Hanami (花見・はなみ) literally means “flower viewing”. It refers to the cherry blossom (sakura ・桜・さくら) bloom, specifically. Do you know that makai (魔界・まかい) or the “full bloom” lasts less than a couple of weeks?
When does Cherry Blossom usually take place?
It happens yearly between the end of March and the beginning of May. Usually, is this chronological order:
- Late March: Tokyo, Kyushu and Shikoku
- Early April: Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji, Nagoya, Hiroshima, San’in
- Mid-April: Kanazawa, Fuji Five Lakes, Japanese Alps, Sendai and southern Tohoku
- Late April: Aomori and northern Tohoku; Hakodate and southern Hokkaido
- Early May: Sapporo and the rest of Hokkaido
A special Hanami
There is a “special” cherry blossom that can be seen in the South (Okinawa) between late January and early February. This kind of sakura is different from the other species commonly seen in the rest of the Country.
SEE THE LAST CHERRY BLOSSOM FORECAST (IN ENGLISH) – OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Let’s discover 1 area ar time (useful for trip planning)
We will split the country into 7 areas and – for each one – we’ll list wonderful destinations to visit during this special season. The amazing hotspot to enjoy the cherry blossom season are so many (+1000) that you’d need a lifetime to enjoy them all!
READ – Hanami (花見): the cherry blossom viewing
1 . Northern Japan: Hokkaido
SAPPORO
Sapporo is the capital of the Hokkaido region. Here you can visit the Moerenuma Park: during spring it is full of prink bright cherry trees and in winter you can see giant sculptures from the artist Isamu Noguchi.
HAKODATE
Goryokaku Tower and Star-Shaped Goryokaku Fort. The whole area was designated as a national historic site with a surrounding park famous for its cherry blossoms. Enjoy the view from the 100+ m-high Goryokaku Tower.
FURANO
Asahigaoka Park is one of the 100 best sakura blossoms views of the Country. From here you can see some of the 3000+ cherry trees placed in Furano Basin and Tokachi mountain.
OTARU
Mt. Tengu received its name after the mythical creatures. From here you have a stunning view of Otaru, the underneath cherry trees and the Sea of Japan.
ASAHIWARA
Asahikawa Park host about 3500 cherry trees enjoyable even during the night time: Yozakura (夜桜・よざくら) or “night sakura”,
2 . Northeastern Japan: Tohoku Region
HITOME SENBONZAKURA [Miyagi]
Hitome Senbonzakura means, literally, “view of a thousand cerry trees” and is a famous sakura spot. Over 1200 sakura trees line up along the Shiroishi Riverside. This place is only 30 min by train from Sendai Station.
KAKUNODATE BUKEYASHIKI-DORI [Senboku District, Akita prefecture]
Kakunodate is a popular tourist spot with streets of 4 centuries. Bukeyashiki-dori was the residence of many samurai. Here, at the end of April, the streets become pink because of the sakura trees.
FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE
- Hanamiyama Park. Located on the slopes of a mountain, it has one of the most popular cherry blossom view of the region.
- Miharu Takizakura is a national natural treasure: here you can see one of Japan’s Three Most Famous Cherry Blossom Trees (1000+ years old).
AOMORI [Aomori Prefecture]
- With its 2500+ cherry trees, Hirosaki Park is one of the best cherry blossom view of the whole Japan.
- Mt. Iwaki is a sacred mountain since ancient times. It host 6500+ cherry trees in an line of 20km. They bloom between late April and early May. This place is magic even during the fall of cherry petals that cover the whole area.
3 . Eastern Japan: Kanto and Koshin Region
TOKYO [Tokyo Prefecture]
Some of the most popular spots in this huge city are:
- Chidorigafuchi moat (Chiyoda)
- Sumida River (Asakusa)
- Ueno Park (Ueno). During Hanami is visited by nearly 2 million people!
- Koishikawa Koraku-en (Bunkyo)
- Rikugien Gardens (Bunkyo)
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (Shinjuku)
- Yoyogi Park (Shibuya)
- Meguro River or Megurogawa. It doesn’t have a park, you can enjoy a walk or the view of 800 sakura trees from cafes and restaurants along the river.
KAMAKURA [Kanagawa prefecture]
In Kamakura there are various kinds of sakura. For this reason is possibile to enjoy Hanamu from the end of March to the beginning of April but also from February to April!
MT. FUJI [Five Lakes Region]
Sakura trees around Mt. Fuji or Fujisan are stunning. If you want to visit, prepare yourself to crowded places during the Hanami, especially the area of the Chureito Pagoda.
SHIZUOKA [Shizuoka Prefecture]
Urui River offer one of the best views of cherry blossom and Mt. Fuji. For this reason is extremely popular among photographers.
4 . Central Japan: Hokuriku and Tokai Region
KANAZAWA [Ishikawa Prefecture]
Kenroku-en Along with Kairaku-en and Kōraku-en, Kenroku-en is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. With its 40 different types of Sakura blossoms is also considered one of the 100 best Sakura Spots of the whole Country.
NAGANO CITY [Nagano Prefecture]
- Ueda Castle Park is surrounded with 1000+ cherry trees!
- Matsumoto Castle one of the oldest castle in Japan where enjoy the romanic blooming.
- Takato Castle Ruins Park is one of the best 100 cherry blossom spot of Japan and one of the 3 major cherry blossom spots in Japan: don’t miss it!
- Shinshu Zenkoji Temple is ringed by cherry trees of different kinds.
5 . Western Central Japan: Kansai and Kinki Region
KYOTO CITY [Kyoto Prefecture]
Prepare yourself, because Kyoto is one of the most visited areas between March and April. Here you should experience (at least):
- The Philosopher Path
- Maruyama Park and Kiyomizu-dera (Higashiyama ward)
- Tō-ji Temple, also known as Kyō-ō-gokoku-ji (Minami-ku ward)
- Ninna-ji Temple (western Kyoto area). It is considered one of the 100 best sakura viewing points in Japan and here there is a special kind of sakura that bloom later than other species.
- Yoshimine-dera Temple (Nishikyō-ku ward)
ARASHIYAMA [Kyoto Prefecture]
Easy to reach by train from Kyoto station in about 20 minutes, it worth the visit. I suggest the Tenryu-ji Temple and the famous Sagano Bamboo Grove (both easily reachable by foot).
HIMEJI [Hyōgo Prefecture]
Himeji Castle
With over 1000 cherry trees, Himeji Castle is renowned as a cherry blossom viewing spot. During this period, you can also take a boat tour under the sakura trees!
NOTE
If you’re traveling to Himeji in this period, consider a little stop in Kobe (if your next stop is Osaka).
YOSHINO [Nara Prefecture]
Mount Yoshino. This spot has about 30,000 wild cherry trees (white) that you should definitely see during Hanami! Yoshino isn’t so famous about foreigners but here, in the Yamazakura mountain, is possibile to see one of the most beautiful, bright and variopinted cherry blossom view of the whole country… especially from Takami no Sato Sky Garden (it takes an hour by car). Give it a chance!
6 . Southwestern Japan: Chugoku and Shikoku Region
- [Kagawa prefecture] Ritsurin Garden, Kotohira-gū (Shinto Shrine)
- [Ehime prefecture] Matsuyama Castle
7 . West Japan: Kyushu Region
- [Kumamoto] Kumamoto castle
READ – Pink color or Momoiro (桃色): it’s Springtime!
Have you already visit some of these places? I hope so!
Write for you soon!
