Cherry blossoms are forecast to bloom earlier than usual in Japan this year, mainly in the northern part of the country.



The Japan Weather Association announced its forecast on Wednesday. It expects the popular Somei-yoshino variety will start blooming on Sunday in Uwajima City in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, the earliest in the country.



The association forecasts the season will start on March 22 in central Tokyo; the 23rd in Kagoshima and Kochi cities; the 24th in Fukuoka City; the 25th in Nagoya City; and the 27th in Hiroshima and Osaka cities.



The association expects the blossoms to bloom on April 2 in Sendai City and April 25 in the northern city of Sapporo.



It predicts that this year's season will start as almost usual in western Japan, such as Osaka and Fukuoka cities, while it will start as usual or earlier in eastern Japan, including central Tokyo, and northern Japan.



Meanwhile, a private weather information firm, Weathernews, also announced its forecast on Wednesday.



The company expects cherry blossoms will bloom on March 23 in Fukuoka, Kagoshima and Kochi cities; the 24th in Hiroshima City and central Tokyo; the 25th in Nagoya City; and the 26th in Osaka City.



The firm forecasts that cherry trees will bloom on April 5 in Sendai and April 24 in Sapporo.



Weathernews predicts the season will mainly start as usual in western and eastern Japan, but a little earlier than usual in the Tohoku region. It says the season could start early or very early in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido.



Weather information companies will update their forecasts on when the blossoms will appear and when they will be at their peak based on the latest data.