00:00:01 John Daub: It's January 21st, 2026, and we're looking at cherry blossoms here in central Tokyo, of all places. You can see there's a breeze. It is really cold today. It actually feels like minus one degrees Celsius right now, which is like 30 degrees Fahrenheit. These blossoms are blooming. I saw a foreigner taking pictures of them, I think from Europe. The European tourist said probably that's the reason for the title of this—probably because of climate change. I'm assuming she's from Europe because of her accent. I didn't say anything. I let her think whatever she wanted, and she went on her way. There's a lot of tourists here in central Tokyo. What do you think? Do you think these blossoms are a result of climate change? Or are they one of hundreds of varieties of cherry blossoms that Japan has? I'd say it's more the latter. But the misconception, I totally understand that.

00:01:01 John Daub: Marcus is writing in: why are they blooming now? That's a great question, and that is the premise of this video. Cherry blossoms, sakura (桜) in Japanese, there are so many different varieties blooming at so many different times. We even have plum blossoms, ume (梅), that are often mistaken for cherry blossoms that bloom in the middle of February. Mito, a city about 90 minutes north of Tokyo, is one of the most beautiful places in all the world for these plum blossoms. It's the Imperial Gardens up there. I think it's like 700 yen to get in. It's a beautiful place. These, my friends, are a variety called Jūgatsu-zakura (十月桜, October cherry). Jūgatsu means October, and they wake up in October, start to become active. October cherry refers to a rare, two-season cherry blossom variety that blossoms in both autumn, around October-November, and again in early spring. Actually, they're dormant and they wake up around October, which is odd, and then they bloom at the end of January, the beginning of February. It is rare and unique, and you don't find these everywhere, but I noticed them here in this park, and it's absolutely beautiful.

00:02:46 John Daub: So if you are in Tokyo at this time, it's worth coming out here because you might not be here in March or April. Take in these pink, very delicate blossoms that are here for just a short period of time, always at this time of year. Let me show you what they look like. They are delicate. They can also be very easily confused with ume blossoms. The bark of the tree is a little bit too dark. These aren't Somei Yoshino (染井吉野), the most popular, the most well-known, the most famous of Japan's cherry blossoms. Why? Because they're everywhere. The Somei Yoshino are the ones that we count down for the cherry blossom schedule, which has been released recently, just the last week or so, on the 8th of January. Trust me, it's not something you should really go by. You just don't know what the weather is going to be like over the next eight weeks, but it's always the same. Tokyo is predicted to be March 20th for the Somei Yoshino.

00:04:10 John Daub: When we say "the cherry blossoms," we mean that variety, but again, there are dozens, maybe a hundred or more varieties, and we're only just touching the surface here. This one in the background is a really rare one. When is the best time? Depends on where you're going. If you're going to Kyushu or Shikoku, they bloom just a little bit earlier. If you're going up to Tohoku, they bloom a month later. You'll see the cherry blossoms in Hirosaki and Aomori, my favorite place to go, a month after Tokyo. In fact, you'll see them going all the way up to the end of May at the very north of Hokkaido. So it just depends on where you're going to be. Tokyo, you can guesstimate March 20th to 30th. We have mankai (満開, full bloom) around then. But a couple of years ago, mankai was April 5th, and some people came in the middle of March and missed them completely. It is extremely hard to predict when exactly Mother Nature is going to bloom, and that might ruin some of your vacation. But I would say stay longer. Don't put all your marbles in one bag. The most beautiful cherry blossoms in Japan are not in Tokyo. They're up in Tohoku in my opinion, or down in Nara. They're out in the countryside.

00:06:00 John Daub: For this park, I put a map in the description so you can check it out. This is Toyosu Park. There's a cafe built last year in the center called Blue Bottle. You can see the location. It's on the Yurakucho Line, the golden one. That bridge is also something you should walk out on. It's been renovated. It's absolutely beautiful. The logging industry, the wood industry used to use that back before World War II. That's exactly where I am right now. It's a beautiful location, especially nice right now. I want to shout out one of our viewers. There's a cafe right here, and I promised yesterday one of my community members, somebody I've gotten to know quite a bit, who lost his grandmother—I got a cup of coffee and kind of celebrate. You saw her work very well over the course of her life, and her life was touched with the message on the relationship you guys had. Rainer, I did get a coffee in memory of your grandmother, who meant so much to you. Thanks for sharing your story. It really touched me. I know you and your mom watch the show quite often. She might not have come to Japan, but she is here in spirit with us in the community enjoying these cherry blossoms.

00:08:34 John Daub: That's really what cherry blossoms are all about. This is the time where you go out to celebrate with your family, with the people that you like or don't like if you're doing it with workmates. Sometimes you have to go because you're part of work. But it's a great time to sit outside and enjoy nature even though it is minus one degree Celsius. I underestimated just how freaking cold it is because of the wind. Even though it's going to get to a high of eight degrees, with the wind it feels like minus one. To grandma, it's a good cup of coffee that they make here. It's a beautiful cafe. They put this in about a year ago. Blue Bottle—they actually brew coffee. I filmed a little bit inside. It's a nice view looking out at the kids playing, and there are the trees. It feels like you're in a line—it's the Yurikamome Line, the monorail going by over towards the fish market. I often run here for marathon training. It's about eight or ten kilometers for one loop from my house, so I'll do two for 20k. It's a nice loop. This big brick walkway goes all the way around Toyosu Island and you can keep going up over to Odaiba. You can see the Rainbow Bridge in the distance.

00:11:04 John Daub: One degree Celsius is about 34 degrees Fahrenheit for Americans. Americans should learn Celsius, which is more convenient—zero is freezing, 100 is boiling. It's intuitive. Fahrenheit is 32 for freezing and 212 for boiling; it doesn't make a lot of sense. Celsius is obviously the superior system because I've been here a long time—I'm just used to it. Look, there's the blossoms. Ramsey says it's negative 18 Fahrenheit there—it probably feels like negative a million. Negative one is shorts weather. After being in Vermont when it was minus 20, I feel you. It was painful to go outside; you had to have a balaclava, which you don't need here. But the Japanese chill feels different than in North America—it just feels colder. Maybe it's a Pacific chill, but nothing is colder than the Midwest chill, the Alberta Clipper from Canada. Wisconsin, Ohio, Chicago—you get a lot of snow off the lake. I feel dry too. My wife says I got to use moisturizer or I'll look like that guy from Ripley's Believe It or Not. Beautiful, right? I love the colors. With a gray sky today, but when the blue sky comes out, it is really pretty.

00:13:49 John Daub: Yokohama is colder than Tokyo? Maybe not—I think because it's on the water, it feels a little warmer, but there are days it feels super cold. Feeling cold and being cold are two different things. I feel colder here than in the US, maybe because I'm unprepared for winter. Tokyo is typically 10 degrees Celsius, 50 Fahrenheit, but we have days that get to zero and snow. We grew up in the best generation, Gen X. We got the best of the analog world—riding bikes around the neighborhood, trick-or-treating was more fun, more kids, no computers. The candy seemed healthier. Gen X will always be the best. All right, let's grab my coffee and take a look at the couple of trees down here. This by the way is the LaLaport shopping mall. There's a couple of reasons why this is a beautiful place to live or stay—some budget hotels in the area. It's on the line that gets you the self-driving monorail, the Yurikamome Line to Odaiba. It's also perfect for the Yurakucho Line, three or four stops from Ginza. There's even a Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurant inside—I've been once; it was okay, but cool to be near.

00:16:32 John Daub: Rainer's here—thank you. We were just having a cup of coffee for your grandma so we could share these cherry blossoms with her. In a weird way, she has made it to Japan with all of us. Everything seems to open up around 10 a.m. in Japan—have a quiet breakfast, then go shopping. There's a Tokyu Hands here, a bunch of cool shops where you don't have to fight tourist crowds because it feels more residential Tokyo. Here's some sun hitting the cherry blossoms, keeping it warm. But the weather is much colder than the temperature says—eight degrees Celsius, but feels like minus one. A far cry from Wisconsin and the Midwest, but hey, we got cherry blossoms. And we got friends here. Hey guys—it's kind of cold, isn't it? Do pigeons feel chill? Why are these cherry blossoms blooming early? No comment. Smart. For anybody joining us, the title is because I encountered a European tourist who said this is probably blooming because of climate change. I didn't correct them. These are Jūgatsu-zakura or Fuyu-zakura (冬桜, winter cherry)—they bloom twice a year, in October and now. They give you hope, and hope is all we need on a frigid day.

00:19:21 John Daub: It looks like they're past full bloom—these are the last stragglers. See the cars passing by, Rainbow Bridge in the distance—that's a beautiful spot. Jen writes: any suggestions for a first timer in Asakusa? Don't make too many plans. Walk the streets—wake up early before the doors open and tourists arrive, and walk at night. Take advantage of early mornings and evenings when it settles down. I've seen restaurants in Asakusa. If you're over 20 without kids, go out for drinks along the alleyways. There's a lot to enjoy—just be outside, because this is the time of year when most of us don't get out much. You gotta get your vitamin D. Sorry about the audio—I almost lost it; I dropped the mic! Audio is 50% of the video, folks. If you got bad audio, you got bad video. I can't look at the chat or I'll walk into a wall or people. With live streaming, you have to focus on where you're going, make eye contact to see if people are uncomfortable. Streamers who walk aimlessly bump into people or are annoying. You have to look around—you can tell by their faces.

00:22:52 John Daub: I don't do what everyone does. Don't copy others—learn from them. Fear not and ramble. This might be the best angle. 6-7 or 7-8? It's a ridiculous mindless US school kid thing meaning so-so. Everyone copies because of social media. I've never wanted to do what everyone else does—I'm the weird person, and a lot of you might be too. If everyone's going one direction, I'll go the other because I'm curious. When everyone tells the same story, look elsewhere—you'll find a different point of view. Sometimes doing what everyone does is smart, but sometimes not. Going to Kyoto is good, but don't plan your whole trip there—go somewhere no one is. When I came to Japan, I didn't understand what everyone was saying. It was refreshing not to have to listen, so I could focus on other things and see what others miss. To understand the country, you gotta speak the language.

00:27:44 John Daub: These are Jūgatsu-zakura, October blossoms—they bloom twice a year, end of January to beginning of February depending on where they are. We're in a nice spot. Marathon training is going pretty good—I'm back at it after a calf strain from the US, maybe dehydration. It's hard to keep fluids in when it's cold and dry. I was doing 12-13k, felt a sharp pain, stopped right away. Yesterday was the first run with zero pain, so training restarted—20k runs and speed work, but training smart. My sleep heart rate is 44, normal 50-52—low, but a marathoner friend said it can be lower. Only 4% of Japanese adults exercise regularly—put that in perspective. Running is doing what everyone else is not doing; societally, I'm an outlier. Gyms are empty even in central Tokyo. They walk or bike, but not actively exercising. Alcohol consumption has been decreasing—newer generations don't like it as much. Showa-era companies make you drink with the boss; Reiwa-era want productivity, so go home early.

00:33:38 John Daub: Be in the moment—just enjoy the present. About 7-8% of the global population runs; I'd say 3-4% because they're being chased. I don't have many friends who run—they think I'm crazy for the Tokyo Marathon. Bicycling is great, lower impact. I run because that's what I've always done—cross country after breaking my arm in soccer tryouts. Running saved my life—it gets your body going, clears your mind. No music; I just think. Great for brainstorming—I hum tunes like Dvořák's New World Symphony. Great Czech composer. John Williams was inspired by Dvořák for the Jaws two-note motif—Spielberg was horrified at first but loved it. Williams is one of the best composers for cinema, like operas were for the 17th century.

00:38:19 John Daub: John Williams was inspired by the masters, just like YouTubers by other YouTubers—you elevate it and make it your own. I'm inspired by nature and you guys. One last thing: if you want a postcard, this is a snowed-in vending machine from Iiyama in Niigata—the snow gets meters high. That's where I did the hiking video. Join the postcard club—I'll send it today or tomorrow. We've had more sign-ups lately; I send from the location, like top of Mount Fuji or Tokyo Skytree postmark. It's analog mail from Japan—I sign them myself. Been doing it eight years.

00:40:33 John Daub: To sum up for those just joining: the cherry blossom schedule was released last week—no surprises, but too early to tell. Come to Tokyo March 20th-30th for a good chance. Tokyo is not the best place—it's never been. Best is countryside like Hirosaki Park in Aomori, carnival feel with street food around April 23rd. This coffee goes out to Rainer's grandmother—thanks for the support over the years. It's hard to lose a loved one. Take care, everybody. Don't worry about rambling—do things your own way. Be inspired by cherry blossoms and nature. Get outside even when it's minus 1. Get some fresh air. Get off the digital world and enjoy a little cherry blossoms at Toyosu Park next to LaLaport—they'll be around another couple days. For the European tourists who thought climate change: sorry, this is Jūgatsu Sakura, here at this time next year too. Thanks guys. Take care. See you tomorrow. Matane (またね).