Kyoto Cherry Blossoms at Peak Bloom 2024 🌸

Finally, Kyoto cherry blossoms have reached the final stage of "mankai" or maximum-peak-blossom or peak bloom. It took 7 days since last Friday, 3/29/24, when the official Meteorological Observatory staff announced the start of the cherry blossom viewing season and yesterday, they returned to Nijo Castle to officially announce "mankai." According to the staff person, 80% of the flowers had reached full bloom which counts as "mankai." I am not sure why a Meteorological staff person has to come to make the official announcements as their announcements are only from their naked eyes and there is no real scientific method to their measuring and counting. :)