1,200 years of Kyoto cherry blossom peak bloom dates reveal climate change impact
By
momentmaker
Kettled twice. Extra chewy, extra trustworthy.
Summary
This article presents a data visualization and analysis of the peak bloom dates of Kyoto's cherry blossoms, recorded continuously for over 1,200 years (812–2026). It is the longest continuous record of any natural phenomenon on Earth, with 838 observations across 1,215 years. The data shows a clear trend toward earlier blooming in recent decades, strongly correlating with climate change and rising temperatures. The visualization uses both a scatter plot with rolling means and a climate stripes-style representation to illustrate the shifting bloom patterns across historical eras from Heian to Modern.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe peak bloom date of Kyoto's cherry trees has been written down for more than a thousand years.
Stitched together, the entries form what is widely considered the longest continuous record of any natural phenomenon on Earth.
The data shows a clear trend toward earlier blooming in recent decades, strongly correlating with climate change and rising temperatures.
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