Spring Blooms in January: Where Blossom Season Really Starts (and Where It Doesn’t Yet)

Spring blooms in January sound like a contradiction, but in a handful of places they are the main event of the month. Japan’s first cherry blossoms open in Okinawa and on the coast at Atami. Almond orchards in Mallorca, the Algarve and Gran Canaria start to turn white. Wild Himalayan cherries colour the hills of northern Thailand, and in the southern hemisphere it is high summer for Tasmania’s lavender and the alpine wildflowers of the Australian Alps. This guide sorts the real January blooms from the ones that only start in February, so you can book with confidence.

For spring blooms in January, go to Okinawa (cherry blossom festivals from mid-January to early February), Atami near Tokyo (early cherries and plum blossom, best from late January), northern Thailand (wild Himalayan cherry, December to January), Mallorca and the Algarve (almond blossom from late January), Tasmania (lavender, mid-December to mid-January) or the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales (alpine wildflowers, December to February). Kawazu in Japan, Sicily, Gran Canaria and Tafraoute in Morocco usually peak in February instead.

Spring Blooms in January: What Actually Flowers This Early

Three things make a January bloom possible. Some cherry varieties are adapted to subtropical winters and flower long before Tokyo’s classic cherries. Almond trees need a spell of winter chill and then a run of mild days, which Mediterranean coasts and islands provide from late January. And south of the equator, January is the height of summer, so the flowers are simply in season. Everything else you may read about “January blooms” tends to be a February or March event described too early.

Place	What blooms	Usual window	How safe is January?
Okinawa, Japan	Kanhizakura cherry blossom	Festivals from mid-January to early February	Good, especially the second half
Atami, Japan	Atami-zakura cherry; plum blossom	Best viewing usually late January to mid-February	Good from late January
Northern Thailand	Wild Himalayan cherry	December to January in the highlands	Good early in the month
Mallorca, Spain	Almond blossom	Late January through much of February	Fair; better at the end of the month
Algarve, Portugal	Almond blossom	January and February are the best months	Fair; better at the end of the month
Tasmania, Australia	Lavender	Mid-December to mid-January	Good in the first half
Snowy Mountains, Australia	Alpine wildflowers	December to February	Good
Kawazu, Japan	Kawazu-zakura cherry	Early February for about a month	Too early
Gran Canaria, Sicily, Tafraoute	Almond blossom	February festivals	Too early in most years

Japan’s First Cherry Blossoms: Okinawa and Atami

Japan’s blossom season starts in the far south and on one sheltered stretch of coast near Tokyo, weeks before the famous spring cherries of Kyoto and Tokyo.

Okinawa: deep-pink blossom from mid-January

Okinawa’s cherries are the first in Japan to bloom, usually from around mid-January. They are a different variety from mainland cherries: darker pink, and the flowers hang downward like clusters of small bells. The main festivals follow the bloom. The Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival on Mount Yaedake usually runs from mid-January to early February, the festival at Nakijin Castle from late January to early February, and Nago Central Park’s from mid to late January. Yogi Park in Naha and Yaese Park host festivals from late January to early February.

Combine a festival day in the north of the main island with the castle ruins and coast, and you have a gentle winter break with colour. Our guide to the best places for winter sun in January covers warmer options if you want swimming too.

Atami: the earliest cherries on Honshu, 45 minutes from Tokyo

Atami, a seaside hot-spring town about 45 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen, has the Atami-zakura, described by japan-guide.com’s bloom report from Atami as the earliest cherry to open on Japan’s main island. The trees bloom for more than a month across January and February, with the best viewing typically from late January to mid-February. The star spot is the Itogawa promenade, about 15 minutes’ walk from Atami Station, where 58 trees line a small river running down to the sea; it is also the busiest.

Atami’s plum garden adds a second bloom. Japan’s national tourism organisation lists the Atami Plum Garden festival from early January into early March. Pair the two in one day, then end in a hot-spring bath, and you have one of the most rewarding day trips from Tokyo in winter.

Almond Blossom in Southern Europe: Mallorca and the Algarve

Almond blossom is the Mediterranean’s winter signal that spring is coming. The trees flower white and pale pink on bare branches, often against green grass and blue sky, and they do it from late January in the mildest places.

Mallorca: late January through February

Mallorca’s almond trees bloom from late January through much of February, earlier in warm years near Palma. The island’s newspaper, the Majorca Daily Bulletin’s almond blossom route, points to three zones: the mountain villages of Valldemossa, Sóller and Deià against the Serra de Tramuntana; the central plain around Marratxí, Bunyola, Consell, Santa Maria, Sencelles, Inca, Lloseta and Selva; and the Llucmajor area, with quiet roads through the orchards. Even inside Palma, the open fields of Es Secar de la Real and Son Sardina have trees in flower.

Mid-January visitors can add the Sant Antoni fire festival on 16–17 January; see our guide to winter festivals in Europe in January. For more mild-weather ideas, our list of mild winter destinations in January includes other southern European bases.

The Algarve: walking trails through the orchards

In the eastern Algarve, January and February are the best months to walk among almond trees. The 11 km Almond Trail (Caminho da Amendoeira) starts at Alta Mora in the Castro Marim area, and the Lower Guadiana has a network of about 135 km of walking routes across Alcoutim, Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António. Local legend tells of a princess from the north who missed the snow of her homeland, until a prince planted almond trees so she would wake to a white landscape.

Gran Canaria, Sicily and Morocco: February, not January

Three famous almond festivals are February events. Tejeda, in the mountains of Gran Canaria, holds its Almond Blossom Festival every February. Agrigento’s Almond Blossom Festival in the Valley of the Temples in Sicily usually takes place in February or early March. In Morocco, the almond trees around Tafraoute in the Anti-Atlas bloom in February, and the town’s almond festival is usually held in the second week of the month. Book these as February trips; our guide to the warmest places in Europe in February helps you pair them.

Northern Thailand’s Wild Himalayan Cherry

In the hills of northern Thailand, the cool, dry season brings a pink bloom that surprises many visitors: the wild Himalayan cherry. Thai media report that it usually flowers from December to January in the highlands, with the exact timing varying by weather and altitude.

Near Chiang Mai, Khun Chang Khian on Doi Suthep and Khun Wang, at about 1,400 m in Doi Inthanon National Park, are two of the best-known spots. Further afield, Phu Lom Lo in Loei draws visitors in January and February. Go early in the month for the best chance, set off at dawn for soft light and cooler air, and expect busy viewpoints on weekends.

If you are building a longer Asia trip, our guide to the best places to visit in Asia in February shows what comes next as the season moves on.

Southern-Hemisphere Summer Flowers: Tasmania and the Australian Alps

If you want flowers at their absolute peak in January, cross the equator. It is summer in Australia, and two very different flower seasons line up with the month.

Bridestowe lavender, Tasmania: mid-December to mid-January

Bridestowe Estate is a large lavender farm in rural Tasmania. Its Festival of Flowers page says the fields bloom in December and January, with mid-December to mid-January the recommended window, and the lavender is harvested by February. The estate is open all year, but a seasonal entry fee applies in December and January for visitors aged 16 and over; under-16s enter free.

Alpine wildflowers, Snowy Mountains, New South Wales: December to February

Around Thredbo in Kosciuszko National Park, Visit NSW names December to February as the best time to see the alpine wildflowers, when meadows high in the Snowy Mountains fill with colour. Walks range from the family-friendly route to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak, to longer day hikes across the Main Range past glacial lakes.

For a wider look at walking in the month, see our guide to the best places to hike in January, and for a full summer trip down under, our guide to Australia and New Zealand in February.

How to Time a January Blossom Trip

Not sure January is the right month for you? Our free Best Month Finder compares months for the trip you have in mind, and our guide to the best places to see spring blooms covers the main spring season in April and May.

When Not to Go: Blossom Timing Traps

• Early January for Mediterranean almonds: the bloom usually starts in late January. Arrive in the first week and you may see bare orchards.
• Late January for Tasmanian lavender: the recommended window ends in mid-January, and the crop is harvested by February.
• Festival weekends in Okinawa and Atami: peak bloom plus a weekend means the busiest paths of the season. Choose a weekday if you can.
• Kawazu, Tejeda, Agrigento and Tafraoute in January: these are February blooms in most years.

Want a quick check before you book? You can check whether your month is a bad one with our free tool, or browse the When Not to Go hub.

4 Blossom-Trip Mistakes to Avoid

1. Booking from a list that calls February “January”

Many round-ups move the whole early-blossom season into January. Check each place’s usual window before you book; this guide’s table is a good starting point.

2. Fixing every night in advance

A non-refundable stay in a fixed week leaves no room if the bloom is a week late. Keep at least part of the trip flexible.

3. Visiting at midday on a weekend

That is when viewing spots are busiest and light is flattest. Early mornings on weekdays give you calmer paths and better photos.

4. Forgetting the season around the flowers

Mallorca and Atami are cool in January, and mountain mornings are cool wherever you are. Pack a warm layer for every trip on this list.

Spring Blooms in January: Your Questions Answered

Spring blooms in January reward travellers who choose the right place and watch the reports. Go for Okinawa, Atami, the Thai hills or southern Australia in January, and save Kawazu, Sicily and Morocco for February. For more ideas, browse our best travel destinations in January, explore our spring travel guides, look for low prices with our cheap places to travel in January, or plan any month from the month-by-month travel planner.