Kofu, Japan (Under the Sample Tree)
My Perfect Cherry Blossom Picnic
Japan's first cherry blossoms opened on March 16, the earliest ever in Kofu. I planned a picnic.
Japan’s first cherry blossoms of 2026 opened on Monday in Kofu, Gifu and Kochi. In Kofu, it was the earliest since records began in 1953. Picnicking under the blossoms is called hanami, and I’ve planned the perfect one.
The Plan
6:00 a.m. Claim the best spot. Spread out a blanket. A big one, bigger than everyone’s.
9:00 a.m. Lunch. The blossoms came early, so lunch does too. Respect the theme.
Noon. Count the petals. Official count: a lot.
2:00 p.m. Nap. Petals fall on my face. I leave them. They look good on me.
4:00 p.m. A short speech to the tree, thanking it for being early. Punctuality is rare. I want to encourage it.
What I Learned
The sample tree is a real thing. Experts watch one particular tree, and when five or six flowers open, they announce the season. I applied to be the tree. They said it isn’t that kind of job. So I applied to watch it instead. Short hours, great view, and the whole country waits for your call.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a sample tree?
An official tree that experts watch. When five or six flowers open on it, the season begins. Very important tree.
What's the best picnic food?
Anything somebody else carried.