Travel

Blooming superb locations for cherry blossom viewing in Japan

Jun 06, 2017

With springtime blooms a popular tourist activity in Japan. Seeing the cherry blossoms in full bloom. It is not just because cherry trees look so beautiful in flower. Cherry blossom season is a time of new beginnings for the Japanese, prompting cherry blossom viewing parties held under the trees, known as hanami. If you want to enjoy the local culture you can take part in these all around the country.

Where is the best places to go to see the blossoms? You will find them in most locations, but there are specific areas that are very popular because of the amount of trees and the surrounding locations.

Here are a few suggestions:

Yoshino

Yoshino is regarded as having one of the most famous viewing spots in Japan. With 30,000 cherry trees it is very popular with tourists and gets incredibly busy. It is best to arrive early to beat the crowd but you can also stay on the mountain itself in a ryokan.

Ueno Park

Ueno Park in Tokyo is another popular spot known for being crowded and noisy but pretty. It is one of the most popular spots for hanami and opens earlier than some other locations.

Mt Fuji

『春はもうすぐだよ❣️🙋』 * 🌸🌷🌼💐🌺🌸🌷🌼💐🌺🌸🌷🌼 🎨wp_flower とはなまっぷ🌸の 🌼🌈wp_まっぷ花まつり🌈🌹 🌸🌷🌼💐🌺🌸🌷🌼💐🌺🌸🌷🌼 * 沢山の素敵なお写真のエントリーありがとうございます！！タグ付け頂いたお写真の中からテーマカラーごとに紹介させていただきます🌸 * 🎨テーマカラー🎨 *ピンク * * 🎊featured🎊 * 🌸 @choku_sr 🌸 . photo selected by @hanamap . 素敵な花色ありがとうございます🌸🌼💠🌹 * 🌸🌷🌼💐🌺🌸🌷🌼💐🌺🌸🌷🌼 * 🌼🌈wp_まっぷ花まつり🌈🌹 * 🌸テーマカラーのあるお花のお写真大募集🌸 マクロでも風景でも❣️ * 🎨テーマカラーは4色🎨 『赤』『黄色』『青もしくは紫』『ピンク』 * 🍀タグ🍀 #wp_まっぷ花まつり過去のお写真へのタグ付け🆗 * 🌈期間🌈 只今〜 2/20（月）どんどん咲かせます🌸 * 🌸たくさんタグ付けいただいた方の中から期間終了後にスライドショーでの発表もあるかも⁉️⁉️ 沢山の素敵なお花お待ちしております🌷🌷🌷 * 🌸🌷🌼💐🌺🌸🌷🌼💐🌺🌸🌷🌼 * #はなまっぷ #wp_flower #神奈川#松田山#河津桜#桜#富士山#花#風景#景色#日本#mtfuji

A photo posted by はなまっぷ❁日本の花風景 (@hanamap) on Feb 8, 2017 at 4:21am PST

This majestic location is almost always on a tourist’s destination must list, and during spring it is surrounded by cherry blossoms. Popular viewing spots at Mt Fuji are Fuji Five Lakes areas of Lake Kawaguchiko and Chureito Pagdo. It is not only the highest mountain in Japan it is an active volcano, and is considered a sacred mountain. Best viewing is mid April.

Philosophers Path

Philosopher's Walk with sakura (cherry blossom) in the Springtime. Kyoto, Japan. — Philosopher’s Walk with sakura (cherry blossom) in the Springtime. Kyoto, Japan.

Philosopher’s Path is Kyoto is lined with restaurants, cafes and shops, and of course, cherry trees. These are best viewed in early April. The stone path follows a canal and is about two kilometres long. If you do the walk you will also come across a number of small temples and shrines.

The park surrounding Hirosaki Castle has more than 2500 cherry trees. It is spectacular viewing at night when the trees and castle are lit up. You can even rent a row boat to get a unique perspective from below. Head there from late April through to early May for the best of the blooms.

Osaka Castle

#osaka #osakacastle🏯 #touringlife

A photo posted by Yvonne (@ycogo) on Dec 14, 2016 at 6:24am PST

Osaka Castle is not only one of the most historic castles in Japan, it is home to about 4000 cherry trees. It is regarded as one of the best spots in Japan for viewing. The best locations are the wide lawns of Nishinomaru Park. Optimum viewing is from late March to early April.

Himeji Castle

#Himeji Castle is the most spectacular example of a Japanese castle in existence.#Travel #wanderlust #Japan pic.twitter.com/SkCgKyKKry

— ShutterBee (@Shutterbee_app) February 9, 2017

Recently restored, Himeji Castle is Japan’s largest and most impressive. It is considered both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Like most Japanese castles, this hilltop castle is also surrounded by cherry trees.

Usuzumi Zakura

Já pensou em conhecer uma cerejeira com mais de 1.500 anos de idade? 😵❤️✨ A Usuzumi Zakura (淡墨桜) figura entre as três árvores mais antigas do Japão e está localizada em Gifu. Dizem que ela foi plantada pessoalmente pelo Imperador Keitai (o 26º imperador do Japão) no século VI. Esta única árvore de cerejeira oferece três aparências muito distintas. Inicialmente brota flores em tom rosa pálido que se transformam em branco puro em plena floração e finalmente mudando para cinza pálido antes de cair. Quem visita afirma que a Usuzumi Zakura tem uma aura especial! Imagine quanta coisa que está árvore “viu” em 1500 anos? Como o mundo era diferente quando ela foi plantada?🤔 Usuzumi Zakura é reconhecida como um Tesouro Natural Nacional do Japão! ❤️ De repente um pedacinho da história do país do lado da sua casa! Que tal conferir? O parque Usuzumi fica a cerca de 20 minutos de caminhada da estação Tarumi. #travel #japan #japantravel #discoveryjapan #trip #日本観光 #visitjapan #gifu #usuzumizakura #淡墨桜

A photo posted by Clube Da Necessaire (@clubenecessaire) on Feb 9, 2017 at 12:03am PST

One of the oldest cherry trees in Japan is Usuzumi Zakura, located in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. Said to be over 1500 years old the tree produces a changing coloured blossom; starting at pale pink, turning white and then a light grey just before they are ready to fall. Visit in mid-April for the best viewings.

Shinjuku Gyoen

Enjoy Spectacular Cherry Blossoms in Historic #Shinjuku Gyoen! – https://t.co/tVGabBkjcG #Japan pic.twitter.com/lRSavaMpTW

— Boutique Japan (@BtqJpn) February 2, 2017

If you can’t make your trip to Japan during peak cherry blossom season then try Shinjuku Gyoen. This large park in Tokyo has over a thousand cherry trees which are both early and late blooming.

If you happen to venture there this year you can see even more blooms on show, at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo

It is Japan’s first national art museum and will display various masterpieces at its spring exhibitions in 2017, including KAWAI Gyokudo’s “Parting Spring” designated as an Important Cultural Property, and other paintings of cherry blossoms.