Yesterday, Wednesday, December 25, the standard Atami cherry tree along the Itokawa Promenade was confirmed to be in bloom! Some trees began blooming in mid-December, but the standard tree has finally opened. This Atami cherry is a variety of the cold-loving Kanzakura cherry, native to India, that typically blooms from early January through February. Around 1871, an Italian introduced it, along with lemon and date palm, to Atami. It was named “Atami sakura” during the 1965 Flower-Filled Movement, and on April 10, 1977 (the city’s 40th anniversary), it was designated as Atami City’s official tree. Because the same branch can form early-blooming and later-blooming buds in two stages, the blossoms can usually be enjoyed for more than a month each year. The Cherry Blossom Festival opens after the New Year together with the Plum Festival! During the cherry blossom festival, you can expect nighttime illumination, servings of cherry blossom tea and green tea, street performances, sword dances, and band performances—so please come see the blossoms. The 15th Atami Sakura Itokawa Cherry Blossom Festival runs Saturday, January 11 through Sunday, February 9, 2025. https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/208 Regarding bloom updates, we will post them on the page above as soon as the city hall survey materials arrive, so please refer to that information.