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Sakura Beyond the Crowds: Lesser-known Cities Shine in Cherry Blossom Season 2025

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Lesser-known Japanese cities bloom as sakura spotters seek out less crowdsChina and Korea are gaining interest as alternative cherry blossom destinationsTranquil ryokans emerge as favoured accommodation for a quieter sakura experience

SINGAPORE, Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As cherry blossoms begin to bloom as March approaches, travellers seeking a less-crowded sakura spotting experience are flocking to lesser-known cities in Japan to get their flower fix. While the Japanese cherry blossom season remains a top draw, this year, bookings for off-the-beaten-path and alternative locations beyond Japan are seeing significant growth, reflecting the rising demand for more peaceful and unique experiences in the heart of spring.

Japan’s Lesser-Known Sakura Spots Are Seeing a Surge in Demand

The “big three” cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto continue to be favourites, with Trip.com Group revealing triple-digit booking growth year-on-year during the sakura season. Of popular cities, Sendai, Kanazawa and Aomori also reflected the most year-on-year growth during the season.

Here’s a list of when cherry blossoms will bloom in chronological order, according to the Japan Meteorological Corporation’s forecast:

Interestingly, more travellers are seeking out lesser-known destinations for a quieter cherry blossom experience.

Toyohashi has seen a staggering 2300% YoY growth, drawing visitors to attractions like Mukaiyama Greenery Park’s Plum Tree Orchard and Yoshida Castle in Toyohashi Park. Coastal Itoshima (1500% YoY) is emerging as a hidden gem, home to scenic sakura spots such as Kafuri Park, which boasts 500 cherry trees and panoramic views of Funakoshi Bay and Mt. Kaya. Meanwhile, Yakushima (900% YoY) offers a truly special experience—cherry blossom viewing within a UNESCO-listed ancient forest.

Top Cities Searched for Sakura Season & Key Visitor Trends

Search patterns highlight the diverse range of traveller preferences for Japan’s iconic “hanami” (flower viewing parties). Major urban hubs like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Yokohama dominate searches for “cherry blossom” and “sakura” related searches, indicating travellers are still keen on popular city itineraries with cherry blossom spotting as one of the highlights. Meanwhile, lesser-known locations such as Ureshino, Kagoshima, and Yuzawa have also made it to the top ten list.

Searches in different languages indicate varied traveller origins; for example, English and Mandarin speakers drive Tokyo’s demand, while Korean interest is strong for Nago.

Overall, travel flows to Japan during sakura season (besides domestic flows) hail from the Asia Pacific region, with Hong Kong SAR, Korea, Taiwan region, Thailand and Singapore being the top source markets in terms of booking volume. Outside of Asia, travellers from the US (138.70% YoY growth), UK (137.11%) and Australia (156.54%) are also fast growing. Millennials comprise the bulk of travellers, comprising almost half of the booking volume.

Emerging International Cherry Blossom Destinations

While Japan remains a cherry blossom travel hub, more international travellers are seeking alternative locations to experience the floral spectacle. Across Southeast Asia and China, hidden gems are emerging with breathtaking displays that rival Japan’s parks. Cherry blossoms in Korea are also fast gaining attention.

Some top alternative Cherry Blossom destinations for 2025 include:

Alishan, Taiwan region – A stunning mountain landscape where cherry blossoms bloom in the early spring.Wuhan & Beijing, Mainland China – Famous cherry blossom parks like East Lake (Wuhan) and Yuyuantan Park (Beijing) are emerging as must-visit locations.Jinhae, South Korea – The site of the famous Cherry Blossom Festival, where blossoms blanket the entire city.

Among the most-searched destinations outside Japan are Wuxi and Wuhan in Mainland China, Seoul and Gyeongju in South Korea, as well as Nantou and Chiayi in Taiwan region. In South Korea, Gyeongju has seen a remarkable 211.48% surge in bookings this season, while Taiwan region’s Alishan Scenic Area in Chiayi County has experienced a 171.01% year-on-year increase, drawing visitors to its mountain blooms from mid-March to mid-April.

Similarly, bookings to Wuhan, Mainland China, have risen by 155.87%, with travellers flocking to East Lake and Wuhan University for their stunning cherry blossoms. Notably, ‘Wuhan cherry blossoms’ ranks among the top five search queries from international visitors, highlighting its growing appeal with more than 100 spots for cherry blossom viewing.

The Wellness and Alternative Accommodation Trend During Sakura Season

As the demand for off-the-beaten-path experiences grows, so does the rise in alternative accommodations and wellness tourism. Bookings for onsen ryokan and boutique hotels in lesser-known cherry blossom locations have surged, as visitors opt for serene, culturally immersive stays that offer breathtaking views away from the crowds.

In particular, scenic regions such as Mt. Fuji, Hakone, Takayama, and Shirakawa-go are seeing this rise in demand.

Luxury and boutique accommodations with private onsens, seasonal kaiseki cuisine, and mountainous scenery are particularly popular this year. Traditional stays like Mt. Fuji View Onsen Ooike Hotel, hot spring hotel Setsugetsuka in Hakone near the blossom-filled Hakone Gora Park, and traditional inn Onyado Yuinosho in Shirakawa-go are attracting visitors looking for an authentic Japanese experience paired with springtime beauty.

As for popular cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, accommodation preferences lean close to parks and rivers. According to Trip.Best* data, one of the most booked hotels is the luxurious The Tokyo Edition, Ginza, close to Hibiya Park, a peaceful cherry blossom spot. Similarly, Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo is close to Chidori-ga-fuchi, a picturesque 700-meter promenade along the Imperial Palace moat, famous for cherry blossoms.

In Kyoto, Trip.Best’s top-ranked Kamo Residences by Reflections is located near the Kamogawa River, offering stunning riverside views. Another top option is Dusit Thani Kyoto located near both Maruyama Park and the Philosopher’s Path—two of Kyoto’s prettiest sakura spots.

*Trip.Best is an AI-curated travel list on Trip.com that helps global travellers find the best experiences, including flights, hotels, attractions, restaurants, nightlife, and shows. It highlights the top 1% of products based on an algorithm that analyses user reviews and other data.

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SOURCE Trip.com Group

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Realtor.com®+™ Unveils RealAssist™ AI for Agents to Power a More Intelligent Workspace

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New agent AI layer in Realtor.com®+™ automates client setup, surfaces daily client insights, and recommends next actions; part of a broader wave of updates as the platform expands to 192,000-plus agents nationwide

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Realtor.com® today announced the launch of RealAssist™ AI in Realtor.com®+™, an AI-powered layer designed to set busy real estate professionals up for success by helping them work faster, stay ahead of client activity, and take action with more confidence, without losing time to manual busywork.

Since its January 2026 debut as the first collaborative home search experience built with MLSs, Realtor.com®+ has seen significant traction, with up to 10% agent adoption in live markets. RealAssist™ AI is designed to deepen that engagement by taking on the repetitive parts of an agent’s day, helping them spend less time on manual tasks and more time serving clients.

RealAssist™ AI launches with three core capabilities:

AI-Driven Client and Search Setup — Guides agents through setting up clients and co-buyers, capturing preferences and notes, and automatically generating more tailored home searches for those clients.Daily Digest — Synthesizes a client’s activity across chats, searches, notifications and price changes into one Daily Digest summary, with suggested next steps, so agents quickly know and understand what matters most for them.Agentic Actions — Recommends actions and helps execute tasks, such as refining home searches based on professional-level MLS data fields or drafting client messages in the agent’s own tone – with agents always in the driver’s seat, reviewing and approving every action.

“Realtor.com®+ is evolving into a more intelligent agent workspace that helps real estate professionals reduce manual work, respond faster to their clients, and stay in closer sync with buyer activity – and RealAssist™ AI is at the center of that shift,” said Anna Marie Castiglioni, Head of Realtor.com® Next. “It transforms the platform from a collaboration center into an agent’s proactive partner. It starts by getting them moving faster through client setup, then keeps working in the background surfacing insights, drafting high-intent communications and flagging ready-now opportunities before an agent even logs in.”

RealAssist™ AI arrives alongside a broader wave of updates to the platform and growing agent adoption. Realtor.com®+ is expanding its suite of agent-focused tools with updates designed to simplify workflows and strengthen client connections:

Realtors Property Resource® integration — Brings one of the National Association of Realtors®’ highest-value, member-only assets, Realtors Property Resource®, directly into Realtor.com®+ so Realtors® can access property insights, reports, and market intelligence right where they work with clients.Public invite link — Allows agents to invite entire groups of buyers to their co-branded collaboration experience with a single custom URL or QR code, helping agents grow their client base while removing the friction of one-by-one manual invitations.Listing notes — A persistent place for agents and their connected clients to capture context and thoughts on specific listings.

“Market questions come up constantly in conversations between agents and their clients,” said Jeff Young, CEO, Realtors Property Resource®. “Bringing RPR Market Trends into Realtor.com®+ gives Realtors® access to trusted local market data right inside that collaboration experience, helping them add context to those conversations and guide clients with greater confidence.”

That expanding toolset is also fueling growth; Realtor.com®+ is now live in 21 markets, with four more markets launching soon, serving more than 192,000 agents nationwide – more than 10% of the U.S. agent market – and spanning nearly 252,000 listings. Among the newest MLSs to launch the platform is Austin, Texas-based Unlock MLS.

“Realtor.com® offers top-of-funnel search behavior, and Unlock MLS offers rich, verified transaction data. Put those two things together in a way that keeps the agent at the center, and you get something truly valuable that neither side can build alone,” said Emily Girard, CEO of Unlock MLS. “For a long time, the assumption was that MLSs had to either build every piece of tech ourselves or hand our data over and hope for the best. This is a third path where we bring the expertise nobody else has – what our data actually means, how agents actually behave inside it – and Realtor.com® brings expertise we don’t have and shouldn’t have to build from scratch.”

About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.

Media Contact: Sara Wiskerchen, press@realtor.com

 

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SOURCE Realtor.com

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Ceragon Brings New E-Band Innovation and a Portfolio Built to Scale to India Mobile Congress 2026

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ROSH HA’AIN, Israel, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ceragon (NASDAQ: CRNT), a leading solutions provider of end-to-end wireless connectivity, is heading to India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2026 with new technology and live demonstrations focused on some of operators’ biggest priorities: adding capacity, reaching farther, and running networks more efficiently.

IMC 2026 takes place October 7–10 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi. Visitors can find Ceragon at Booth #2B-13-20.

At the center of this year’s showcase is the launch of the IP-50EXA-P, Ceragon’s new high-power E-band solution. The IP-50EXA-P combines industry-leading transmit power of up to 27 dBm and optional 2- or 3-foot E-stabilizer antennas. With up to 20 Gbps in a 2+0 configuration and support for multiband deployments, this product delivers E-band capacity over distances comparable to that of traditional microwave. The IP-50EXA-P is expected to be commercially available in the first quarter of 2027.

The IP-50EXA-P further expands Ceragon’s advanced E-band portfolio, which includes a broad range of solutions designed to address diverse capacity, distance, and deployment requirements, making Ceragon the partner of choice for operators looking to scale their networks with E-band technology. Visitors to the Ceragon booth can also explore:

IP-100E – See up to 25 Gbps delivered in a single box.Siklu by Ceragon MultiHaul TG – Explore flexible, multi-gigabit V-band point-to-multipoint connectivity.Ceragon Insight and Ceragon IMS – See how AI, automation, and end-to-end visibility can make networks easier to manage.IP-100FR2 – Discover new opportunities for gigabit connectivity using FR2 spectrum.

Ceragon executives will also share their perspectives on intelligent RAN and the future of spectrum in two IMC panel discussions on October 7:

Intelligent RAN for Smart and Adaptive Connectivity – Ulik Broida, Chief Product Officer, Ceragon | 3:00 p.m. | SASHAKT (EXPO HALL 1)Spectrum Landscape: Navigating the Present, Shaping the Future – Pratiyush Kumar, Vice President of Presales Engineering, Ceragon | 3:00 p.m. | SURAKSHA (EXPO HALL 1)

“We’ve spent 30 years working alongside operators as their networks—and the demands on them—have continued to evolve,” said Doron Arazi, CEO of Ceragon. “This year, we’re coming to IMC with strong momentum and plenty to show. The new IP-50EXA-P builds on our E-band leadership, while the rest of our showcase gives customers a broader look at how we can help them add capacity, work smarter, and keep scaling.”

Join Ceragon at India Mobile Congress 2026, Booth #2B-13-20, and see what’s built to scale. To set up a meeting with Ceragon at IMC, CLICK HERE.

About Ceragon

Ceragon (NASDAQ: CRNT) is the global innovator and leading solutions provider of end-to-end wireless connectivity, specializing in transport, access, and AI-powered managed & professional services. Through our commitment to excellence, we empower customers to elevate operational efficiency and enrich the quality of experience for their end users.

Our customers include service providers, utilities, public safety organizations, government agencies, energy companies, and more, who rely on our wireless expertise and cutting-edge solutions for 5G & 4G broadband wireless connectivity, mission-critical services, and an array of applications that harness our ultra-high reliability and speed. Ceragon solutions are deployed by more than 600 service providers, as well as more than 1,600 private network owners, in more than 130 countries. Through our innovative, end-to-end solutions, covering hardware, software, and managed & professional services, we enable our customers to embrace the future of wireless technology with confidence, shaping the next generation of connectivity and service delivery. Ceragon delivers extremely reliable, fast to deploy, high-capacity wireless solutions for a wide range of communication network use cases, optimized to lower TCO through minimal use of spectrum, power, real estate, and labor resources – driving simple, quick, and cost-effective network modernization and positioning Ceragon as a leading solutions provider for the “connectivity everywhere” era.

For more information please visit: www.ceragon.com

Ceragon Networks® and FibeAir® are registered trademarks of Ceragon Networks Ltd. in the United States and other countries. CERAGON® is a trademark of Ceragon, registered in various countries. Other names mentioned are owned by their respective holders.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of Ceragon’s management about Ceragon’s business, financial condition, results of operations, micro and macro market trends and other issues addressed or reflected therein. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: projections of demand, revenues, net income, gross margin, capital expenditures and liquidity, competitive pressures, order timing, supply chain and shipping, components availability, growth prospects, product development, financial resources, cost savings and other financial and market matters. You may identify these and other forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “targets”, “expects”, “intends”, “potential” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Although we believe that the projections reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be obtained or that any deviations therefrom will not be material. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause Ceragon’s future results or performance to differ materially from those anticipated, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: Company’s forward-looking forecasts, with respect to which there is no assurance that such forecasts will materialize; Company’s ability to future plan, business, marketing and product strategies on the forecasted evolution of the market developments, such as market and territory trends, future use cases, business concepts, technologies, future demand, and necessary inventory levels; the effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates between the currencies in which we operate; the effects of global economic trends, including recession, rising inflation, rising interest rates, commodity price increases and fluctuations, commodity shortages and exposure to economic slowdown; risks related to the war situation in Israel and the escalation of hostilities in the Middle East;  risks associated with delays in the transition to 5G technologies and in the 5G rollout; risks relating to the concentration of our business on a limited number of large mobile operators and the fact that the significant weight of their ordering, compared to the overall ordering by other customers, coupled with inconsistent ordering patterns, could negatively affect us; risks resulting from the volatility in our revenues, margins and working capital needs; disagreements with tax authorities regarding tax positions that we have taken could result in increased tax liabilities; the high volatility in the supply needs of our customers, which from time to time lead to delivery issues and may lead to us being unable to timely fulfil our customer commitments; risks relating to the conversion of bookings into revenues, that may be adversely affected by changes in customer requirements, evolving needs, or deployment timelines, order cancellations or modifications, or macroeconomic conditions; and such other risks, uncertainties and other factors that could affect our results of operation, as further detailed in Ceragon’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, as published on April 15, 2026, as well as other documents that may be subsequently filed by Ceragon from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Ceragon does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release unless required by law.

While we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Ceragon’s views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Ceragon does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law.

Ceragon’s public filings are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov and may also be obtained from Ceragon’s website at www.ceragon.com.

Investor Contact:

Rob Fink
FNK IR
1+646-809-4048

Joey Delahoussaye
FNK IR
1+312-809-1087

crnt@fnkir.com

 

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SOURCE Ceragon Networks Ltd.

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Deloitte Canada welcomes Sandra Sanderson as Executive Advisor, Growth and Marketing Strategy

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Former Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc. Chief Marketing Officer to advise on growth and marketing strategy, while guiding the evolution of Deloitte’s CMO Program

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2026 /CNW/ — Deloitte Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Sandra Sanderson as Executive Advisor, Growth and Marketing Strategy. Sandra brings deep executive experience in customer-led growth, enterprise loyalty, retail media, and large-scale business transformation. Her appointment represents a significant addition to Deloitte Digital’s leadership and reinforces Deloitte’s commitment to helping organizations unlock sustainable top-line growth and build customer-driven business models.

By combining strategic insight with deep consumer packaged goods and retail experience, Sandra will advise on growth and marketing strategy, while guiding the evolution of Deloitte’s CMO Program. Working closely with Deloitte leaders, she will help redefine the program’s value proposition to address the most vital growth, customer, and transformation priorities facing today’s CMOs.

“Sandra is an accomplished Canadian business and marketing leader, recognized for her ability to connect customer strategy, brand growth, innovation, and business performance,” says Cheryl Manuel, Executive Sponsor of the Executive Advisor Program and Relations Officer, Deloitte Canada. “Her experience leading transformation at some of North America’s largest consumer-facing organizations will be invaluable at Deloitte as we continue to help organizations succeed in today’s evolving consumer landscape with confidence. We are thrilled to welcome her to the firm.”

Sandra brings nearly four decades of leadership experience across CPG, pharmacy, mass merchandising, grocery, specialty apparel, entertainment and public sector, where she has helped organizations modernize marketing capabilities, deepen customer relationships, and leverage data, technology, and innovation to drive business growth.

Most recently, Sandra served as Chief Marketing Officer of Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc., overseeing brand strategy, media, loyalty, customer insights, marketing technology, sponsorships, community investment and an in-house agency. During her tenure, she transformed Empire’s marketing organization into a strategic enterprise capability, launched a new retail media network and spearheaded the enterprise-wide roll-out of Scene+, one of Canada’s largest loyalty ecosystems, which today serves more than 15 million members. Her governance experience includes board service with Scene+, Special Olympics Canada, the Canadian Marketing Association, and Tiary, a direct-to-consumer jewelry business.

“Having spent nearly two decades in the CMO seat, I understand firsthand both the pressures and the transformative opportunities facing marketing leaders today,” says Sandra Sanderson, Executive Advisor, Growth and Marketing Strategy, Deloitte Canada. “I’m excited to work alongside Deloitte’s talented team to evolve the CMO program and cultivate a community where senior leaders can exchange insights and navigate what’s next together.”

Sandra’s contributions to the profession have been widely recognized, including the Canadian Marketing Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the Retail Council of Canada’s Canadian Grand Prix Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into the AMA Marketing Hall of Legends, Star Women in Grocery ICON Award, and multiple Marketer of the Year honours. 

About Deloitte Digital

Deloitte Digital helps organizations become customer-driven businesses. We create world-class customer experiences that build high-performing brands and drive profitable growth. By bringing together customer strategy, design, marketing, sales, service, data, AI, and technology, we help organizations transform how they engage customers and create enduring value.

About Deloitte Canada’s CMO Program

Redefining the Modern CMO, this Deloitte program is designed to help inform, develop and connect CMOs and senior marketing leaders, offering a range of insights and experiences for personal and professional growth as they progress in their careers.

About Deloitte Canada

At Deloitte, our Purpose is to make an impact that matters. We exist to inspire and help our people, organizations, communities, and countries to thrive. Our work underpins a prosperous society where people can find meaning and opportunity. It builds consumer and business confidence, empowers organizations to find imaginative ways of deploying capital, enables fair, trusted, and functioning social and economic institutions, and allows our friends, families, and communities to enjoy the quality of life that comes with a sustainable future. And as the largest Canadian-owned and operated professional services firm in our country, we are proud to work alongside our clients to make a positive impact for all Canadians.

Deloitte provides industry-leading consulting, audit and assurance, tax, advisory and managed services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500® and thousands of private companies. We bring together world-class capabilities, insights, and services to address clients’ most complex business challenges.

Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

To learn more about Deloitte Canada, please connect with us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, or Facebook.

SOURCE Deloitte Canada

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