Cherry trees started to bloom in the western Japanese cities of Kochi and Kumamoto on Sunday.



Kochi confirmed the flowering of the popular Somei-yoshino variety on the same date as last year, and one day later than usual. Kumamoto made the announcement three days earlier than last year, but one day later than average.



Weather officials came to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine in the afternoon to see if buds of a benchmark cherry tree had opened. But they could not confirm any blossoms.



Temperatures on Sunday reached levels for late April to mid-June in many parts of Japan. The Meteorological Agency says a high-pressure system covered most of the country, pushing up temperatures.



The daytime high in the city of Tsuyama, Okayama Prefecture, reached 26.8 degrees Celsius -- the highest for March since the agency began record-taking in 1943.



Daytime highs in the city of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, and in central Tokyo topped 25 degrees for the first time this year. The mercury rose to 24 degrees in Kyoto and Kochi.



The warm weather is expected to continue on Monday with temperatures exceeding 20 degrees in many cities in western Japan, including Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka.