Cherry blossom season in Japan had its earliest peak in 1,200 years – and experts blame climate change

Cherry blossom season in Japan is an annual spectacle that signals spring – but in 2021, spring has sprung earlier than usual. In fact, this year Kyoto saw the earliest cherry blossom season in 1,209 years, according to data collected by Osaka University.

The 2021 cherry blossoms peaked on March 26, which hasn't occurred since 812 AD, according to the data. The cherry blossoms have come close to beating the record – peaking on March 27 a few times – records show. Yasuyuki Aono, a researcher at Osaka Prefecture University, wrote in the study that he used diaries and records about cherry blossoms, or "sakura," kept by emperors, aristocrats, governors and monks in Kyoto, dating back to 812.