Cherry blossom season is expected to arrive in Tokyo a week earlier than usual this year, with full bloom expected on March 27, according to a forecast released Friday by Japan Meteorological Corp., an Osaka-based weather-forecasting company.

The firm said Tokyo and Kochi prefectures will be the first to observe the start of the iconic bloom on March 19, also earlier than last year.

According to the Meteorological Agency, the blossoms began blooming in Tokyo on March 21 last year.