KOCHI, Japan - Cherry trees came into bloom in the cities of Kofu, Gifu and Kochi on Monday, ahead of other parts of Japan, the local meteorological observatories said.

A Somei Yoshino cherry tree comes into bloom at Kochi Castle in Kochi, western Japan, on March 16, 2026. (Kyodo)

Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, reported its earliest bloom since records began in 1953. It came nine days earlier than last year and 10 days earlier than average.

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