Kakao's location-based platform Kakao Map said on the 23rd that it opened a cherry blossom map service for the cherry blossom season. From cherry blossom hot spots to spring outing destinations, searching for places to welcome spring is expected to become more convenient.
The cherry blossom map is a service that lets users view at a glance more than 100 cherry blossom hot spots nationwide — including Seoul Forest, the Jinhae Gunhangje festival, and the Hadong Simni Cherry Blossom Road — along with each location's real-time blooming information. The company said it created the service to reduce the hassle for users seeking cherry blossom spots nationwide who previously had to search and compare regional blooming status and related information one by one.
A key feature is that the nationwide cherry blossom blooming status is intuitively displayed on the map in three stages: before blooming, blooming begins, and full bloom. Tapping a cherry blossom pin lets users easily check specific expected blooming periods along with the location information. For example, it provides detailed schedules such as Seoul Forest (Apr. 3–10) and Jinhae Gunhangje (Mar. 27–Apr. 3), helping users plan outings to match the blooming period. In addition, on the location detail page, a falling-petal animation plays automatically, letting users feel spring on Kakao Map as well.
After updating the Kakao Map app (version 6.17.0), users can access the service by searching for "cherry blossom map" in the search bar or tapping the "cherry blossom map" button below the search bar. Users can easily explore and discover not only cherry blossom hot spots but also cherry blossom festival locations across the country on the map.
Kim Boram, domain leader at Kakao Map, said, "We prepared the cherry blossom map so that users heading out for spring outings don't make fruitless trips and can visit the hot spots when the flowers are at their most beautiful," adding, "In spring we will feature cherry blossoms, in fall foliage hot spots, and we will prepare various place categories so users can enjoy easy place discovery and seasonal pleasures right on the map."