Cherry Blossom Photo Tours - Tracking Fickle Blossoms

Leading a Japan Cherry Blossom photo workshop tour means being versatile.  Sakura or cherry blossoms flourish at different times depending on which region of Japan you are visiting, so JDS Japan Cherry blossom tours often become a cross-country adventure, chasing the blooming flowers across Japan searching for full bloom sakura, locally referred to as ’満開’.  To catch the cherry blossoms in full bloom, one needs to ceaselessly check seasonal weather charts month to weeks to days ahead as the weather is the key in determining when the blossoms will be in perfect bloom.  Many run of the mill photography tour agencies rely on Google updates or the information relayed via popular websites giving the information about cherry blossoms, and schedule a visit to only one location that is reported to have the best cherry blossoms.  Of the opinion that is all that’s needed to get the quintessential cherry blossom tour experience of a lifetime.  We at JDS hate to be the bearer of bad news, but after more than two decades of experience in Japan leading Cherry Blossom photography nature tours and workshops, we know that kind of close-minded itinerary planning will almost definitely lead to disappointment, but if you happen to catch the perfect cherry blossom, you are super luck - beyond lucky!  The moment after you’ve taken your last photo, you should go and buy a lottery ticket because that will be the luckiest day of your life.  Mother Nature has her own timing, and that means being mobile in pursuit of the perfect sakura.