Chasing the Bloom: Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan
"Land of Sakura" this is one of the nicknames often given to Japan. The beauty of the cherry blossoms (sakura) is indeed very well known. Therefore, it's not surprising that many people intentionally choose this country as a tourist destination, just to witness the beauty of the blooming cherry blossoms.
This flower, which has become one of Japan's identities, is scattered in many places, but its beauty doesn't radiate all the time. These lovely flowers only bloom once a year, usually from late March to mid-April around Tokyo and Kyoto, and late April to early May in northern regions like Hokkaido.
For approximately 10–14 days, these flowers will show their beauty, with the peak blooming period lasting only a few days. It's no wonder that during this period, so many foreign tourists, including those from Indonesia, visit Japan to directly witness the charm of the sakura.
The question now is, where are the best places to witness the beauty of the blooming cherry blossoms? Currently, there are quite a few places in various regions across Japan that you can visit. Come on, check out the list.
Top Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan
1. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
This is an iconic place that must be visited during the hanami season (the Japanese tradition of flower viewing). Make sure to visit Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. This cherry blossom park in Tokyo has three gardens with different styles (Japanese Garden, British Garden, and French Garden). You can spend a full day here if you want to see all the beautiful details in every corner of the park.
In this park, there are over a thousand cherry trees of various types. The beauty of the blooming cherry blossoms combined with the calm and peaceful atmosphere captivates tourists to linger here.
2. Ueno Park
Ueno Park is a famous and popular park in Tokyo. Located in Ikenohata, Taito-ku, Tokyo, this place offers an area to relax momentarily amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. As one of the oldest parks in Japan, here you can find temples, art museums, a science museum, a history museum, and even a zoo.
Among all these facilities, the sakura view is, of course, one of the park's most valuable assets. Many people come here for hanami, enjoying a pleasant picnic under the beauty of the pink and white flowers that cover the branches of the park's trees. Open from 05:00 to 23:00, you can visit this park for free, unless you enter other facilities.
3. Philosopher's Path
A sight of blooming flowers so beautiful it takes your breath away can be found at Philosopher's Path. This very popular spot in Kyoto is also known as Tetsugaku No Michi. The place has a small path along a canal with hundreds of cherry trees on its sides, which naturally draws many people, both locals and tourists, to come here in spring.
For those who enjoy walking, taking in the fresh air and the beautiful view of the blooming cherry blossoms, Philosopher's Path is one of the best choices. This path gets its unique name from Nishida Kitaro, one of Japan's most popular philosophers, who is said to have meditated while walking this route every day on his way to Kyoto University.
How to get here? From Kyoto Station, you can take Bus 5 or Bus 17 to the "Ginkakuji-michi" stop. This stop is not far from Ginkaku-ji, which is on the north side of the Philosopher's Path. You can visit this charming place anytime as it is open 24 hours and is free.
4. Maruyama-Koen Park
Maruyama-Koen Park, located just outside the city center, is one of the most popular places in Kyoto to see cherry blossoms. This park with tranquil nature has a unique feature: a very tall shidarezakura (weeping cherry tree, a cherry tree with drooping branches that makes it look like a waterfall) which is illuminated at night. Not far from this park, there is a famous Kyoto tourist attraction, the Yasaka Shrine.
5. Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is the most iconic spot to see cherry blossoms in Osaka. The castle grounds have long been a popular picnic spot for many people, especially in spring and also in autumn when the leaves on the trees begin to turn red.
To enter the Osaka Castle Museum area, you can purchase the Osaka Amazing Pass. This pass will give you unlimited access to the subway, tramway, and bus in Osaka, as well as free entry to over 50 iconic attractions in Osaka! To get here, you can take the Tanimachi and Chuo subway lines to Tanimachi Yonchome Station, or use the JR train on the JR Loop Line to Osakajokoen Station.
6. Kema Sakuranomiya
Kema Sakuranomiya, located in Osaka, is a beautiful urban oasis famous for its stunning expanse of cherry blossoms and beautiful views along the Okawa River. As far as the eye can see, you can enjoy the charm of the blooming cherry blossoms.
With thousands of cherry trees in this place, it's no wonder that the beauty of the cherry blossoms along the Okawa River seems endless. Not only that, but there is also an area available for those who want to have a picnic while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
7. Sankeien Garden
In the Yokohama area, you can visit Sankeien Garden. This place is one of Japan's cherry blossom parks that features a blend of the charm of cherry blossoms and historic buildings. That's why this traditional garden is a top choice for many tourists when visiting Yokohama.
8. Nara Park
You are amidst the beauty of blooming cherry blossoms accompanied by dozens of tame deer. Does it feel like heaven? No. It's just Nara Park. This place, famous for Todai-ji Temple, is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Nara Prefecture.
With 1,700 cherry trees, various kinds of cherry blossoms grow here, from those that bloom earlier and later to rare varieties like Narano-yae-zakura and Narano-kokonoe-zakura. Nara Park is a place where you can enjoy various types of cherry blossoms for a long time.
To get here, you can take the Kintetsu train on the Nara line and get off at Kintetsu Nara Station, then walk for about 5 minutes to reach your destination. You can also take the JR train to Nara Station, but from there you have to walk for about 20 minutes.
9. Matsumoto Castle
Seeing the beauty of blooming cherry blossoms while admiring the grandeur of a castle? Well, to get something like this, one of the must-visit places is Matsumoto Castle.
Located in the Nagano prefecture area, this castle has about 300 cherry trees. The combination of the magnificence of a castle and hundreds of cherry trees with blooming flowers certainly produces an unparalleled sight.
10. Himeji Castle
Still want to enjoy the beauty of the combination of cherry blossoms and the grandeur of a castle? Himeji Castle, also called the 'White Heron Castle', and a Japanese National Treasure and World Heritage site, is the right place for your next destination.
During the cherry blossom season, the castle is adorned with flowers from over 1,000 cherry trees in the castle grounds! Be prepared for a spectacular sight. Not only that, but this well-preserved castle is also one of the 12 remaining original Japanese castles - with a history of over 600 years. Hmm.. even outside the sakura season, this castle deserves to be on your list of destinations in Japan.
11. Yamazaki River
Yamazaki River in Nagoya has been named one of the top 100 places in Japan for hanami. Here, you will find 600 blooming cherry trees flanking the riverbanks, promising a beautiful stroll to remember.
Although most popular in spring, the beauty of this place is also suitable for a walk anytime throughout the year. Therefore, it also has another name, 'Shikinomichi', which means 'Four Seasons Path'.
12. Gongendo Park
For those of you visiting the Saitama prefecture area, there are various places to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms. One of the best places you can visit is Gongendo Park.
More than 1,000 cherry trees are planted along one kilometer. The age of these trees even reaches 100 years. Therefore, many people choose to walk, enjoying the beauty of the blooming cherry blossoms.
It turns out there are quite a lot of places to enjoy the sakura! Now it's time for you to plan your vacation and prepare an itinerary to witness the beauty of the blooming sakura firsthand.
