#Spring

Late March through May, and the hardest season in Japan to time right. The bloom starts in the south and takes over a month to reach the north, so "cherry blossom season" lands on a different week depending on where you're headed. Golden Week, late April into early May, is the most crowded stretch of the year for trains and hotels. Articles here cover where to actually sit for hanami, plus the spring-only sweets and convenience store releases that disappear after a few weeks.