Yoshino Mountain in Nara Prefecture, Japan, is renowned for its cherry blossoms and is widely recognized as the most beautiful cherry blossom spot in Japan, consistently ranking high in popularity.
Legend has it that the founder of the Shugendō religion, En no Gyōja, carved an image into a cherry tree on Yoshino Mountain around 1300 years ago, and since then, the cherry trees of Yoshino Mountain have been preserved as sacred.
In spring, the mountains are blanketed in pink cherry blossoms, known as “Yoshino Thousand Cherry Trees,” extending from the mountain foot to the peak.
Every April, the cherry blossoms bloom in sequence from “Foot of the Mountain,” “Waist of the Mountain,” “Top of the Mountain,” to “Inside the Mountain”, providing a spectacular view.
Location: Nara Prefecture, Japan
If you ask where the best cherry blossoms in Japan are, Hirosaki Park would be the choice.
The park boasts an amazing number of cherry trees, with about 3000 Yoshino cherry trees, nearly 1500 wild cherry trees, and 500 weeping cherry trees. The “Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival” is held in late April. The cherry blossom petals flutter like snow in the ancient castle, and the moat is dyed pink by the petals.
Not only is it a major gathering of northeastern snack stalls, but there are also Tsugaru folk song performances and Nebuta Festival parades, as well as a fantastic night cherry blossom viewing event, attracting over 2 million tourists every year.
Location: Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Ueno Park, the first park in Japan and a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, has more than 1300 cherry trees. The famous cherry blossom “Somei Yoshino” became widely known starting from Ueno Park.
Every cherry blossom season, the crimson clouds on Ueno Park’s cherry blossom avenue have become the first impression of Japanese cherry blossoms for Chinese people through the pen of Lu Xun.
Viewing “night cherry blossoms” under the lights at night is a unique way for the Japanese to appreciate cherry blossoms. In addition, the park also hosts the grand “Cherry Blossom Festival” from mid-March to early April each year.
Location: 5-20 Ueno Park, Taito Ward, Tokyo, Japan
Takato Castle Site Park is also a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan. Only here can you see the early blooming cherry blossoms known as “the best in the world”. There are more than 1500 Kohigan cherry trees, their petals are smaller than those of the Somei Yoshino cherry, but their color is much redder, very delicate and lovely.
During the peak bloom, the park is illuminated with lights at night, and cherry blossom viewers still come in an endless stream. The cherry blossom viewing period is from early to late April, and about 400,000 cherry blossom viewers visit each year.
The Meguro River in Tokyo has always been a top choice for cherry blossom viewing. This beautiful, clear stream, located in the Nakameguro district of Tokyo, is surrounded by green trees all year round.
Along the approximately 3.8-kilometer path, more than 800 cherry trees are planted on both sides, so densely that they almost block the entire sky above the river. When spring comes, the cherry trees on both sides of the river bloom together.
The river is covered with countless petals, making it look like a pink river. Between March and April each year, hundreds of thousands of people come here to enjoy the blossoms.
Choosing the most famous cherry blossom spot in Japan is very difficult, but the most famous cherry blossom temple must be Kiyomizu-dera. This national treasure building is located in Kiyomizu-dera, which has a superb view overlooking the whole of Kyoto.
During the cherry blossom season, the ancient city under the pink blossoms is particularly beautiful. Cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto can be divided into daytime and nighttime. The night cherry blossoms of Kiyomizu-dera are very famous.
Under the effect of the lights, the color of the cherry blossoms changes infinitely. The cherry blossom viewing period is from late March to early April every year.
Location: 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Goryokaku is Japan’s first Western-style castle. The pentagonal fortress surrounded by a moat and a half-moon fort (horse out fort) is composed, and there are buildings such as a magistrate’s office inside the fortress. It is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Hokkaido.
The entire area is star-shaped, and the star-shaped land is densely covered with more than 1600 cherry trees, mainly Yoshino cherry. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it is like a huge pentagonal pink flower. Walking on the small road is like being in a utopia.
After dark, 400 lantern-shaped colored lights light up in the corner of the park on the south side. The pink cherry blossoms under the light show a beautiful scenery that is completely different from the daytime. Cherry blossom viewing period: Late April to late May.
Location: Japan
Among the places to view cherry blossoms in Japan, Shinjuku Gyoen is also very famous. In early spring in February, the cold cherry blossoms in Shinjuku Gyoen awaken the Japanese cherry blossom viewing mood.
From March to April, more than 70 types of cherry blossoms bloom in sequence, distributed between different landscapes in the park, making Shinjuku Gyoen a paradise for flower viewers.
Even if you miss the cherry blossom viewing period, there are other beautiful scenes waiting for you here in other seasons. Each season has its own beauty.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Yae Mountain is one of the important cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. Here, at an elevation of 453 meters, more than 7000 Yae cherry trees are planted on both sides of the winding mountain road from the mountainside to the top.
Especially after crossing the Yae Mountain Bridge, the entire mountain top is dyed bright red as you walk up the mountain road, creating a breathtaking view.
In the Cherry Blossom Forest Park, there is a cherry blossom-flavored ice cream specially made by locals for the cherry blossom festival, and the taste with a faint cherry blossom fragrance is unforgettable.
Kumamoto Castle, together with Osaka Castle and Nagoya Castle, is known as the three famous castles in Japan. Kyushu is the earliest place in Japan where cherry blossoms bloom, and there are countless cherry blossom viewing spots.
The most famous one is Kumamoto Castle. Every year from late March to early April, about 800 cherry trees inside and outside the castle walls compete for beauty, making it a beautiful sight.
Compared with the explosive popularity of Kyoto and Osaka, Kumamoto has become a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan in recent years with its unique characteristics and beautiful natural scenery.
Location: Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
Peggie was once a high school mathematics teacher, but she set aside her chalkboard and textbooks to follow her lifelong passion for flowers. After years of dedication and learning, she not only established a thriving flower shop but also founded this blog, “Flowers Library”. If you have any questions or wish to learn more about flowers, feel free to contact Peggie.
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