping characteristics”. Some shidarezakura types are: 

• Ito Shidare (糸枝垂れ)
• Shidare Yamazkura (枝垂れ山桜)
• Benishidare (紅枝垂れ)

Some of the best places to find Shidare-zakura include:

• Rikugien Garden in Tokyo
• Nicchusen and Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima Prefecture 
• Ohirasan Prefectural Natural Park in Tochigi

4. Edohiganzakura (江戸彼岸桜)

Edohiganzakura, like Yamazakura, is a primitive and wild species of cherry blossom. Edohiganzakura have very long lives with many of Japan’s oldest sakura trees belonging to the species. 

The oldest cherry blossom tree in Japan, the Jindai-zakura 神代桜 (above image), is a 2000 years old Edohigan-zakura tree. Behold its marvellous beauty. 

Another characteristic of the Edohiganzakura is its flowers growing and blooming before the leaves come in. Sounds familiar? This is the same characteristic that the Somei-Yoshino has. This is because the Edohiganzakura is another ancestor of the Somei-Yoshino who inherited this gene. 

Early and Late Blooming Cherry Blossoms

Here, we introduce cherry blossom types that are known for their earlier or later blooming times. 

5. Kawazuzakura (河津桜)

Kawazuzakura are the earliest blooming cherry blossom types in Japan that usually start blooming in early February until early March. They are named after the place where they were first discovered - Kawazu in Shizuoka Prefecture. 

The Kawazuzakura has five petals for each flower. Their petals are slightly larger than other cherry blossom species. What makes them stand out from other specieses is their darker shade of pink. The flower’s centre is also a much darker colour of deep red to maroon. 

6. Yaezakura (八重桜)

Yaezakura are late bloomers, only blossoming around mid March to early April. Similar in concept to the Shidarezakura, “Yaezakura” is a general term for cherry blossom species that have more than the usual five petals. Some species of Yaezakura include Kanzan (関山) and Kikuzakura (菊桜). A popular and easily accessible spot to see Yaezakura is Shinjuku Gyoen in the heart of Tokyo. 　　　　　 　　　

7. Chishimazakura（千島桜）

Chishimazakura are the latest bloomers among cherry blossom species. This is greatly attributed to their location which is Hokkaido, and mountainous areas in Shikoku and Kyushu. They usually bloom from late April to mid March. Nemuro City in Hokkaido is a famous spot to admire Chishimazakura with many people visiting during Golden Week. 

Chishimazakura’s flowers have a colour range of white to soft pink to dark pink. Their petals are longer and more oval shaped. The Chishimazakura is very short, more like a shrub than a tree with its branches growing in all directions which makes them unsuitable for roadside planting.

Rarely Seen and Hard to Identify Cherry Blossom Types 

“ I can’t believe it’s sakura!” is what you may think when you come across these flowers that, despite their appearances, are of the same plant family as cherry blossoms. 

9. Gyoiko (御衣黄)

Although green in colour, Gyoiko are still cherry blossoms. Gyoiko has green flowers that bloom for a short period from mid-April till the end of the month. They may also come in a light green almost yellow colour, or green with a red centre. 

In Japanese, Gyoi (御衣) means “imperial clothing”. Gyoiko’s name is derived from olden day garments worn by imperials that are usually yellow (黄) in colour. Some places to see Gyoiko include:

Kyoto

• Uho-in 
• Hirano Shrine 

Tokyo

• Shinjuku Gyoen 
• Hamarikyu-en 
• Shirasasa Inari Shrine 

10. Ukonzakura (鬱金桜)

Ukonzakura are another type of rare coloured cherry blossom. They are a light yellow colour. Another interesting thing about the flower is that it slowly turns pink after blossoming. Just like Gyoiko, Ukonzakura are hard to identify as being a cherry blossom. Similarly, they bloom around mid to end of April. 

There are few places to find Ukonzakura, but here are some places in Tokyo you can see them: 

• Shirasasa Inari Shrine
• Yoyogi Park
• Shinjuku Gyoen
• Hikarigaoka Park

To Close

It’s quite interesting to know that there are so many cherry blossom types out there. And to think these are only a tiny fraction of hundreds of available species. Why not study up on the different types of sakura? Who knows, you might just become a cherry blossom expert the next time you go hanami.