Sakura (Cherry Blossom)

The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and holds a very prominent position in Japanese culture.

There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The Japanese celebrate that time of the year with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees.

Below is a list of some of Japan's most popular cherry blossom spots with the typical timing for best viewing in the average year and japan-guide.com ratings:

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Tokyo
Shinjuku Gyoen Early April
10 minute walk from Shinjuku Station, 200 yen, 9:00 to 16:30 In its Western and Japanese style gardens, Shinjuku Gyoen features more than one thousand cherry trees of over a dozen varieties, including numerous early and late blooming trees. There are spacious lawn areas, and the atmosphere is calm and peaceful. Thanks to the early and late blooming trees, Shinjuku Gyoen is a recommended hanami destination for those who miss the main season by a week or two.

Ueno Park Early April
A few steps from Ueno Station, no admission fee One of Japan's most crowded, noisy and popular spots for cherry blossom parties, Ueno Park features more than 1000 trees along the street leading towards the National Museum and around Shinobazu Pond. Ueno Park is a good hanami destination if you visit Tokyo early in the season, as the blossoms there follow a slightly faster schedule (typically two or three days faster) than the blossoms in other spots in the city. 

Chidorigafuchi Early April
Kudanshita Station
No admission fee
Hundreds of cherry trees decorate the moats of former Edo Castle around Kitanomaru Park, creating one of Tokyo's most outstanding cherry blossom sights. Rowing boats are available for rent. Trees are lit up in the evenings. Many food stands can be found at nearby Yasukuni Shrine, where another one thousand cherry trees are planted.

Sumida Park Early April
A few steps from Asakusa Station
No admission fee
The park stretches for a few hundred meters along both sides of Sumida River. Some food stands are available. Cherry blossom viewing (hanami) can also be enjoyed from boats that cruise the river. Trees are lit up in the evenings. 

Yokohama
Sankeien Garden Early April
10-25 min bus ride from Negishi or Sakuragicho Stations
500 yen, 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
Sankeien is a Japanese landscape garden with a central pond, various historical buildings moved there from across the country, and several hundred cherry trees. 

Mitsuike Park (Mitsuike Koen) Early April Mitsuike Koen Kitamon bus stop (city bus number 104 from Shin-Yokohama or Tsurumi Stations). Admission: Free
Mitsuike Park is one of Japan's "100 best cherry blossom spots", the only found in the city of Yokohama. Like its name suggests, Mitsuike Park features three ponds around which over a thousand cherry trees are planted. 

Kamakura
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Early April
The cherry tree lined approach starts a short walk northeast of Kamakura Station
Admission: Free
Known as Dankazura, the final approach to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is lined and covered for almost 500 meters by hundreds of cherry trees, creating one of Japan's most spectacular cherry blossom tunnels. 

Fuji Five Lakes
Northern Shores of Kawaguchiko Mid April
15-25 minutes by retro bus from Kawaguchiko Station
Trees along the northern shores of Lake Kawaguchiko provide the magnificent sight of Mount Fuji in combination with the lake and cherry blossoms. Two of the best spots are the seaside promenade around the Ukai Orgel no Mori and the small Ubuyagasaki peninsula next to the Kawaguchiko Ohashi Bridge. Visit in the early mornings for best visibility and light conditions. 

Chureito Pagoda Mid April
15-20 minute walk from Shimo-Yoshida Station
Admission: Free
This relatively recently built pagoda in the hills of Fuji Yoshida City across from Mount Fuji attracts photographers around the year, but particularly so in mid April during the cherry blossom season when the pagoda seems to float in a sea of cherry blossoms. Light conditions are best in the early morning. 

Matsumoto
Matsumoto Castle Mid April
15 minute walk from Matsumoto Station
Inner grounds: 600 yen, 8:30 to 17:00
Matsumoto Castle is one of the most beautiful of Japan's original castles. There are about 300 cherry trees planted around the castle moats and inside the paid inner grounds of the castle. 

Kanazawa
Kenrokuen Mid April
15 minute bus ride from Kanazawa Station
300 yen, 4:00 to 18:00
It is not surprising that Japan's most celebrated garden is also a fine cherry blossom spot. In addition to the many trees found inside Kenrokuen, there are many trees surrounding the garden and nearby Ishikawa Gate, one of the gates of Kanazawa Castle. 

Nagoya
Yamazakigawa Riverside Early April
10 minute walk from Mizuho-Undojo-Higashi Station
Admission: Free
The Shikinomichi ("Path of Four Seasons") along Nagoya's Yamazaki River is justifiably designated as one of Japan's 100 best cherry blossom spots. The river is lined by hundreds of cherry trees for nearly a kilometer. 

Nagoya Castle Early April Short walk from Shiyakusho-mae Station
500 yen, 9:00 to 16:30 (entry until 16:00)
Many somei yoshino trees, several weeping cherry trees and small numbers of less commonly seen cherry tree varieties are planted around the pleasant park and along the moats of Nagoya Castle. 

Hikone
Hikone Castle Mid April
15-20 minute walk from Hikone Station
Inner grounds: 600 yen, 8:30 to 17:30
Hundreds of cherry trees are planted around the grounds and along the moats of Hikone Castle, creating impressive sights and providing a few nice spots for hanami picnics. 

Kyoto
Philosopher's Path Early April
Between Ginkakuji and Nanzenji Temples
No admission fee
The Philosopher's Path is a pleasant path besides a canal that connects Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) with the vicinity of Nanzenji. It is lined by hundreds of cherry trees. 

Maruyama Park Early April Next to Yasaka Shrine
No admission fee
Maruyama Park next to Yasaka Shrine is Kyoto's most popular public park for cherry blossom parties. Its centerpiece is a large weeping cherry tree that gets lit up in the evenings. Many food stands and temporarily constructed restaurants with tables under the trees are available.

Arashiyama Early April
Northwest of central Kyoto
No admission fee
Arashiyama is a pleasant and busy district in the outskirts of Kyoto. Many cherry trees can be found around the Togetsukyo Bridge at the foot of Arashiyama mountains. 

Heian Shrine Mid April Behind the main building
600 yen, 8:30 to 17:30
Large numbers of weeping cherry trees (yaebeni shidare) stand in the garden of Heian Shrine, behind the shrine's main buildings, making it one of the best spots to see weeping cherry trees in Kyoto. Note that the trees reach full bloom a few days after the other cherry trees. 

Osaka
Kema Sakuranomiya Park Early April
Sakuranomiya Station (JR Loop Line)
No admission fee
Nearly 5000 cherry trees line Okawa River for several kilometers. The seemingly endless rows of cherry trees can be viewed from a pleasant riverside promenade or from ships cruising the river. There are also lawn areas with a lot of space for picnics. 

Osaka Castle Early April Osaka Castle Park
No admission fee (except Nishinomaru Garden)
Over 4000 cherry trees are planted on the spacious grounds of Osaka Castle. A particularly nice place for a picnic is Nishinomaru Park in the castle's western citadel with wide lawns, views of the castle tower and light up in the evening. 

Expo 70 Commemorative Park Early April Banpaku Kinen Koen Station (Osaka Monorail)
250 yen, 9:30 to 17:00 (until 21:00 for light up)
The former site of the 1970 World Exhibition in Osaka was turned into a large public park with over 5000 cherry trees along its paths and around its large lawn areas. There is light up in the evenings. 

Osaka Mint Bureau Mid April 10 minute walk from Temmabashi Station
Free, opened to the public during only one week
More than 300 trees of over 100 varieties, mostly later blooming yae-zakura trees can be viewed on the premises of the Osaka Mint Bureau during one week in mid April, about one week after the end of the regular cherry blossom season. 

Nara
Nara Park Early April
Starts a five minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
Admission: Free

About 1700 cherry trees are planted across spacious Nara Park, outnumbering the deer by around 500. One of the most pleasant hanami spots in the park is a large lawn encircled by cherry trees, a short walk southeast of Todaiji's main hall. 

Yoshino

Yoshinoyama Early to mid April
Nara Prefecture
Yoshinoyama (Mount Yoshino) has been Japan's most famous cherry blossom viewing spot for many centuries. The mountain is covered by approximately 30,000 cherry trees. 

Himeji
Himeji Castle Early April
15-20 minute walk from Himeji Station
Inner grounds: 600 yen, 9:00 to 16:00
The castle grounds of Himeji Castle are decorated by hundreds of cherry trees that make one of Japan's best seasonal sights in combination with the castle keep. Admission to the outer castle grounds is free, but there is a fee for entering the inner grounds. 

Hiroshima
Hiroshima Peace Park Early April
Next to Genbaku Domu Mae tram stop
No admission fee (Peace Museum: 50 yen, 8:30 to 18:00)
Hiroshima Peace Park, located in central Hiroshima City, was built to memorialize those who died during the atomic bombing and as a testament towards world peace. There are about 300 cherry trees planted around the park especially along the river. 

Miyajima Early April 45 minutes by train and ferry from Hiroshima Station
Miyajima is a small island outside of Hiroshima that is famous for its shrine and "floating" torii gate. There are about 1300 cherry trees around the shrine and along the island's walking trails. 

Fukuoka
Fukuoka Castle (Maizuru Park) Late March to early April
5-10 minute walk south of Ohori Koen Station
Admission: Free
About a thousand cherry trees are planted in Maizuru Park among the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. The spacious park provides lots of green space for hanami parties and spectacular views from the observation platform in the former main citadel (honmaru). 

Kumamoto
Kumamoto Castle Late March to early April
10 minute tram ride from Kumamoto Station
500 yen, 8:30 to 17:30 (until 20:30 during light up)
Kumamoto Castle is by far the city's most popular cherry blossom spot. Nearly a thousand cherry trees are planted across the castle grounds and in the adjacent public parks. Trees are lit up in the evening. 

Tohoku
Miharu Takizakura Mid April
Miharu Town near Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture
Ranked among Japan's "three greatest cherry trees", the Takizakura (lit. "waterfall cherry tree") is one of the most popular single (cherry) trees in the country, if not the most popular one. The wonderfully shaped weeping cherry tree in the hills of Miharu Town is said to be over 1000 years old. 

Kakunodate Late April to early May Akita Prefecture
The city of Kakunodate is famous for its weeping cherry trees, which decorate the city's well preserved, former samurai district. Another few hundred cherry trees stand along the nearby river. 

Hirosaki Castle Late April to early May Aomori Prefecture
With its abundance of over 2500 trees, cherry blossom tunnels, petal filled moats, numerous pleasant picnic areas, rental rowing boats, many varieties of cherry trees and illuminations in the evenings, the park around Hirosaki Castle feels like multiple great cherry blossom spots combined into a single one. 

Hokkaido
Goryokaku Fort Early to mid May
Hakodate City
Fort Goryokaku is a star shaped, Western style citadel which was built in Hakodate towards the end of the Edo Period. After the fort lost its military importance, it was eventually turned into a public park, and over one thousand cherry trees were planted along its moats, making it arguably Hokkaido's most famous cherry blossom spot. 

Matsumae Park Early to mid May Matsumae Town
Several thousand cherry trees are planted around the reconstructed Matsumae Castle, the only feudal castle on Hokkaido, and in the spacious park that extends far into the hills behind. Matsumae Park offers a wide range of cherry tree varieties that bloom at different times, resulting in a long hanami season that lasts almost an entire month.