Japan's famous cherry blossoms have come early this year, matching a 2002 record for the earliest blooms ever (http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/asia/story/cherry-blossom-season-officially-begins-tokyo-20130316), according to Straits Times.
Japan's Meteorological Agency announced (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T130316003758.htm) on March 16th that Somei Yoshino cherry flowers had begun to bloom in Tokyo, a full fifteen days earlier than the first blooms in 2012, the Daily Yomiuri reports.
CNN explains that just like autumn leaf peeping in New England, flower viewing or hanami is a popular seasonal pastime in Japan (http://edition.cnn.com/2013/03/18/travel/japan-cherry-blossoms/).
According to Asahi Shimbun, the early start to cherry blossom season was triggered by unusually high temperatures (http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201303170019), which reached records of 51.8 degrees Fahrenheit in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture and 52.7 degrees in Nishi-Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture.
For advice about where to see cherry blossoms in Japan, check out this post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gail-nakada/tokyos-puffy-pink-cherry-_b_2893113.html) by Huffington Post blogger Gail Nakada.
CNN advises all potential flower peepers that despite the early start, Japan's cherry flowers aren't "expected to be at their full glory" until next weekend. A map projecting when cherry blossoms will arrive in each of Japan's regions can be seen here (http://sakura.weathermap.jp/).
Be sure to check out the beautiful photos of Tokyo's first flower blossoms below.
Via: HuffingtonPost