SINGAPORE – Travelers interested in Japan for its famous cherry blossom season may find one of the most cost-effective sakura trips in recent years.

Prices for flights, hotels, and tours in 2026 have been consistently 10 to 20 percent lower compared to 2025, with the most significant drops observed in popular cities like Kyoto and Osaka, according to Mr. Ben Julius, founder of travel company Tourist Japan.

These reduced prices are expected to continue into March and April, aligning with the peak cherry blossom season.

“Not only have prices decreased, but the value you get for those prices has also increased as you can now book better hotels for less. Additionally, the Japanese yen is currently at a historic low,” he explains.

As of January 19, the exchange rate was $1 to 122.56 yen.

Mr. Julius points out that one of the main reasons behind the price reductions is the decrease in Chinese visitors to Japan since mid-November.

In November 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made comments suggesting a potential military conflict over Taiwan as a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan.

China subsequently instructed its airlines to reduce flights to Japan until March. For instance, Air China cut 23 flights between Shanghai and Osaka, and 14 flights between Chongqing and Tokyo (Narita) from its December 2025 schedule, based on flight data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

From January to November 2025, China was Japan’s largest foreign visitor market, with 8,765,800 arrivals, according to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

The combined impact of travel advisories and decreased air capacity had a noticeable effect.

Businesses in major tourist centers such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto have reported cancellations and revenue losses, contributing to a softer demand environment leading up to one of Japan’s busiest travel seasons.

However, for travelers, the absence of Chinese tourists has resulted in more competitive prices.

Tour packages, for example, are experiencing significant price drops. A 16-day tour offered by Tourist Japan during the peak cherry blossom season in 2025 cost approximately US$4,850 (S$6,240) per person. In 2026, the same itinerary – including the same hotels, tours, and transfers – starting on March 17 is priced at US$3,783, around 22 percent cheaper.

On January 8, the Japan Meteorological Corporation released its forecast, predicting warmer temperatures and earlier blooms. Tokyo is expected to reach its flowering date on March 20, while Osaka's date is March 24.

“In addition to the price decrease, we have also noticed the availability of hotel bookings during the cherry blossom season. In previous years, by this time, certain popular hotels would already be fully booked or have limited availability,” Mr. Julius mentions.

Singaporean travelers are increasingly opting to book outside the peak periods to avoid crowds and heat, notes Ms. Jasmine Seah, Singapore country manager of the major Japanese online travel booking platform Rakuten Travel.

She highlights that from May to June, the top destinations based on bookings include Yamanashi, located west of Tokyo, as well as Fukuoka and Kumamoto in central Kyushu.

Travelers are also exploring alternative destinations in Japan to enjoy the cherry blossom season.

Rakuten Travel witnessed a 500 percent increase in demand for Okinawa, which experiences an earlier blooming period from January to February, while bookings for Hokkaido – with a later blooming period from April to May – have risen by 200 percent in 2026 compared to 2025.

The changes in pricing and availability are already noticeable.

Mr. Leslie Koh, a 39-year-old full-time Japan travel content creator who visited the country eight times in 2025, has observed a significant difference during his recent trips.

During an 11-day trip to Japan in January, he was able to secure a room at his preferred hotel in Ueno, Tokyo, for around $100 per night, despite booking just two weeks before departure. In previous trips, he would have needed to book at least one to two months in advance to get a similar rate.

Besides pricing, he has also seen a change in the overall travel experience. Mr. Koh notes that compared to his 2025 trips, the number of Chinese tourists in major cities seems to have decreased significantly, making it easier to explore popular attractions like the Buddhist temple Sensoji and the Meiji Jingu shrine.

“At the beginning of the year, many people visit Sensoji for New Year prayers, but even with the crowd of locals and foreigners, the lines moved quickly, and navigating the grounds was easy,” he remarks.

He adds that the reduction in large guided tour groups is particularly noticeable, with fewer guides using the flags or extended markers – sometimes topped with plush toys – that are commonly employed to keep groups together at busy attractions.

“While it is still crowded and tourists are definitely present, exploring Japan now feels more manageable.”