Outdoor - Seasons - Where to see cherry blossom

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  GORYOKAKU FORT PARK, HAKODATE CITY, HOKKAIDO

  Hokkaido is where plum and cherry trees blossom at the same time. Goryokaku was a western-style fort built by the Tokugawa shogunate (1857-66) in the harbour city of Hakodate. The fort, one of the largest ever constructed in Japan, was the centre of action in the war between the last remnants of the Tokugawa clan and the new Meiji government. The star-shaped ruins of the fort are now a park full of cherry blossom trees.

   

  Flowering season: Late April to early May
  Access: From Hakodate Station on the JR Hakodate Line, take the streetcar to Goryokaku-koen-mae stop (15 mins). The park is 15 min on foot from the streetcar stop.
  Further information: Hakodate-Southern Hokkaido Tourist Guide

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  HIROSAKI CASTLE PARK, HIROSAKI CITY, AOMORI

  Hirosaki Castle Park is one of the best spots for viewing cherry trees in the Tohoku region. In this park, there is a castle with turrets and gates as a visual reminder of bygone days, which was constructed by the Tsugaru family who once ruled the whole area. For the perfect picture experience, walk along the castle's western moat to capture the bright red Shunyo Bridge, stately castle tower, pale pink cherry blossoms, and snow-crested Mt. Iwaki. The Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is usually held every year from 23 April to 5 May, dates varying.
  
  The park is about 49.2 hectares wide, and has about 2,600 trees of 50 different varieties, mainly Somei-yoshino. The records indicate that 25 cherry trees were planted in "Nishi-no-Kuruwa" in 1715, and among these trees, Kanzan and Kasumi-zakura still bloom now in the spring. The 120 year-old Somei-yoshino is also very popular, and is said to be the oldest in Japan, planted at the beginning of the Meiji Era.
  
  Flowering season: Late April to late May
  Access: 15mins by Konan Bus from JR Hirosaki Station to Shiyakusho-mae-koen-iriguchi. It is a 1 min walk from the bus stop.
  Further information: Hirosaki City
  Aomori Prefecture Tourism Guide

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  KAKUNODATE, AKITA

  Kakunodate is located almost at the centre of Akita Prefecture. The beautiful weeping cherry trees (shidare-zakura) and the classic samurai residences in Kakunodate have a history stretching back over 300 years. Come cherry blossom season in April, the area's best feature is the 2 km stroll through the magnificent tunnel of flowering trees lining the Hinokinai River. The 152 trees are classed amongst the nation's natural monuments, and show a beautiful contrast against the black walls of the samurai residences.
  
  Flowering season: Late April to late May
  Access: Exit at JR Kakunodate Station (Akita Shinkansen Line).
  Further information: Kakudate Tourist Association

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  UENO PARK & SHINJUKU GYOEN PARK, TOKYO

  Ueno Park is one of Japan's most crowded, noisy and popular cherry blossom spots, featuring more than 1,000 trees along the street leading towards the National Museum and around Shinobazu Pond. Trees are lit up in the evenings. The rows of cherry trees, Somei-yoshino and mountain cherry trees (yama-zakura), bloom magnificently in spring, making the park very popular for holding parties under a canopy of beautiful flowers.
  
  Flowering season: Late March to late April
  Access: 5mins walk from JR Ueno Station (Yamanote Line).
  Further information: JNTO’s Ueno info page
  
  
  
  Shinjuku Gyoen Garden is the location of the samurai residence of the Naito family. The garden was later designated as an Imperial garden, and then as a national garden in 1949. It has been famous for its cherry trees since the Meiji Era (1868-1912), and today is one fo the most popular spots in Tokyo to enjoy the spring blooms.
  
  Flowering season: Late March to late April
  Access: 10mins walk from JR Shinjuku Station (Yamanote Line), or exit at Shinjuku-gyoen-mae Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line).
  Further information: JNTO’s Shinjuku info page

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  NAGOYA CASTLE, AICHI

  Nagoya Castle is known as one of Japans greatest castles, alongside Himeji and Kumamoto Castles. The founder of the shogun government that ruled Japan over roughly 265 years from the beginning of the 17th century, Tokugawa Ieyasu, had the castle completed by mobilizing influential daimyo from all over the country. The rooms on the first through the fifth floors are used to display art treasures that escaped the fires during the war, while the seventh floor serves as a scenic observatory. In the display rooms are exhibited some pieces of fusuma-e (paintings on sliding doors) and ceiling-panel paintings, which were formerly used in the lord’s mansion on the castle grounds. It houses a total of 1,047 such paintings, all of which are registered as Important Cultural Properties. The castle is at its most beautiful in cherry blossom season when many somei yoshino trees, several weeping cherry trees and small numbers of less commonly seen cherry tree varieties are in bloom around the pleasant park and along the moats of the castle.
  
  Flowering season: Late March to early April. Visitors can enjoy viewing illuminated cherry blossoms at night.
  Access: Short walk from Shiyakusho-mae Station, Nagoya City.
  Further information: Nagoya Castle
  Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau

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  MARUYAMA PARK & THE PHILOSOPHER'S PATH, KYOTO

  Maruyama Park is the oldest park in Kyoto and is renowned for its huge weeping cherry trees, best viewed at night. Beginning in early April the illuminated trees always attract scores of people. Cherry blossom season continues through April, as trees on the mountainside start to blossom while the park's trees fade to green.
  You can also explore the Philosopher's Path which is a walking track from Ginkaku-ji Temple to Wakaoji-jinja Shrine, to see a vista of cherry blossoms on both sides of the river path from Lake Biwa-ko. The cherry blossom petals floating on the water add to what is already a beautiful and atmospheric walk between the historic monuments such as Ginkaku-ji Temple, Honen-in Shrine, and Eikan-do Temple. The season of magnificent autumn tints is also a lovely time to stroll along the Philosopher’s Path.
  
  Flowering season: Late March to late April
  Access: Yasaka-Maruyama, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto / Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. 15mins ride by bus from JR Kyoto Station.
  Further information: Welcome to Kyoto

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  ARASHIYAMA, TENRYU-JI TEMPLE, KYOTO

  The area which is today called Arashiyama has been famous for the colours of its autumn leaves since the Heian Period (794-1185) and has been praised in a number of Japanese poems. After cherry trees were replanted from Yoshino (Nara), it also became a famous site for cherry blossoms. In April, the cherry blossoms flower profusely all over the area from Togetsu-kyo Bridge to Arashiyama-Nakanoshima Park, the bank of the O-i-gawa River, and Kameyama Park behind Tenryu-ji Temple. The road along the Katsura-gawa River lined with fifty-year-old trees that form a tunnel of cherry blossoms, making it a stunning place for a springtime stroll. The weeping cherry trees (shidare-zakura) in Tenryu-ji Temple are also splendid. The scenery from Bokyo-no-oka, a small hill in the precincts, provides special and stunning views unique to Kyoto.
  
  Flowering season: Late March to late April
  Access: A few minutes walk from Arashiyama Station (Keifuku Line).
  Further information: Welcome to Kyoto

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  DAIGO-JI TEMPLE, KYOTO

  Registered World Cultural Heritage Site, Daigo-ji Temple’s precincts in southeastern Kyoto is 660 hectares and cover Mt. Daigo. In the spring of 1598, great daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi had 700 trees of cherry blossoms planted and a garden created to have a magnificent party, where about 1,300 people including Hideyori (his son), wife, and mistresses joined him to enjoy the views. Ever since then Daigo-ji has been a famous place for cherry blossoms. Sanpo-in-teien Garden was designed by Hideyoshi himself to enjoy the cherry blossoms, with a waterfall and an island to complement the marvellous weeping cherry trees (shidare-zakura). It takes about 100 minutes on foot to walk to Kaizan-do Hall on the top of the mountain, and this hike is highly recommended at blossom time.
  
  Flowering season: Late March to late April
  Access: 10mins walk from Daigo-ji Station (Subway Tozai Line).
  Further information: Daigo-ji Temple

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  NARA PARK, NARA

  Nara Park is a historical park surrounding Todai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple and Shoso-in Repository. Constructed in the Tempyo Period (710-784), it spreads over a vast area (660 ha) of a lush and green landscape. Herds of deer are renowned there as the holy messengers of Kasuga-taisha Shrine, and are placed under careful protection. The park has about 1,700 cherry trees of various kinds, including Narayae-zakura and Kokonoe-zakura. It also offers a number of scenic spots, such as Sagi Pond, the foot of Mt. Wakakusa, the remains of To-do Tower, the Kofuku-ji Temple area, Ara Pond, Kasugano-enchi, and the Todai-ji Temple area. Be sure to allow enough time for strolling here.
  
  Flowering season: Late March to late April
  Access: 10mins walk from Kintetsu Nara Station.
  Further information: Nara sightseeing information

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  MT. YOSHINO, NARA

  Mt. Yoshino, located almost at the centre of Nara Prefecture, is said by many to be Japan's best location for viewing cherry blossoms. Many years ago, people had a custom of dedicating cherry tree seedlings to the Zao-do Hall of Kinpusen-ji Temple. The trees were later replanted in the neighbouring mountains, which is how this beautiful spot originated. When the spring comes, approximately 30,000 cherry trees (mainly Shiroyama-zakura) start blooming from Shimo-senbon (the foot of the mountain) to Naka-senbon (halfway down), Kami-senbon (halfway up), and finally to Oku-senbon (the peak), displaying a gorgeous vista of flowers for as long as a month.
  
  Flowering season: Early to late April
  Access: Take the Yoshino Ropeway (aerial tramway) for 3 min from Yoshino Station (Kintetsu Yoshino Line) to Yoshino-yama Station.
  Further information: Nara sightseeing information

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  JAPAN MINT, OSAKA

  When the cherry trees bloom around mid-April, the Japan Mint in Osaka opens a passage of 560 meters long, from South Gate (Tenma-bashi side) to North Gate (Sakura-bashi side), to the general public for one week. This area along the old Yodo River has long been famous for its beautiful scenery, especially in spring when the cherry trees bloom gorgeously. The Japan Mint has been holding this traditional and seasonal event in Osaka since the end of the 19th century. In the Mint, there are about 120 different varieties of the total 370 extant varieties of cherry trees, such as Kanzan, Fugenzo, Shogetsu, Benitemari, Shibayama, Kizakura, and Yokihi.
  
  Flowering season: Mid-to late April
  Access: 10mins walk from subway Tenmabashi Station.
  Further information: Japan Mint, Osaka

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  SENKOJI PARK, HIROSHIMA

  Senkoji Park is a scenic spot for cherry trees located at the back of Onomichi Station, spreading from the top to the hillside of Mt. Senkoji (137 m). The park was built in 1894 by the chief priest of Senko-ji Temple. There are nearly 10,000 cherry trees here, mainly comprising Somei-yoshino, but also including weeping cherry trees (shidare-zakura) and sato-zakura. In April, from the observation platform on the top of the mountain, you can enjoy a splendid landscape over the town of Onomichi and the islands of the Inland Sea. Also located there are the City Art Museum, Bungaku-no-komichi (Path of Literature), and an amusement park, making the park very popular, especially for visitors with children.
  
  Flowering season: Early to mid-April
  Access: 5min ride by bus or 15min walk from JR Onomichi Station. Then, take Senkoji-yama Ropeway (aerial tramway) for 3 min to Sancho Station (summit station).
  Further information: Onomichi City

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  KUMAMOTO CASTLE, KUMAMOTO

  Kumamoto Castle is one of the three most famous castles of Japan and was built in the early 17th century by Kato Kiyomasa. The castle has a number of interesting features, such as a stone wall called Musha-gaeshi, the castle tower, which forms a beautiful contrast of black and white, and Naga-bei (the long wall). However, it is the 800 cherry trees that add unrivalled elegance to the castle. The main varieties are Somei-yoshino as well as mountain cherry trees (yama-zakura) and Higo-zakura which make the square in front of the castle tower and the front of Naga-bei a wonderful spot for cherry blossom viewing. This vast castle area is also a cultural place, and houses the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, the Kumamoto City Museum, the Kenmotsudai Botanical Garden, and the Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Centre.
  
  Flowering season: Late March to early April
  Access: 15 min ride from JR Kumamoto Station to Kumamotojo-mae Station (Kumamoto City Tram). It is a 10 min walk from the station.
  Further information: Kumamoto Guide

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  NAGO CASTLE RUINS, OKINAWA

  The remains of Nangusuku (Nago Castle) are located almost in the centre of Okinawa Main Island, on the hill of Nago. In late January, Ryukyu-higan-zakura blooms spectacularly, attracting many people as the place for the earliest cherry blossom viewing in Japan. In 1912, the first 48 cherry trees from the mountains were planted on the approach to the castle. Today, about 20,000 cherry trees with deep pink flowers (Higan-zakura) enhance the beautiful view of Yanbaru (the north of Okinawa Main Island), Nago City and Nago Bay from the observation platform.
  
  Flowering season: Late January to early February
  Address: Nago, Okinawa
  Access: Take a bus from Nago Bus Terminal to Nagojo-iriguchi. It is a 5 min walk from the bus stop.
  Further information: Okinawa Story