① Cherry Blossom Spots Near Osaka
As the cherry blossom season returns, Japan’s cherry blossom spots are gaining popularity. As many tourists visit, famous travel destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka undoubtedly stand out. However, there are also many places in small towns where you can enjoy secluded cherry blossom viewing.
Mount Yoshino is the largest cherry blossom travel destination in Japan. It is known to be home to a whopping 30,000 cherry trees. Although it offers beautiful scenery throughout the year, it becomes even more stunning when spring comes.
From the end of March to the beginning of May, fully blooming cherry blossoms cover the entire mountain. The landscape of Mount Yoshino, filled with cherry blossoms, is truly spectacular. You can enjoy the pink cherry blossom scenery at Mount Yoshino, which has been known for having many cherry trees since ancient times.
Mount Yoshino is part of a national park in Nara Prefecture, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can get there by taking a JR train from Nara, Kyoto, or Osaka station.
- Address: 639-3115 Nara Prefecture, Yoshino District, Yoshinoyama, Japan
Hikone Castle in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, is famous for its beautiful view. This place still stands as it was when it was first built. From Hikone Castle, you can see Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, and the cityscape.
When spring comes, 1,200 cherry trees bloom around Hikone Castle. They usually bloom in early April. Many tourists flock here to enjoy the cherry blossom night view. This is the most beautiful time of the year.
This year, from March 22nd to March 31st, they are holding a Night Cherry Blossom Light-Up event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. During this time, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms in a more serene atmosphere. It takes about an hour to get to Hikone from Kyoto.
- Address: 1-1 Konkicho, Hikone, Shiga 522-0061, Japan
- Business hours: 08:30–17:00, March 22-31: 08:30–20:00
② Good Places to Enjoy Flower Blossoms Near Tokyo
You can visit Saitama, which is about an hour and a half from Tokyo Station. The cherry blossom trees in Moto Arakawa are a popular cherry blossom spot among locals. You can enjoy the fully blooming cherry blossoms from the end of March to the beginning of April.
This quiet neighborhood is located upstream of Arakawa and has a large scale of cherry blossom paths. Many cherry trees are planted along the 1.55-mile walkway along the river. When about 500 cherry blossoms bloom, it offers a spectacular view. At night, lights are turned on along the street trees, making it an excellent place to enjoy the night view.
The Fukigami Sakura Festival will be held at the Kamazuka Event Plaza on March 23rd and 24th.
- Address: 8 Kamatsuka, Konosu, Saitama, 369-0112, Japan
- Festival period: March 23-24
In Sendai City, in the Tohoku region, northeast of Tokyo, you can enjoy cherry blossoms along the sea. The Tohoku region, the northernmost part of Honshu, is an excellent place to watch flower blossoms in nature.
If you visit Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park, you can see cherry blossoms in the open landscape of Matsushima Bay. It’s a popular place to enjoy cherry blossoms with a backdrop of beautiful islands from the high ground. Approximately 260 cherry trees are planted, and the park is dyed pink in spring.
It’s famous among Japanese locals for its excellent cherry blossom viewing spots. To visit Sendai from Tokyo, it is recommended to take the Shinkansen. You will arrive in Sendai in about an hour and a half. You can also see it by domestic flight or express bus.
- Address: Inuta-2 Matsushima, Miyagi District, Miyagi 981-0213, Japan
③ Quiet Small Town Travel Destination
Kochi Prefecture is a small city in the southern part of Shikoku. The cherry blossoms start to bloom there at the end of March. Kochi Castle is a representative place in Kochi where you can enjoy cherry blossoms.
About 200 cherry trees are planted inside the castle. From April 5th to 7th, a cherry blossom event will be held at Kochi Castle. Walking around Kochi Castle, numerous cherry trees are planted along the Horikawa Canal.
You can walk along a cherry blossom path that spans about 0.62 miles. To visit Kochi Prefecture, you must take a domestic flight from Tokyo or Osaka.
- Address: 1 Chome-2-1 Marunouchi, Kochi, 780-0850, Japan
- Festival period: April 5-7
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