Cherry Blossom Types: The Five Main Varieties Of Sakura - MATCHA

Loading...

Japan Heritage: A Feast for the Senses in Gifu, the Land with Ties to Oda Nobunaga

• Things To Do
• Food & Drink
• Coupons
• News
• MATCHA Special Features

Nature / Seasons Cherry Blossom Types: The Five Main Varieties of Sakura

When people speak of cherry blossoms in Japan, many people assume that there is just one type of these spring blossoms, but there are actually over 20 different subspecies! Here we introduce five of the most commonly found sakura in Japan.

Latest update : 2022.01.19

Written by

Ito Kentaro

93年生まれのWEB編集者・ディレクター。ヨソモノだから気付く地域の良さを発掘したい。鳥肌を信じて”いいとこ”探し中。

more This service includes sponsored advertisements.

Different Types of Sakura in Japan

When viewing the cherry blossoms in Japan, you may find yourself wondering about the slight variations in color, size and blooming season of these spring favorites. There are over 20 different subspecies of sakura that bloom in Japan annually. Different locations are well known for having a certain type, or there might only one of a specific tree in a given place - which make these trees stand out. But what about the others?

Today, we’ll take a look at the five main types of cherry trees that can be easily spotted once you know what to look for.

1. Somei Yoshino

Photo courtesy of: mayfly on Flickr

Somei yoshino (Yoshino cherry) are the most common type of sakura in Japan, and indeed are what many people think of right away when they hear the word ‘sakura’. Blooming before their green leaves even appear, these five-petaled cherry blossoms are almost white, having only the vaguest hint of pink to them. The name somei yoshino comes from a village market that existed during the late Edo era, where it is said that these flowers were first sold.

2. Yama Zakura

Photo courtesy of: Hinako Torino on Flickr

Yama zakura, or mountain cherry, have quite similar flowers to somei yoshino, having five petals and a very subtle pink hue, but unlike somei yoshino, the leaves of the yama zakura appear at the same time. This is one of the oldest species of sakura original to Japan, and it is believed that, when reading ancient Japanese poetry, such as in the Manyoshu, these are the sakura to which the waka (*1) refer.

*1 Waka: classical Japanese poem, composed by the nobility.

3. Yae Zakura

Photo courtesy of: yamabuki*** on Flickr

Yae zakura or double cherry blossoms, are exactly as their name implies: these sakura have between 10 and 50 petals per flower, and come in numerous color variations, ranging from pure whites to vivid pinks. Yae zakura are also known as sato zakura, and are a variant of the Oshima cherry, which grows almost exclusively in the Izu Peninsula.

４. Shidare Zakura

Photo courtesy of: komaroku on Flickr

With its branches drooping downwards like a willow tree, the shidare zakura is rightly known as the weeping cherry tree in English. There are two main types of shidare zakura, those with five petals, which are closely related to the somei yoshino, and those with more than five petals, which are related to the yae zakura. Either variety come in colors ranging from pale to vivid pinks. This cherry blossom also has the distinction of being Kyoto’s prefectural flower.

5. Gyoiko

Photo courtesy of: e_haya on Flickr

Gyoiko, which translates to ‘yellow imperial garment cherry blossoms’, are scattered throughout Japan, but many people miss seeing these sakura because of their subtle greenish yellow color. There are anywhere from five to ten layers of petals to each blossom. Because of their modest appearance and lack of calling attention to themselves, some believe that these sakura best represent the character of the Japanese.

Written by

Ito Kentaro

93年生まれのWEB編集者・ディレクター。ヨソモノだから気付く地域の良さを発掘したい。鳥肌を信じて”いいとこ”探し中。

more The information presented in this article is based on the time it was written. Note that there may be changes in the merchandise, services, and prices that have occurred after this article was published. Please contact the facility or facilities in this article directly before visiting. Some of our articles contain affiliate links. We kindly ask our readers to exercise careful judgement when making a purchase or booking a service online.

Related topics

Nature / Seasons Cherry Blossoms

Top Articles

There are no articles in this section.

Related Article

• 

  Kyoto Cherry Blossoms 2026: Forecast, Best Spots, Festivals

  Kyoto

• 

  45 Famous Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan - 2026 Guide

  Things To Do

• 

  Hokkaido: 7 Magnificent Cherry Blossom Spots to Visit in 2026

  Hokkaido

• 

  Cherry Blossoms in Kobe and Himeji: 14 Beautiful Spots 2026

  Hyogo

• 

  Cherry Blossoms in Kansai: Top 12 Spots in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara

  Nature / Seasons

• 

  13 Top Cherry Blossom Spots in Hiroshima, Tottori, and Shikoku

  Hiroshima

• 

  Cherry Blossoms in Japanese Culture: Sakura, the Symbol of Spring

  Weather & Seasons

Special Features

More.

 

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

1. MATCHA
2. Nature / Seasons Articles
3. Cherry Blossom Types: The Five Main Varieties of Sakura

Popular Searches

early cherry blossoms Mt Fuji plum blossom festivals sushi in Osaka cherry blossoms 2026 sushi in Tokyo Tokyo weather Shibuya sushi Tokyo cherry blossoms Ninja WiFi

Interest

• Food & Drink
• Accommodation
• Things To Do
• Culture

Latest News

More.

• 

  Kamakura Hasedera Temple: Plum Blossoms and Illuminations

  2026.02.10

• 

  Kyoto Heian Shrine in Spring: Cherry Blossoms and Live Music

  2026.02.10

• 

  New Japan Rail East Pass: Pickup, Coverage, and Price Guide

  2026.02.06

• 

  Japan Departure Tax Set to Rise to 3,000 Yen From July 2026

  2026.02.06

• 

  15,000 Treasures: Ishikawa Traditional Crafts Fair 2026 at Tokyo International Forum, Feb 6–8

  2026.02.06

Top Articles

More.

• 

  Nature, History, and Delicious Seafood in Date City, Fukushima

  Fukushima

• 

  Aomori Scallops: An Insider’s Look Into the Popular Kari-Pori Kaihimo

  Aomori

• 

  Iwate's Kita-Sanriku Factory: Enjoy High-Quality Farmed Sea Urchin!

  Iwate

• 

  Beyond Sushi! Try Delicious Kamaboko Fish Cake in Onagawa, Miyagi

  Miyagi

• 

  Kasumigaura: Enjoy Food and Activities at the Second-Largest Lake in Japan

  Ibaraki

New Articles

More.

• 

  [Shinjuku Nishiguchi HALC] About the d Point Campaign

  Tokyo

• 

  Sake Tourism in Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama:A Tasting Journey to Discover the Spirit of Hokuriku’s Sake

  Fukui

• 

  February 26th and 27th, 11am-3pm, near Tokyo Station, free sushi and tempura

  Tokyo

• 

  Enjoy nature in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture Hotels, inns, and accommodations

  Mie

• 

  Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters Ticket Guide: How to Watch a Game at ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO

  Hokkaido