Kworld Trend / 5 best places to see cherry blossom festival in japan
5 best places to see cherry blossom festival in japan
The whole country is watching and waiting for the first sakura (cherry) trees to bloom. Once they do, people flock to parks and squares to see hanami , or flowers. The romance is passionate, but fleeting, lasting only a week or two.
Viewing the cherry blossoms has been a tradition in Japan for over a thousand years. Delicate flowers have acquired a poetic symbolism of the transience of beauty (and the beauty of transience). As the new school and fiscal year begins on April 1st in Japan, the sakura trees also mark the season of new beginnings—definitely something to celebrate.
Choose your timing carefully
The best time to visit Japan to spot the cherry blossoms is during the spring months. Beginning with Kyushu in the south in March, regular bloom forecasts keep the public in the loop as the sakura zensen (cherry blossom line) progresses north, usually passing through the Kansai and Kanto regions of Honshu in late March or early April. English speakers can monitor the situation of the cherry blossoms with Kiyoshi’s online forecast. Late arrivals can pick up the blooms in late April and sometimes early May in Tohoku, the northernmost region of Honshu.
There are countless parks, gardens, and scenic waterways across the country where you can view the sedum. Choose the best place for your hanami party with this guide to the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan.
1. Yoshino, Kansai, is the most popular destination in Japan for cherry blossoms to bloom
The blossoms of thousands of cherry trees form a floral carpet that gradually rises to the foothills of the Yoshino Mountains in Kansai. It is certainly a sight to behold – and one that many Japanese would like to see once in their lifetime – but it does mean that the narrow streets of the village become crowded with thousands of visitors. You will have to be content with a day trip (which can be done from Nara, or even Osaka) unless you have pre-booked accommodations. Once the cherry blossom petals fall, the crowds leave and Yoshino returns to a quiet village with a few shrines and temples.
Best time to go to Yoshino for cherry blossoms : The flowers tend to appear from early to mid-April in Yoshino and last for a few weeks.
2. Hirosaki-Koen, Tohoku, is less crowded
Hirosaki-kōen (Hirosaki Park) is a huge green space (nearly 50 hectares!) that covers the grounds of what used to be Hirosaki-jō Castle. All that remains of the actual castle is a 200-year-old keep, but the park is marbled with ancient moats, which are now surrounded by sakura and criss-crossed by photogenic arch bridges.
There are more than 2,500 cherry trees here, and given that Hirosaki, in the northernmost part of Aomori Prefecture, isn’t the population center like Tokyo (or even Kyoto), you can expect a bit more room to move around. Hire a canoe to row over the bluffs that are always covered in pink petals.
Best time to go to Hirosaki-kōen for cherry blossoms: Head here in late April to early May to see the sakura blossoms.
3. The Fuji Five Lakes, Yamanashi, offers the best floral photos
The view from the Churei-tō Pagoda in the Fuji Five Lakes is the best picture of sakura: in one frame you get a classic five-story pagoda, with curved edges and vermilion accents, a frothy sea of cherry blossoms beneath, and, on the horizon, the triumphant Mount Fuji still blanketed with snow. (You’ve probably seen the photo on the cover of a guidebook or two.) So what if the pagoda wasn’t really that old (it’s a war memorial from the 1960s) and you had to climb 397 steps to get here?
Arakurayama Sengen-kōen (garden, home to 680 non-decaying sakura trees) is located in Fuji Yoshida, a city at the base of Mount Fuji. It’s almost as doable as a day trip from Tokyo, but you can also set aside an extra day or two for hiking in the foothills of the Fuji Five Lakes region, for a chance at more views of Mount Fuji.
Best time to go to the Five Lakes Fuji for cherry blossoms: Blossoms tend to peak around mid-April.
4. Maruyama-koen (Maruyama Park), Kyoto, is the highest hanami spot
Kyoto has so many great flower-viewing spots that it’s hard to narrow down. If you are looking for a distinct experience, it is safe to say that the best hanami spot in town is Maruyama-kōen (Maruyama Park). In the center of the park is Gion Shidare-zakura , the “Weeping Cherry of Gion”, named for its proximity to the famous entertainment district, Gion, where geiko (Kyoto geisha) still perform. The over 10-meter-high tree, whose flower-covered branches arch gracefully almost to the ground, is illuminated in the evening, from dusk until midnight. Oh, and there are about 680 other cherry trees in the park so you can bet there are plenty of picnics going on here. Come early to get a good spot.Afterwards, take a stroll along the nearby canal, Shirakawa, which is lined with cherry trees and is also lit up at night.
5. Yoyogi-kōen (Yoyogi Park), Tokyo, has the best parties under the blooms
Like Kyoto, Tokyo has many popular locations for cherry blossoms to bloom. Although not the most historic – it would be Ueno Koen – or the most picturesque. It would be Shinjuku Gyoen – we double down on Yoyogi-kōen (Yoyogi Garden) because it’s more fun. It’s a huge, sprawling garden with plump grass and plenty of cherry trees, with room for everyone. Yet it still turns into a sea of partying who get more and more wobbly as the day goes into the night. We’ve seen barbecues here, turntables and portable karaoke machines. More selfie sticks than we care to count and the odd guy in nothing but his shorts. The only thing Yoyogi-kōen lacks are public toilets (be prepared to wait in line).
Best time to go to Yoyogi-kōen for the cherry blossoms: Join the parties under the blossoms in late March to early April.
Other places
Nowhere is cherry blossom season quite like in Japan: There are blogs, news reports, special menus, talk shows, and festivals that follow the trees in full bloom all over the country. There’s even a Japanese word, hanami , that’s specifically for viewing (and strolling down) the cherry blossoms. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best places in Japan to view the cherry blossoms — so you can have a hanami with the best of them.
Yoshino Mountain
In Nara Prefecture, Mount Yoshino has long been one of the most popular spots in Japan for viewing cherry blossoms, in part because its altitude range means not all 30,000 cherry trees are in bloom at the same time. (The first trees here were supposedly planted about 1,300 years ago.) Best viewed: April 5-14
Kyoto Botanical Garden
Located a stone’s throw from Kitayama Station, the Kyoto Botanical Garden is one of the city’s most popular spots for hanami. For photo opportunities, look for the weeping cherry tree in the center of the park.
Best seen: March 30 – April 7
Philosopher’s Way, Kyoto
Also known as Tetsugaku no Michi, the Philosopher’s Stone Path can be found in the northern part of the Higashiyama district of Kyoto. The path – which follows the Meiji-era Lake Biwa canal – is said to have got its name from a legend concerning the philosopher Nishida Kitaro, who is said to have practiced meditation on his walks here. Today, it’s one of the most popular spots in Kyoto for cherry blossom viewing, thanks to the trees that hang over the path and canal. 5 best places to see cherry blossom festival in japan
Best seen: March 30 – April 7
Kakunodate, Akita
Known as the samurai district (previously home to 80 samurai families). Kakunodate features wide streets and many open squares, both shaded by large cherry blossom trees imported from Kyoto in the Edo period (1603-1868). These “weeping” trees were said to have been planted by the samurai themselves, who wanted to outdo each other.
Best seen: April 23 – May 6
The most beautiful forests in the world
Lake Kawaguchiko
We recommend Lake Kawaguchiko all year round, but as with many regions in Japan. It shines especially during cherry blossom season. Head to the coastal park near Kawaguchiko Musical Forest (named after the Old Music Box Museum). For views of Mount Fuji and cherry blossom trees a postcard-worthy sight if you’ve ever seen one.
Best viewed: April 6-22
Hirosaki Castle Garden
Built in 1611, the three-story Hirosaki offers a number of ways to enjoy the cherry blossoms. In and around its walls and gardens: here, you’ll find more than 2,600 trees, petal-covered moats, boats for hire. And swarm picnic areas at this castle garden in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture.
Best seen: April 23 – May 5
Himeji Castle
Just four hours west of Tokyo by train, Himeji Castle reopened to the public in 2015 after years of renovations. But it’s quickly becoming a cherry blossom viewing destination. Note that the castle—which is said to resemble a heron in flight. Which has cherry blossom trees on both its free grounds (Senhimebotanen Park; Sannomaru grounds) and paid areas (Nishnomaru grounds). 5 best places to see cherry blossom festival in japan
Best seen: March 26 – April 5
Yoyogi Park, Tokyo
No matter the season, the 134-acre Yoyogi Park is one of the top things to do in Tokyo. Come spring, the park is bustling with performers and picnickers, most clustered around the park’s more than 600 cherry trees. To enjoy it, lay out your own blanket. But make sure it doesn’t take up more space than you need, which is frowned upon.
Best seen: early April
