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Thursday, 7th April 2011
In Weather In Japan,

Tokyo's cherry blossoms 'in full bloom'

Tokyo's someiyoshino cherry trees are officially in full bloom, it has been reported, while the first songs of the lark have been heard in the north east of the country.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said yesterday (April 6th) that the capital's trees at the Yasukuni Shrine were 90 per cent in bloom, more than fulfilling the 80 per cent minimum requirement.

Other signs that spring has begun include reports of larks singing in the earthquake-struck northeastern Japanese city of Morioka, the Associated Press reported.

The weather agency added that the cherry blossom was one day later than average this year and five days later than last year.

Cherry blossom can also currently be seen in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture and Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture, the agency confirmed.

Meanwhile, the impact of the March 11th earthquake on Japanese tourism has been calculated for the first time, with the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau reporting that visitor figures for March 11th to 31st were down 75 per cent year-on-year.

Written by Kimberley Homer