Nine in 10 spring travelers plan to witness sakura or cherry blossom in full bloom in 2025, according to a survey by leading travel and experiences platform, Klook.
The latest spring survey reveals that Japan remains the top cherry blossom destination for 2025, with 82% of Filipino travelers and 78% of travelers worldwide including it in their plans.
However, the study found that social media has inspired 68% of travelers to consider other destinations for their cherry blossom trip, including South Korea, Taiwan and Mainland China.
At least 70% of Filipino travelers plan to visit these destinations for cherry blossoms this year.
Interestingly, Klook discovered that 7 in 10 spring travelers from the Philippines were unaware that Mainland China also has its own cherry blossom season.
The survey also learned that Filipino travelers are looking to visit these cherry blossom destinations for the following reasons:
- Photo opportunities (e.g. Instagram spots, iconic photo spots)
- Scenic natural beauty (e.g. rivers, parks)
- Historic landmarks with blossoms (e.g. temples, shrines)
Amid the undeniable allure of cherry blossoms for travelers from both the Philippines and abroad, Klook’s latest spring survey highlights a dilemma faced by many. While 9 in 10 spring travelers plan to see cherry blossoms in 2025, 7 in 10 Filipino travelers, or 72%, struggle to catch the pink flowers despite planning for it.
Despite planning trips around cherry blossom forecasts, unpredictable weather can affect bloom conditions, causing many travelers to arrive either too early or too late.
“Even with forecasts, cherry blossoms have only a 10-day viewing window, further complicated by the recent temperature fluctuations experienced by travelers last year. Japan saw unusual weather patterns in 2024, including warmer summers and delayed winters, causing cherry blossoms to bloom 15 days later. Mount Fuji, Japan’s iconic symbol, was snowless in November—a first in its 130-year recorded history.
Travelers also face challenges in finding the best viewing spots, predicting bloom timing, and dealing with higher spring travel costs.
Despite these obstacles, nearly 45% of Filipino travelers are willing to spend at least 20% more on cherry blossom experiences compared to other activities.
‘No Bloom, No Gloom’
Because of this, Klook launched the No Bloom No Gloom program that compensates travelers who booked Cherry Blossom activities covered by the campaign and ended up not experiencing the blooms.
How it works
Travelers can book Klook’s seasonal Japan tours found on the “No Bloom No Gloom” campaign page.
If travelers do not see any cherry blossoms during the tour despite the forecast bloom schedule, the traveler can take a photo and submit photo to Klook via the form provided in the campaign page, alongside requested details by April 6, 2025; 23:59 (GMT+8:00) for verification.
“Eligible users will receive a promo code of up to 50% off your next tour booking with a 1 year validity period (applicable to all Klook tours, capped at USD$25* 1 ),” Klook said.
The platform is also offering up to 4x KlookCash for tours, hotel, car rental, and transportation bookings in select destinations during the campaign.
This promotion began on March 6 and will run until April 6
Klook also released a Cherry Blossom Forecast guide indicating the dates and destinations in Japan when travelers can best witness the highly-anticipated pink flowers.
— Rosette Adel
