Dragon Quest slime donuts draw near in Tokyo!

Our stomachs are commanding us to eat them.

Even with RPGs having largely moved away from random monster encounters in the modern era, there are few situations that bring more joy to adventurers than when a slime appears. Specifically, we’re talking about the slimes found in Dragon Quest, who started out in a purely adversarial role but have since evolved into the series’ most recognizable mascot character, making their sudden appearances feel like pop-in visits from an old friend.

But while it’s always a joy when slimes show up in Dragon Quest games, we think we may have found an even more welcome place for them to appear: inside donuts!

Among the dining options in Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood is Luida’s Bar, named after the recurring tavern-managing character who first appeared in Dragon Quest III (and who’s also known as Patty in English overseas versions of the games).

As of March 3, this Dragon Quest-themed restaurant is holding its Slime Sweets Fair Valentine’s and White Day Event, and although it’s a little strange to start a Valentine’s Day promotion more than two weeks after February 14, one of the bet ways to get people to give you a pass on tardiness is by offering them adorable, delicious-looking desserts, which is just what Luida’s Bar is doing with its slime donuts, which are actually full-on dessert combo sets.

The Slime Pop Donut and Hot Chocolate-Chocolate Version (pictured above) gets you a donut covered in chocolate glaze and sprinkles with a slime made of iced chocolate mousse perched in the center. This is accompanied by a glass of hot chocolate and a dish of merengue slimes, which you can either eat on their own or plunk into the hot chocolate where they’ll charmingly bob around while melting into the beverage and making it even more decadently flavorful.

If you’re looking for something that’s both fun and fruity, there’s also a Slime Pop Donut and Hot Ruby Chocolate-Raspberry Version set, with a different drink and glaze.

▼ And yes, some of the sprinkles appear to be slime-shaped too!

『バレンタイン＆ホワイトデーイベント
～スライムスイーツフェア～』の開催が決定！

2025年3月3日(月)～2025年3月31日(月)の間、
期間限定メニューが登場いたします。

▼詳しくはコチラをご覧ください▼https://t.co/2ZHf65muut#ルイーダの酒場 #DQ #ドラクエ #15周年 pic.twitter.com/q90klldza6

— 【公式】LUIDA'S BAR ～ルイーダの酒場～ (@LUIDAS_BAR_DQ) February 28, 2025

Both of the slime donut sets are priced, as per the restaurant’s terminology, at 1,650 gold, which converts to 1,650 yen (US$11.15). The Slime Sweets Fair Valentine’s and White Day Event will be going on until March 31, meaning that it will be possible to eat slime donuts on White Day (March 14), but bear in mind that Luida’s Bar requires reservations on weekends and holidays, which can be made through the restaurant’s website here.

Restaurant information
Luida’s Bar / ルイーダの酒場
Address: Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Soto Kanda 1-1-10
東京都千代田区外神田１丁目１−１０
Open 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Website

Source: PR Times
Top image: Luida’s Bar
Insert images: Twitter/@luidas_bar_dq, Luida’s Bar, PR Times
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Is Starbucks Japan’s new sakura matcha Frappuccino a green tea lover’s dream?

Final limited-edition drink for cherry blossom season is giving traditional Japanese sweet vibes.

Every year, Starbucks gives us not one but two limited-edition Frappuccinos in the lead-up to cherry blossom season, and this year is no different, with the White Peach and Sakura Warabi Mochi Frappuccino released on 15 February and the Matcha and Sakura Warabi Mochi Frappuccino released on 28 February.

After being delighted by the first cherry blossom offering, our resident Starbucks expert K. Masami hotfooted it down to her nearest branch to get a taste of the new, and final, sakura Frappuccino of the year.

▼ The chain recommends soy milk so highly for this particular drink that it’s offering the normally 50-yen (US$0.33) customisation for free, so Masami took advantage of the offer.

As a diehard matcha fan, Masami took advantage of some other free customisations, namely extra matcha powder, no syrup, and for it to be served in a glass, so she could fully enjoy the inner beauty of the drink, all for 690 yen.

Holding it up to the light allowed Masami to get a good look at the different layers, with sakura warabi mochi (a jelly-like bracken starch confection) in the base, whipped cream with a saucy pink drizzle up top, and a rich green body of matcha in between.

▼ The pink sauce contains strawberry and sakura flavours, and is accented with a sprinkling of strawberry and raspberry powder.

It looked like a very Japanese beverage, and when she tried a spoonful containing all the different components, she found it tasted like one too. Somehow, the fruity accents made it even seem somewhat celebratory. The sweetness and mild bitterness of the matcha powder, along with the perfect compatibility of the chewy warabi mochi, was simply perfect.

Photos©SoraNews24
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One Piece Day to be held outside Japan for the first time this March, admission is FREE!

A huge event in a huge state is in the cards.

For a few years now, One Piece fans have been flocking in growing numbers to the annual One Piece Day celebration held in Japan during the summer. It’s a large-scale convention with exhibits, games, announcements, and many live appearances from voice actors and musicians connected to the world of the long-running series.

However, One Piece is also a series that transcends borders and is loved around the world, so it’s only right that One Piece Day can also be enjoyed by people in other countries. That’s why this year, a very special One Piece Day will land in the USA and be held in Dallas, Texas. In its true fashion, there’s so much stuff going on that this “day” will actually be two days, on 8 and 9 March.

The theme of this event will be the official trading card game and it will be the venue for the world’s first regional qualifying round for the One Piece Trading Card Game Championship 25-26 season. A whopping 3,000 people are expected to participate across the two-day event to determine who will advance this season. This jam-packed competition will also be honored in the form of a 10-minute drone show at 7:30 in the evening of 8 March.

All the popular features of Japan’s One Piece Day festivities will also be there, including exhibits of artwork and merchandise displays, as well as a reading area that will have every volume of the One Piece manga available to read in English, though good luck getting through it all in just two days.

There will also be panel discussions featuring English voice actors Brina Palencia (Chopper) and Jason Liebrecht (Rob Lucci) and performances by theme-song legends Hiroshi Kitadani and Maki Otsuki. There are some surprise Japanese guests expected to appear as well.

▼ Clockwise from top left: Maki Otsuki, Jason Liebrecht, Hiroshi Kitadani, Brina Palencia

And the best part of it all is that admission to this huge event is absolutely free! All you need to do is set up an account on the Bandai TCG+ app, select One Piece, set your region to USA, and press the “Apply” button for “(Late Entry) General Entry” which will grant you access to the venue, as well as some free swag in the form of limited edition One Piece TCG cards and tote bag. Just be sure to do it before the 5 March deadline.

Participation in the card tournament requires a fee, but as of this writing, all the slots appear to be filled. You can check the official website for up-to-the-minute details. Also, fans in the U.S. are in for a treat with the release of the English version of the One Piece Base app that lets you read back issues of the series with animated synopses and has a portrait generator that converts your face into Eiichiro Oda’s distinctive style.

And much like past One Piece Days, the main stage programs will be livestreamed on the English One Piece YouTube channel during which an announcement regarding the anime will be made for the first time.

So, however you plan to do so, be sure to check out this monumental event in One Piece history and hopefully look forward to more like it in a country near you.

Event information
One Piece Day Dallas – Card Game Celebration
Venue: Fair Park (at Centennial Hall, Automobile Building and Esplanade Fountain)
3809 Grand Avenue, Dallas, Texas
Date: 8 & 9 March, 2025, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. both days
Website

Images: ©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation
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The new world’s smallest park is in Japan, and it’s so tiny you might not even notice it【Video】

Guinness World Records awards designation to Shizuoka town after thorough measuring of dimensions.

Thee aren’t too many more obvious examples of dreaming big than trying to set a world record. For the town of Nagaizumi in Shizuoka Prefecture, though, their entry into the list of world record holders was achieved by thinking small.

On February 25, a representative of the Guinness World Records organization visited Nagaizumi and certified that the smallest park in the world is located within the town. Just how small is it? Well, you can see the park in the Google Streetview image below.

And no, you don’t have to change the viewing angle to see the park. Still having trouble spotting it? It’s right here!

▼ A video visit to the park

https://twitter.com/GWRJapan/status/1894295145870495890

Yes, this tiny little green space is officially designated a park by the Nagaizumi municipal government. Its total area of just 0.24 square meters (2.59 square feet), which, Guiness helpfully explains, is less than two A3-size sheets of paper. So basically the park takes up less space than an unfolded newspaper. Guiness points out, however, that it has an entrance, grass, and even a “bench,” though you could make the argument that a bench that only seats one person and has no backrest is really more of a stool.

https://twitter.com/GWR/status/1894394245319987679

Guiness does everything by the book, so its representatives had to perform an official survey of the park, which required only a tape measure, and less than 50 centimeters of its length at that.

▼ “Following a strict examination, the Guiness World Records organization recognizes Nagaizumi’s park, with an area of 0.24 square meters, as the smallest in the world,” the representative said.

Nagaizumi’s park was originally constructed in 1988, but it wasn’t until December of last year that was officially designated a park by the city government, under the logic that it’s a green space where people (or a person, at least) can rest and relax. That governmental designation seems to have been a prerequisite for eligibility for the world’s record, though some Japanese online reactions still aren’t sure they’d call it a park.

“Oh, wow, this is close to my house. I’ve seen it, but I didn’t know it was a park.”
“So it’s a park that only the person who shows up first can use?”
“That aint no park.”
“It’s so cute.”
“It looks like a really luxurious hamster grave.”
“I wanna have a picnic there.”

If you too would like to hit the park up for a picnic, here’s where to find it on Google Maps…

…and there’s even a gelato shop just a little up the street, if you want to pick up dessert on your way.

Just remember that if you’re picnicking with a friend, you’ll need to take turns sitting down.

Source: Guinness World Records via Hachima Kiko, Twitter/@GWRJapan, Daiichi TV
Images: Guinness World Records
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A real-world Pokémon that people can actually ride is on the way from Honda【Video】

Motorcycle-like Legendary Pokémon is being brought to life by Japan’s top bike builder.

Every year on February 27 the Pokémon franchise celebrates Pokémon Day, commemorating the release date of the original Pocket Monster Red and Green games back in 1996. The festivities always include a few special surprises as upcoming Pokémon projects are partnerships are unveiled, but this year’s Pokémon Day brought some especially awesome-sounding news: there’s a real-world, ridable Koraidon on the way!

A joint project between the Pokémon Company and Honda, the two organizations have been working to bring the motorcycle-like Legendary Pokémon from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet out of the digital realm and into our world for several months, with the project under wraps until now. One goal is for the Honda Koraidon to look the part, with styling and size as close to the official specs for the Pokémon as possible, including having its limbs and head move as they do within the game.

The other objective, though, is for the Koraidon to be rideable, and the involvement of members of Honda’s two-wheeled vehicle development team is very encouraging. Whereas the Miraidon made by Toyota last year faked its Drive Mode and could move only a short distance by scooting on its belly, the Honda Koraidon’s Sprinting Build is planned to be an actual motorcycle, leveraging Honda’s bike-building expertise which Toyota, not being in that field, lacks.

While the Koraidon isn’t ready to be ridden just yet, Honda is ready to show off the bike itself, and it’ll be on display at the company’s Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama in downtown Tokyo on March 7 from 1 to 6 p.m. and March 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. And though the announcement says that “Visitors cannot ride the Honda Koraidon this time,” those last two words imply that this won’t be the last we see of it.

Related: Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama official website
Source: Honda via Twitter/@Pokemon_cojp
Images: YouTube/本田技研工業株式会社 (Honda)
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Relax at Haneda Airport’s sky-high hot spring and enjoy a Hololive collaboration

Soak in a high-quality bath while watching planes soar overhead, only steps away from the airport.

For most travelers, the airport experience revolves around check-in and security procedures, before wandering around duty free waiting for their gate number to be called. After all, no one wants to miss their flight. However, for those looking to unwind a little before or after their journey, Haneda Airport offers a hot spring that is directly connected to the terminal.

▼ Izumi Tenku no Yu

To get there you must first pass through Haneda Airport Garden, a shopping facility located on the second floor of Terminal 3. The first area you will encounter is a street lined with shops selling traditional crafts, so it’s a great chance to pick up last-minute souvenirs before your flight.

As an extra benefit from now until 16 March, the shopping mall is holding a collaboration with Hololive’s Shiranui Construction unit, so let’s take a moment to stop and take a look at what the virtual YouTube talent agency is selling.

▼ The five members of the unit

Fans will be happy to see these familiar faces in the shopping area.

▼ President: Shiranui Flare

▼ Vice President: Omaru Polka

▼ Head of Public Relations & Planning (and Head of Sales): Hoshimachi Suisei

▼ Head of Education: Sakura Miko

▼ Intern: Shirogane Noel

If you’re here specifically for Hololive, you can pick up some special goods in the “Room 2” sales space during the event period.

If you’re here for the baths, you can make a beeline for Izumi Tenku no Yu, the hot spring on the 12th floor of Hotel Villa Fontaine Premier, which essentially serves as the hotel’s bathhouse, making it a convenient option if you’re traveling or staying nearby.

Upon entry, you put your shoes into a locker and take the key, as this will act as your entry wristband and can be used to make purchases throughout the facility, with payment being finalized when it is time to leave. However, there’s a little catch: the entry fee is a rather pricey 4,800 yen (US$32.12). Even hotel guests aren’t completely off the hook; they still have to pay 2,000 yen to use it. So, what does the facility provide to justify its sky-high cost?

▼ Children aged 0-3, or who are in diapers, cannot enter

There is a dining area, a stone sauna, a relaxation space, and the bathhouse itself.

The wall facing the airport has massive windows, offering sweeping views of Haneda Airport and, while much of the runway can’t be seen, you still get to enjoy watching planes take off and land.

The relaxation area has reclining chairs that tilt back almost like beds. With such a pleasant and spacious area, it’s no wonder that so many people can be found fast asleep on the chairs. If you need some shut-eye after a refreshing bath, then this makes for a perfect location. Be careful not to sleep past 1:00 a.m. though, or you’ll end up incurring the additional late night charge of 4,000 yen.

What about the main attraction: the baths? The promotional photos make the baths look spacious with a fantastic view.

In reality, the baths feel smaller than they appeared in the photos, and the lower part of the windows, both inside and out, are frosted. Perfect for privacy, but not exactly ideal if you were hoping to get stunning views while you soak in the bath. That being said, it’s still very possible to stretch out and gaze at the sky, watching planes fly overhead.

So, is it worth the hefty price tag? The atmosphere and facility quality are undeniably top-tier, which, on top of the convenient location, definitely makes the money spent worthwhile. They even provide sunrise times and the best viewing spots.

It is open 24 hours, although the baths can’t be used between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. due to cleaning. There’s no need to bring anything, as all amenities and towels are provided. Take note, however, that they don’t allow you to bring in your suitcases or carry-on luggage if they have wheels, so you’ll have to leave them at the Omotenashi Center on the second floor (next to the entrance to the hotel) or in a coin locker.

While not quite on par with Narita Airport’s hidden gem, Sora no Yu, it’s still a great spot to unwind, whether before or after a flight, while waiting for your hotel check-in time, or just escaping Tokyo’s rush hour.

Facility information
Haneda Kuko Izumi Tenku no Yu / 羽田空港 泉天空の湯
Address: Tokyo-to, Ota-ku, Haneda Airport 2-chome 7-1
東京都大田区羽田空港2丁目7−1
Open 24 hours
Website

Related links: Haneda Airport Garden, Shiranui Construction Colloboration, PR Times
Photos ©SoraNews24
Insert image: PR Times
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Japan’s original virtual YouTuber returns after a three-year hiatus with new music video【Video】

Welcome back, Kizuna AI.

With virtual YouTubers/VTubers having established a lasting space in the Japanese entertainment landscape, it’s easy to forget that there didn’t used to be nearly so many of them. As a matter of fact, if you go back to just 2016, Japan had only one VTuber, Kizuna AI.

If you’re thinking you haven’t seen much of Kizuna AI lately, you’re correct, but that’s not because she’s gotten lost in the shuffle of the now crowded entertainment sphere she pioneered. On February 26, 2022, following the Kizuna AI The Last Live Hello, World 2022 event, Kizuna went on indefinite hiatus. Indefinite doesn’t mean permanent, though, and on Wednesday, exactly three years to the day since she started her break, Kizuna announced via video that she’s back!

Showing off her new room and retouched design, Kizuna explained her extended absence by saying “I went to sleep to update so that I could connect with even more people around the world,” during which she came to the conclusion that “If I [want] to connect with more people on a deeper level, music [is] the best way to do it,” and so Kizuna’s comeback project is music-focused, with her newest single, titled “Kamone,” already having an animated music video.

Kizuna isn’t taken a timid approach to her latest project, either. She says she plans to release more than 10 songs this year, enough for an album, and that her next release is only a few weeks away, with a projected release date of either March 12 or 19. “I also think that music transcends barriers like language and preconceptions,” she adds, implying that she’ll be making a global push to connect with fans.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that Kizuna is going full idol and dropping the laid-back VTuber part of her activities, though. In announcing her comeback she specifically says “The newly updated Kizuna AI will focus on music activities first,” implying that non-musical endeavors haven’t been ruled out, but are simply on the back burner while she reestablishes her singing career.

Source: PR Times
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: YouTube/KizunaAI – A.I.Channel, PR Times
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Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year

Maps and projected dates present a great opportunity for travelers looking to chase the cherry blossoms from one end of Japan to the other.

We’re down to less than a month to go until this year’s cherry blossoms are expected to appear in Japan, which means the inexact science of predicting when the sakura will blossom, as well as when they’ll reach full bloom, is getting increasingly trustworthy. Japanese meteorological service Weather News has just released its latest forecast, so let’s all get out our cherry blossom viewing calendars and fill in the updates.

Akita (秋田): April 13
Aomori (青森): April 18
Kagoshima (鹿児島): March 25
Kanazawa (金沢): April 2 (1 day later than previous prediction)
Kushiro (釧路): May 7
Nagano (長野): April 7
Nagoya (名古屋): March 24
Niigata (新潟): April 6 (1 day later than previous prediction)
Osaka (大阪): March 26
Sapporo (札幌): April 24
Sendai (仙台): April 5 (1 day later than previous prediction)
Tokyo (東京): March 21

Tokyo is still predicted to be where the buds of the Somei Yoshino, Japan’s most prevalent and iconic sakura species, will first open, with the capital’s estimated start-of-blooming date holding steady at March 21. Compared to the previous forecast from a few weeks ago, Weather News has moved dates in other parts of the country back just a skosh, but overall the sakura are still expected to show up earlier than they did last year in most areas of Japan.

▼ Kyushu regional forecast: Fukuoka (福岡), Saga, (佐賀), Oita (大分), Nagasaki (長崎), Miyazaki (宮崎), Kumamoto (熊本), and Kagoshima (鹿児島)

▼ Chugoku/Shikoku forecast: Shimonoseki (下関), Hiroshima (広島), Matsue (松江), Tottori (鳥取), Matsuyama (松山), Kochi (高知), Takamatsu (高松), Tokushima (徳島), and Okayama (岡山)

▼ Kansai/Kinki forecast: Kobe (神戸), Wakayama (和歌山), Osaka (大阪), Nara (奈良), Kyoto (京都), and Hikone (彦根)

▼ Tokai forecast: Tsu (津), Gifu (岐阜), Nagoya (名古屋), and Shizuoka (静岡)

▼ Hokuriku forecast: Fukui (福井), Kanazawa (金沢), Toyama (富山), and Niigata (新潟)

▼ Kanto/Koshin forecast: Nagano (長野), Kofu (甲府), Maebashi (前橋), Yokohama (横浜), Tokyo (東京), Choshi (銚子), Kumagaya (熊谷), Mito (水戸), and Utsunomiya (宇都宮)

▼ Tohoku forecast: Aomori (青森), Akita (秋田), Morioka (盛岡), Yamagata (山形), Sendai (仙台), and Fukushima (福島)

▼ Hokkaido: Sapporo (札幌), Wakkanai (稚内), Asahikawa (旭川), Abashiri (網走), Kushiro (釧路), Obihiro (帯広), Muroran (室蘭), and Hakodate (函館)

A number of gardens, parks, and castles become major destinations for both domestic and international travelers during sakura season, and the predicted start-of-blooming dates have been updated for a number of the top viewing venues.

Ueno Park (上野恩賜公園) (Tokyo): March 22
Maizuru Park (舞鶴公園) (Fukuoka City): March 22
Kumamoto Castle (熊本城) (Kumamoto City): March 22
Kochi Park (高知公園) (Kochi City): March 22
Tsurumai Park (鶴舞公園) (Nagoya, Aichi): March 24
Sunpu Castle Park (駿府城公園) (Shizuoka City): March 24
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (平和記念来うん) (Hiroshima City): March 26
Arashiyama (嵐山) (Kyoto City): March 28
Takato Castle Park (高遠城址公園) (Ina, Nagano): April 4
Shiroishikawa Riverbank (白石川堤一目千本桜) (Ogawara, Miyagi): April 4
Hirosaki Park (弘前公園) (Hirosaki, Aomori): April 18
Goryokaku Park (五稜郭公園) (Hakodate, Hokkaido): April 22

But arguably even more important than knowing when the sakura will begin blossoming is knowing when they’ll reach full bloom. This usually takes a few days to happen, and as with the start-of-blooming dates, the cherry blossom are expected to be in full bloom earlier than last year almost everywhere.

● Full-bloom forecast for Kyushu
Fukuoka: March 31 (2 days earlier than last year)
Oita: April 2 (3 days earlier than last year)
Nagasaki: March 31 (2 days earlier than last year)
Saga: April 1 (1 day earlier than last year)
Kumamoto: March 31 (2 days earlier than last year)
Miyazaki: April 1 (2 days earlier than last year)
Kagoshima: April 4 (8 days earlier than last year)

● Full-bloom forecast for Chugoku/Shikoku
Okayama: April 3 (2 days earlier than last year)
Hiroshima: April 2 (3 days earlier than last year)
Matsue: April 5 (2 days later than last year)
Tottori: April 5 (1 day earlier than last year)
Shimonoseki: April 4 (1 day earlier than last year)
Takamatsu: April 5
Tokushima: April 5 (1 day earlier than last year)
Matsuyama: April 3 (2 days earlier than last year)
Kochi: March 30 (1 day earlier than last year)

● Full-bloom forecast for Kansai/Kinki
Hikone: April 8 (1 day earlier than last year)
Kyoto: April 3 (2 days earlier than last year)
Osaka: April 3 (3 days earlier than last year)
Kobe: April 4 (3 days earlier than last year)
Nara: April 6 (2 days earlier than last year)
Wakayama: April 1 (2 days earlier than last year)

● Full-bloom forecast for Tokai
Shizuoka: April 2 (6 days earlier than last year)
Nagoya: April 3 (4 days earlier than last year)
Gifu: April 3 (1 day earlier than last year)
Tsu: April 3 (1 day later than last year)

● Full-bloom forecast for Hokuriku
Niigata: April 10 (1 day earlier than last year)
Toyama: April 8 (2 days earlier than last year)
Kanazawa: April 8
Fukui: April 6

● Full-bloom forecast for Kanto and Koshin
Mito: April 4 (4 days earlier than last year)
Utsunomiya: April 6 (5 days earlier than last year)
Maebashi: April 4 (4 days earlier than last year)
Kumagaya: April 2 (6 days earlier than last year)
Tokyo: March 28 (7 days earlier than last year)
Choshi: April 3 (4 days earlier than last year)
Yokohama: March 29 (9 days earlier than last year)
Nagano: April 12 (1 day earlier than last year)
Kofu: April 4 (1 day earlier than last year)

● Full-bloom forecast for Hokkaido and Tohoku
Sapporo: April 28 (4 days later than last year)
Hakodate: April 26 (3 days later than last year)
Aomori: April 22 (4 days later than last year)
Akita: April 17 (3 days later than last year)
Morioka: April 18 (4 days later than last year)
Sendai: April 10 (1 day later than last year)
Yamagata: April 14 (4 days later than last year)
Fukushima: April 8 (1 day later than last year)

As you can see from the above dates, though, Japan’s northeastern Tohoku region and its northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido are the exceptions to the early full-bloom forecast, and their sakura aren’t expected to be fully open until about a half week later than they were last year. This, however, is actually a good thing. With the comparatively cooler climate in Tohoku and Hokkaido, their sakura are always the last to reach full bloom, so the combination of an earlier sakura season everywhere else but a later one in Tohoku and Hokkaido means a longer total sakura season for Japan as a whole, and also a great opportunity for travelers looking to chase the cherry blossoms starting in the southwest and moving up to the northeast.

Source: Weather News
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Weather News , Pakutaso (1, 2)
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