Cherry blossom in Japan are a phenomenon that is best experienced live. No amount of pictures and videos of sakura on social media can do justice to the breathtaking scenery Japan dons in the peak cherry blossom season. So, if you too are packing your bags to fly to Japan, here are our recommendations of the best places to enjoy cherry blossom in Japan.
We’ve covered not just the more popular destinations, but also lesser-known gems so that you have an awesome cherry blossom viewing experience!
Best Places To Enjoy Cherry Blossom In Japan
Tokyo
You’d most likely land in Tokyo when you first enter Japan, so why not explore the wonderful metropolitan area?
Don’t underestimate the size of Tokyo, you might have to spend a good 4-5 days exploring the city itself, and that’s just the lower limit.
Tokyo has plenty of parks, riverfronts, and gardens where you can view sakura in peace. However, during the peak blooming season, expect plenty of crowd!
Tokyo is the best place in Japan to view cherry blossom, when it comes to the convenience of tourists. So, here are some must visit places in Tokyo:
Ueno Park
It is one of the oldest public parks and has over 1,000 cherry blossom trees. The Ueno Park is also home to the Ueno Zoological Gardens, the Peony Garden, and the Ueno Toshogu Shrine.
This place is also home to the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, meaning you can easily spend a few hours exploring the various attractions and enjoying the cherry blossom.
Chidorigafuchi
Easily one of the most picturesque cherry blossom places in Tokyo, Chidorigafuchi is popular for the hundreds of cherry blossom trees that line the Hanzo Moat.
You can walk on the 700 meter pathway along the moat or you can boat in the moat itself! Either way, the experience will be a memorable one and we highly recommend visiting this place!
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park easily grabs the spot for being the best place to view cherry blossoms in Tokyo if you want to enjoy a fun hanami (sakura viewing).
If you are visiting the park for a hanami experience, know that getting the right spot there can get quite competitive!
While you’re at the Yoyogi Park, you can also explore the Harajuku district, Meiji Jingu Gyoen, and Togo Shrine!
Besides the places mentioned above, here are some other places in Tokyo to get a good cherry blossom experience:
- Asakusa nieghborhood
- Inokashira Park
- Meguro River
Kyoto
Kyoto is another popular destination in Japan to view cherry blossoms. It has plenty of districts, parks, and riverfronts where you can see the most breathtaking views of the pale pink and white sakura. Here are a few places in Kyoto that you must visit:
Arashiyama
Arashiyama is one of Kyoto’s busiest districts where you can find multiple parks and temples with amazing views of cherry blossoms.
The Togetsukyo Bridge at the foot of Arashiyama mountains is a popular spot, as well as the Nakanoshima Park.
Another good hanami spot is the Daikakuji Temple where you’ll find a large pond surrounded by plenty of cherry trees.
Okazaki Canal
The Okazaki Canal is situated right outside the famous Heian Shrine and connects the Lake Biwa Canal with the Kamo River.
So you’ll find plenty of sakura trees blooming here and the best part is that you’ll be able to see thousands of sakura petals floating in the canals here.
The canal also has 25-minute long boat tours that will promise you wonderful views of the canal and the pink landscape filled with sakura trees.
Kyoto Botanical Garden
The Kyoto Botanical Garden is easily one of the best spots in Kyoto for a day picnic or a hanami party. This botanical garden has plenty of sakura species and other kinds of flora.
The weeping cherry trees are also a major attraction inside the park, so we recommend not missing out on this one!
Here are some other places in Kyoto where you can view some amazing cherry blossom in Japan:
- Maruyama Park
- Heian Shrine
- Nijo Castle
Hokkaido
Hokkaido is the last place to experience cherry blossom in Japan, but trust that the wait is worth it!
Hokkaido is home to plenty of temples, shrines, parks, hills, and other beautiful places where cherry blossoms bloom in the most magnificent way.
And, you also have plenty of food options to try out here – from Hokkaido’s famous seafood to its dairy products, the list goes on and on.
Here are some places in Hokkaido to not miss out on:
Goryokaku Park
This star-shaped park is one of the most popular attractions in the city of Hakodate in Hokkaido.
In fact, the place where the park stands today was initially planned to be a fortress, and the star shape was deliberately chosen for strategic purposes.
Today, the park has well over 1,600 cherry blossom trees that also illuminate during the night. From the nearby Tower, you can get a stunning view of the entire park.
Matsumae/Fukuyama Castle
The Matsumae or Fukuyama Castle is the only traditional Japanese-style castle in Hokkaido. With around 10,000 cherry blossom trees of different species, the castle easily becomes one of the best places to view cherry blossoms in Japan.
Plus the fascinating architecture of the castle and the entire ambience in its premises makes it quite a photogenic spot. Visit this place with your friends and family for an amazing hanami experience, and trust us that you’ll love it!
Hokkaido Shrine
The Hokkaido Shrine is one of the most important landmarks in Sapporo. This is because it was constructed in the 1800s to serve as a community gathering spot in the then newly established Sapporo City.
The premises of the shrine are covered with about 1,200 cherry trees and more than 100 plum trees, all of which bloom in the spring.
This makes Hokkaido Shrine a popular hanami destination in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Apart from the places mentioned above, here are a few other places in Hokkaido that we highly recommend:
- Hoki-ji Temple
- Shizunai Nijukken Road
- Lake Toya
Fukushima
Fukuoka
Fukuoka is one of the first prefectures to experience cherry blossom in Japan, as early as late-March. Here are a few places in Fukuoka that are totally worth a visit for a delightful hanami experience:
Fukuoka Castle (Maizuru Park)
The first spot on our list is Maizuru Park situated among the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. This park has ample space for hanami parties as well as about 1,000 cherry trees in the area. During nighttime, the area lights up in wonderful illumination.
Nishi Park
Nishi Park is another great hanami destination in Fukuoka. The park, which is Fukuoka’s oldest park, has about 1,000 cherry trees, and the hillside location makes it a picturesque location for a day picnic. Also, the park is home to the Terumo Shrine which is the family shrine of Fukuoka’s feudal lords.
Kumamoto Castle
The Kumamoto Castle stands as one of Japan’s most iconic fortresses though only parts of the original facade remain intact.
Its black and white premise has over 1,000 cherry trees that make it a good hanami destination as well as a place of historical significance.
The castle was destroyed in an earthquake in 2016. Even though some parts of the castle were damaged, the property has been beautifully restored.
Here are a few other places in Fukuoka to enjoy cherry blossom in Japan:
- Aburayama Citizen’s Forest
- Ogi Park
- Asai no Ippon Zakura
What is Hanami?
Think of hanami as a ‘cherry blossom viewing party’ to put it quite simply. However, it is not merely a party – hanami is deeply rooted in Japanese traditions that emphasize quality time with your friends and family.
While hanami usually is about gathering with your friends and family under sakura trees and celebrating with food and drinks, it is more than just that. Hanami is also a way to appreciate nature and the fleeting nature of its beauty.
The tradition initially revolved around ume blossoms (plum), which was itself inspired by the Chinese Tang Dynasty.
However, as it evolved in Japan, the Japanese started resonating more with the sakura flowers, appreciating them in their poetry, art, and philosophy.
Sakura flowers became a cultural symbol in Japan and hanami evolved as an admiring ritual of these delicate flowers.
At a hanami party, people usually bring homemade food and eat it together under sakura trees. They also consume the traditional sake, a rice wine in Japan.
You’ll also find many people singing together on karaoke sets, sketching, or doing just about anything that pleases them. After all, hanami parties are a way to socialize and enjoy little moments of life together.
When is The Cherry Blossom Season In Japan?
The Japan Meteorological Corporation releases a forecast every year predicting the cherry blossom season in Japan.
This year, the forecast says that Fukuoka will be the first prefecture to experience sakura bloom in the country by 22nd March.
Usually, Japan experiences its first sakura bloom by late March, and that lasts up to late May. Also, the southern end of Japan, i.e. the Kumamoto region experiences one of the first sakura blooms in Japan.
As you move north towards Kyoto and Tokyo, you’ll find that cherry blossoms bloom by early April and late April, respectively.
Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, experiences the last cherry blossom by late April to early May.
Note that the milder the climate, the sooner the blossoms will open.
Summing Up
Choosing the best place to view cherry blossoms in Japan might not be easy because almost all places are unique in their own way.
But we’ve given you plenty of suggestions covering some of Japan’s best places to visit for the ultimate sakura experience.
So, grab your kimonos and hanami baskets and visit these beautiful places to view cherry blossom in Japan.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1. What’s The Difference Between Hanami And Sakura?
Sakura is the Japanese name for cherry blossom flowers, and they are quite significant in Japanese culture. Hanami, on the other hand, is the tradition of viewing sakura flowers with your friends and family.
Q2. Why Do Japanese People Like Hanami?
The Japanese people like hanami as it is a good excuse for people to come together and socialize. Hanami parties bring people closer together in nature and also make them appreciate the fleeting nature of beauty in life.
Q3. Is April Too Late For Cherry Blossoms in Japan?
No, April is not too late for cherry blossoms in Japan. In fact, it is one of the best months to visit the country for a good sakura viewing experience as many places experience sakura in its full bloom.
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