Is it worth visiting Japan if I miss peak cherry blossom dates?

Yes. Even if you miss the exact full-bloom window in a particular city, you can often still find early or late-blooming varieties, or catch blossoms in a nearby region with a slightly different timing. Late-blooming yaezakura in places like Tokyo’s Shinjuku Gyoen or higher-elevation temples around Kyoto can be beautiful even after the main Somei Yoshino have finished. With a reliable data connection from an eSIM, you can search local blogs and social media for terms like "遅咲き桜" (late-blooming cherry trees) and quickly reroute to spots that are still in good condition.