While the nation has hundreds of sakura spots, these are among the finest – together with underrated cities you possibly can enterprise to, if you wish to keep away from the crowds and even catch them as late as in May – and when it is best to plan to go.
1. Yoshinoyama, Nara
It’s arduous to discover a cherry blossom “best list” that doesn’t have Mt Yoshino close to the very prime. This mountain vary, within the coronary heart of Nara prefecture, has been Japan’s most well-known cherry-blossom viewing spot for hundreds of years. What makes this web site particular is its geography: More than 30,000 cherry timber are planted on a north-facing mountain slope that’s residence to temples, parks and a fairly village. This means ascending the slope’s 4 areas – the Shimo Senbon (decrease), Naka Senbon (center), Kami Senbon (higher) and Oku Senbon (inside) – comes with attention-grabbing actions alongside the best way. Like stopping in at Yoshimizu-jinja Shrine, the place it’s stated which you could see 1,000 cherry timber directly, or having fun with a picnic on the well-liked Naka Senbon Park. Those with sufficient stamina can journey as much as Hanayagura Observatory (an hour’s hike up the mountain) to get pleasure from a panoramic view of Yoshinoyama.
*Best viewing dates: Late March to early April
2. Ueno Park, Tokyo
If you’re going to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo, chances are you’ll as effectively go all out and hit Ueno Park. Come spring, the 54ha park in Tokyo turns into the epicentre of a crowded, noisy and wild hanami social gathering. The central path is lined with about 800 cherry timber, and each side are crammed with revellers letting their hair down for his or her annual picnic beneath the blooms. Tip: to ensure your spot, get there early within the morning, lay out your mat and ensure one in every of you stays there till the whole group arrives. Aside from picnicking, there’s lots extra to do in Japan’s first government-designated park: Four main museums and a zoo are situated on the grounds, in addition to an expansive pond that provides boat leases. All it will certainly see you thru till dusk when 1,000 lanterns strung up all through the park will gentle up the sky for magical yozakura – night-time sakura viewing.
*Best viewing dates: Late March to early April
3. Japan Mint, Osaka
It’s selection somewhat than sheer abundance that distinguishes the cherry-blossom expertise at Osaka Mint Bureau. Around 130 varieties are crammed into the 560m-long pathway that snakes by way of the gorgeous backyard of the Japan Mint headquarters. While frequent cherry blossoms have solely 5 petals, the Mint is legendary for its double-blossom varieties, which might have 20, 50, even 100 petals per flower, making for extremely lush blooms that drip from the timber. The gates to the cherry backyard are opened to most people for just one week in mid-April, so the occasion could be very well-liked. But even with the crowds – which often surpass 800,000 guests – strolling beneath a cover of blossoms, with the stately brick Meiji-era Mint Museum on one facet and the glowing waters of the Yodo River on the opposite, is effectively price it.
*Dates for the occasion differ yearly, so verify the Japan Mint web site in mid-March for updates. Best viewing dates: Mid-April
4. Kakunodate, Tohoku
See the surprising collision of gorgeous cherry blossoms with historical samurai tradition on this quiet riverside city. Today, Kakunodate is the perfect place in Japan to see samurai structure, with various fantastically preserved residences open to the general public. Indeed, it was the samurai households who initially introduced cherry timber to the city from Kyoto, and towering weeping cherry blossoms can nonetheless be seen across the previous samurai homes, most of that are surrounded by darkish black fences with spectacular gates. The Hinokinai River, bordering Kakunodate’s southern facet, is one other prime sakura spot with 2km of cherry timber making a tunnel of flowers alongside its banks. In addition to the timber, you possibly can try the Sakura Matsuri pageant, which options meals stalls alongside the river and a night illumination occasion within the Samurai District.
*Best viewing dates: Mid-April
5. Hirosaki Castle, Aomori
While cherry blossoms are good, cherry blossoms plus a Seventeenth-century fort are even higher. Hirosaki Castle, on the tip of Japan’s foremost island of Honshu, is allegedly the nation’s hottest sakura-viewing spot, drawing greater than two million guests yearly. And it’s not arduous to see why. The fort grounds just about cowl the whole cherry-blossom hit parade: hundreds of timber (greater than 2,600), views of snow-capped mountains, cherry-blossom tunnels, petal-filled moats, boats that may be rented to drift romantically by way of the moats, and night time illumination occasions. All these set towards the beautiful backdrop of a wonderful white fort full with gates, turrets and a fortified moat. And if that’s not sufficient, the fort park additionally boasts Japan’s oldest cherry tree of the Yoshino selection, which was planted in 1882. A good time to go to is through the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival, when volunteer guides are available to steer excursions, and lots of of meals stalls are open to the general public. Check the pageant’s web site for subsequent 12 months’s dates.
*Best viewing dates: Late April to early May
Underrated cities to think about
Dreading the crowds? Hotels.com suggests heading to those lovely cities in Japan as a substitute.
Where: Chitose
When: May
People often cross by way of Chitose to its neighbouring points of interest and not using a second thought. But for many who are prepared to take a fast cease, you’ll be amazed on the works of nature, beautified by the sight of sakura.
Where: Otaru
When: May
Stay in a quaint harbour metropolis simply half an hour away from Sapporo by practice. Enjoy the websites on the canal space and go to the well-known Nikka Whisky Distillery to get a style of distinctive Japanese whisky. And in fact, see cherry blossoms blooming throughout.
Where: Sendai
When: April
Mikamine Park, Tsutsujigaoka Park and Nishi Park are simply among the lovely parks in Sendai to roam round for cherry blossoms.
SEE ALSO: Japan off the crushed observe: 5 lesser-known methods to discover the nation
Where: Kanazawa
When: April
In the day, go to the Kanazawa Castle for Instagram-worthy sakura views, and within the night, take a stroll by way of Omicho Market to style some native Japanese meals.
Where: Hakuba
When: April
This is likely one of the hottest ski areas in Japan, so you possibly can go to one in every of a number of ski resorts for a day of snowboarding after taking in the picturesque sakura views.
– TEXT BY CARLA AVOLIO
PHOTOS: 123RF.COM, SUPPLIED
This article was initially printed by Singapore Press Holdings.