Sakura Season Whisky Guide

2025 Sakura Forecast & Whisky Distilleries 
This sakura-season whisky guide highlights the best times and places to enjoy Japanese whisky while surrounded by cherry blossoms while visiting distilleries.

Hyogo (Akashi / Eigashima Distillery – White Oak Whisky)
🌸 First bloom: March 26 🌸 Full bloom: April 2
Why visit? Near Kobe, this coastal distillery produces one of Japan’s first single malts, with beautiful sakura blooms in the surrounding area.

Saitama (Chichibu Distillery – Ichiro’s Malt)
🌸 First bloom: March 25 🌸 Full bloom: April 1
Why visit? A cult favorite among whisky lovers, Chichibu produces highly sought-after small-batch whisky in a rural setting with gorgeous cherry blossoms.

Nagano (Hakushu Distillery – Suntory)
🌸 First bloom: April 5 🌸 Full bloom: April 12
Why visit? Nestled in the Japanese Alps, Hakushu is known for its fresh, crisp whisky and breathtaking sakura views in its lush forest surroundings.

Hiroshima (Togouchi Distillery – Sakurao Brewery & Distillery)
🌸 First bloom: March 27 🌸 Full bloom: April 3
Why visit? Togouchi whisky is uniquely aged in a tunnel in the Hiroshima mountains, with sakura-covered hillsides making spring an ideal time to visit.

Osaka (Yamazaki Distillery – Suntory)
🌸 First bloom: March 22 🌸 Full bloom: March 29
Why visit? Japan’s oldest malt whisky distillery is located near Kyoto, offering stunning sakura views along the Katsura River, a famous cherry blossom spot.

Fukushima (Yamazakura Distillery – Sasanokawa Shuzo)
🌸 First bloom: April 3 🌸 Full bloom: April 10
Why visit? A historic distillery with deep roots in sake-making, Yamazakura’s smooth whisky pairs well with the region’s beautiful cherry blossoms.

Miyagi (Miyagikyo Distillery – Nikka)
🌸 First bloom: April 10 🌸 Full bloom: April 15
Why visit? Set in a picturesque valley, Miyagikyo produces elegant, fruity whisky, with cherry blossoms blooming beautifully in the surrounding mountains.

Hokkaido (Yoichi Distillery – Nikka)
🌸 First bloom: May 1 🌸 Full bloom: May 5
Why visit? Located on Japan’s northernmost main island, Yoichi’s peaty, coastal whisky is best enjoyed under the region’s late-blooming cherry blossoms.

Nagano (Shinshu Mars Distillery – Hombo Shuzo)
🌸 First bloom: April 10 🌸 Full bloom: April 15
Why visit? Japan’s highest-altitude whisky distillery offers fresh mountain-air aging, with sakura in full bloom against the backdrop of the Nagano Alps.

Shizuoka (Shizuoka Distillery – Gaia Flow Whisky)
🌸 First bloom: March 24 🌸 Full bloom: March 31
Why visit? Between Mt. Fuji and the Pacific Ocean, Shizuoka Distillery is known for its innovative whisky-making, with cherry blossoms lining nearby rivers.

Source: Japan Meteorological Corporation