Japan is now associated with this tree’s telltale drifts of powder pink. They’re on many travelers’ bucket lists, but given their fleeting appearance in an ever-changing 11-day window, securing a visit is becoming increasingly difficult for international visitors.
It is important to note that the time when we see the most cherry blossoms varies from year to year depending on the weather. If the weather is warm in the preceding weeks, the flowers will open early.
“Spring warming is the most important determinant of cherry blossom timing,” said Richard B Primack, a researcher and professor of biology at Boston University, whose lab focuses on how climate change affects the calendar of seasonal biological events. “And as spring warms up, the cherry trees bloom earlier. »
According to Primack, sakura bloom times have been recorded across Japan for hundreds of years, making it one of the best-documented examples of the biological effects of climate change in the world.
“Yoshino cherries are now blooming about two weeks earlier than they were 50 to 60 years ago, and this is due to warmer weather associated with climate change,” Primack said.
If travelers find themselves surprised by sakura changes, it’s important to be flexible in your itinerary. Are you arriving too late for peak bloom in Tokyo or Kyoto? Try heading north to be sure to catch some: the last time you can see the petals in Japan is in Hokkaido in May. Want to observe flowering in early spring? Then head to the semi-tropical region of Okinawa in January.
The path to follow
Since the progress of cherries is followed so enthusiastically in Japan, researchers hope that such abrupt changes in these phenological events will raise public awareness of the impact of climate change and encourage citizens to take action.
But when it comes to tackling climate change, Japan still has a long way to go, says Hanna Hakko, senior associate at E3G, an independent climate change think tank in Tokyo.
“Japan currently faces significant challenges in achieving its mid-term and 2050 climate goals,” she said. “Several analyzes indicate that Japan is failing to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, particularly in the electricity sector. The government and private sector must step up efforts by implementing policies and increasing investments to decommission coal-fired power plants, expand renewable energy and improve energy efficiency.
Japan is now associated with this tree’s telltale drifts of powder pink. They’re on many travelers’ bucket lists, but given their fleeting appearance in an ever-changing 11-day window, securing a visit is becoming increasingly difficult for international visitors.
It is important to note that the time when we see the most cherry blossoms varies from year to year depending on the weather. If the weather is warm in the preceding weeks, the flowers will open early.
“Spring warming is the most important determinant of cherry blossom timing,” said Richard B Primack, a researcher and professor of biology at Boston University, whose lab focuses on how climate change affects the calendar of seasonal biological events. “And as spring warms up, the cherry trees bloom earlier. »
According to Primack, sakura bloom times have been recorded across Japan for hundreds of years, making it one of the best-documented examples of the biological effects of climate change in the world.
“Yoshino cherries are now blooming about two weeks earlier than they were 50 to 60 years ago, and this is due to warmer weather associated with climate change,” Primack said.
If travelers find themselves surprised by sakura changes, it’s important to be flexible in your itinerary. Are you arriving too late for peak bloom in Tokyo or Kyoto? Try heading north to be sure to catch some: the last time you can see the petals in Japan is in Hokkaido in May. Want to observe flowering in early spring? Then head to the semi-tropical region of Okinawa in January.
The path to follow
Since the progress of cherries is followed so enthusiastically in Japan, researchers hope that such abrupt changes in these phenological events will raise public awareness of the impact of climate change and encourage citizens to take action.
But when it comes to tackling climate change, Japan still has a long way to go, says Hanna Hakko, senior associate at E3G, an independent climate change think tank in Tokyo.
“Japan currently faces significant challenges in achieving its mid-term and 2050 climate goals,” she said. “Several analyzes indicate that Japan is failing to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, particularly in the electricity sector. The government and private sector must step up efforts by implementing policies and increasing investments to decommission coal-fired power plants, expand renewable energy and improve energy efficiency.