Cherry blossoms are known familiarly as a symbol of spring in Japan, and it’s a typical seasonal feature to announce the arrival of the spring throughout Japan. Cherry blossoms gloriously bloom and fall in an instant. For this reason, Japanese people is eagerly waiting for the blooming of cherry blossoms and attracted by its momentary beauty. Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots is chosen by Japan Cherry Blossom Association in 1990. This time we introduce 21 spots in Chubu Region out of those.
Contents
- Okozu-bunsui / Niigata
- Takada Park / Niigata
- Muramatsu Park / Niigata
- Takaoka-kojyo Park / Toyama
- Matsukawa Park / Toyama
- Kenroku-en Garden / Ishikawa
- Asuwagawa River & Asuwayama Park / Fukui
- Maruoka Castle (Kasumigajo Park) / Fukui
- Oboshi Park / Yamanashi
- Kaikoen (Komoro Castle) / Nagano
- Takato Castle Site Park / Nagano
- Garyu Park / Nagano
- Shinsakaigawa Riverbank / Gifu
- Kamagatani Park / Gifu
- Neodani & Usuzumizakura / Gifu
- Fuji Cemetery / Shizuoka
- Sakurano-sato / Shizuoka
- Okazaki Park / Aichi
- Yamazakigawa River / Aichi
- Tsuruma Park / Aichi
- Gojogawa River / Aichi
Okozu-bunsui / Niigata
photo by Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association
Okozu-bunsui(大河津分水) is diversion aqueducts spritting flow of Shinano river, the longest river in Japan. About 3000 cherry trees line up over 10km at an embankment of Okozu-bunsui, creating a spectacular tunnel of cherry blossoms in full bloom. Oiran Dochu Courtesan Processionl will be taken place in the flowering season, and lavishly dressed Oiran (courtesan) gorgeously parade under the cherry pink tunnel. Cherry blossoms will be illuminated in the evening, attracting many visitors every year.
Spot Information
| Name | Okozu-bunsui(大河津分水) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | Gosengoku, Tsubame City, Niigata, Japan |
Takada Park / Niigata
photo by Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association
Takada Park(高田公園) is a park that established at the site of Takada Castle Ruins, and it’s one of the most popular sights for cherry blossoms in Niigata. The park will be covered with 4000 cherry trees as far as the eye can see at their best. Cherry blossoms will be illuminated at night with 3000 of paper lanterns, creating gorgeously romantic atmosphere all around. Night viewing of cherry blossom in Takada Park is one of Japan’s three beautiful Yozakura sights, and both three-story turret and cherry blossoms reflecting the moat is extremely amazing!
Spot Information
| Name | Takada Park(高田公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | Motoshiro-cho, Joetsu City, Niigata, Japan |
Muramatsu Park / Niigata
photo by Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association
Muramatsu Park(村松公園), situated in the south of Niigata, is a relaxing place for citizens with playgrounds and athletic facilities. About 3000 cherry trees, mainly Someiyoshino, are planted in the park and the entire park will be enveloped in cherry pink in full bloom. Cherry trees will be illuminated at night during the flowering season and visitors will be enchanted by the beauty of the scenery different from the daytime.
Spot Information
| Name | Muramatsu Park(村松公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 2631-1 Atago, Gosen City, Niigata, Japan |
Takaoka-kojyo Park / Toyama
photo by Takaoka city Tourism Association
Takaoka-kojyo Park(高岡古城公園) is a beautiful park with moat and earthworks of Takaoka Castle Ruins in the vast site of 210,000 square meters. Roughly 1800 cherry trees such as Koshino-higan, Yama-zakura, and Someiyoshino are planted in the park, which will be brilliantly matched with the moat in full bloom. Cherry blossoms will be illuminated with many paper lanterns at night and attract many visitors every year.
Spot Information
| Name | Takaoka-kojyo Park(高岡古城公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | 1-9 Kojo, Takaoka City, Toyama, Japan |
Matsukawa Park / Toyama
photo by Toyama City
Matsukawa Park(松川公園) is a park built at the riverbed of Matsu river flowing through the center of Toyama city, and about 520 Someiyoshino cherry trees are planted over 3.5km along the both banks of the river. A river cruise tour, passing through the arch created by cherry blossoms by a riverboat, is very popular during the flowering season.
Spot Information
| Name | Matsukawa Park(松川公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | Isobe-machi – Higashidenjigata-machi, Toyama City, Toyama, Japan |
Kenroku-en Garden / Ishikawa
photo by Kanazawa City Tourism Association
Kenroku-en Garden(兼六園) is one of Japan’s three outstanding gardens and designated as a nation’s special place of scenic beauty. There are various kinds of 420 cherry trees planted in the garden and particularly Kenrokuen-kikuzakura with 300 petals and 300-year-old Kenrokuen-kumagai are famous trees out of those kinds.
Spot Information
| Name | Kenroku-en Garden(兼六園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa, Japan |
Asuwagawa River & Asuwayama Park / Fukui
photo by Fukui Prefectual Tourist Federation
A long row of cherry trees is lined up over 2.2km along Asuwagawa river, where roughly 600 cherry trees will create the tunnel of cherry blossoms in spring. Cherry blossoms will be illuminated during the flowering season. There are about 3500 cherry trees bursted into bloom in the Asuwayama Park nearby the river, fascinating the cherry blossom viewers every year.
Spot Information
| Name | Asuwagawa River & Asuwayama Park (足羽川＆足羽山公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | Tsukumo, Fukui City, Fukui, Japan |
Maruoka Castle (Kasumigajo Park) / Fukui
photo by Fukui Prefectual Tourist Federation
Maruoka Castle(丸岡城) built on the hillside in Maruoka has existing castle tower with oldest architectural style in Japan, and the area around the castle is known familiar with local citizens as Kasumigajo Park. The castle, as its another name for “Kasumigajo”suggests, will be vailed in cherry-pink colored haze during the flowering season, expanding overwhelmingly beautiful scnery all around. About 400 cherry trees planted in the park will be illuminated at night, and visitors can enjoy exceedingly lovely view of cherry blossoms against the backdrop of the castle.
Spot Information
| Name | Maruoka Castle [Kasumigajo Park] (丸岡城 [霞ケ城公園]) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | 1-59 Maruokacho Kasumicho, Sakai City, Fukui, Japan |
Oboshi Park / Yamanashi
Oboshi Park(大法師公園) is located on the hillside of Mt.Oboshi in the southwest of Kofu Basin, commanding a fine view of Mt.Yatsugatake and Mt.Fuji. The park will be covered with 2000 cherry trees such as Sato-zakura, Shidare-zakura, and Someiyoshino and Mt.Oboshi will be turned in cherry pink in full bloom. Thousands of cherry trees blooming all together against the background of Mt.Fuji is highly impressive!
Spot Information
| Name | Oboshi Park(大法師公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 2175 Kajikazawa, Fujikawa-cho, Minamikoma-gun, Yamanashi, Japan |
Kaikoen (Komoro Castle) / Nagano
photo by Nagano Prefecture Tourism Association
Kaikoen(懐古園) is situated at the site of Komoro Castle(小諸城), which is designated as one of Japan’s 100 Best Castles, and about 450 cherry trees such as Someiyoshino and Higan-zakura will beautifully bloom in spring. Particulary what you must see in Kaikoen is Komoro-yaebenishidare, which is old tree with petals in brilliant deep pink originated here. It’s very rare kind you can see only here and that there are only 4 trees in Kaikoen.
Spot Information
| Name | Kaikoen [Komoro Castle] (懐古園 [小諸城址]) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 311 Tei, Komoro City, Nagano, Japan |
Takato Castle Site Park / Nagano
photo by Nagano Prefecture Tourism Association
Takato Castle Site Park(高遠城址公園) is designated as a natural monument by Nagano Prefecture and it’s highly popular spot for cherry blossom viewing. In spring, over 1500 Takato-ohikogan-zakura cherry trees, called as “Tenka-daiichi-no-Sakura” (the best cherry blossoms on earth), burst into bloom and the park will be beautifully filled with deeper pink flowers as far as the eye can see. Cherry blossoms are illuminated at night and about 300,000 people visit to enjoy viewing yozakura.
Spot Information
| Name | Takato Castle Site Park(高遠城址公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | Higashitakato, Takato-machi, Ina City, Nagano, Japan |
Garyu Park / Nagano
photo by Nagano Prefecture Tourism Association
There are mainly 160 Someiyoshino cherry trees surrounding Ryugaike pond and totally 800 cherry trees planted within the Garyu Park(臥竜公園). Cherry blossoms reflecting the water of the pond in full bloom is extremely impressive!
Spot Information
| Name | Garyu Park(臥竜公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 2-4-8 Garyu, Susaka City, Nagano, Japan |
Shinsakaigawa Riverbank / Gifu
photo by Gifu Prefecture Tourism Federation
Roughly 1200 Someiyoshino cherry trees are planted along the both banks of Shinsakaigawa river and create spectacular long row of cherry blossom during the flowering season. This lovely cherry blossoms were donated by Kabuki actor Hyakujyuro Ichikawa for his hometown around 1930, and it’s known familiarly as “Hyakujyuro-zakura” by locals.
Spot Information
| Name | Shinsakaigawa Riverbank(新境川堤) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Soharaoshima-cho – Ozano-cho, Kakamigahara City, Gifu, Japan |
Kamagatani Park / Gifu
photo by Gifu Prefecture Tourism Federation
Kamagatani valley has been a famous view spot for wild cherry trees such as Yama-zakura and Edohigan-zakura since old times, and it’s named after cherry blossoms in full bloom that are seemingly veiled in a haze. This place is designated as a national site of of scenic beauty and natural monument. Wild cherry blossoms are excellently harmonized with the valley, creating a fine landscape. In spring, the valley will be beautifully filled with about 1500 cherry trees as far as the eye can see.
Spot Information
| Name | Kamagatani Park(霞間ケ渓公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Fujishiro, Ikeda-cho, Ibi-gun, Gifu, Japan |
Neodani & Usuzumizakura / Gifu
photo by Gifu Prefecture Tourism Federation
Usuzumi-zakura cherry tree(淡墨桜) is estimated to be over 1500 years old, and it has 16 meters height and 10 meters in a trunk circumference, spreading out over 27 meters east-west and 20 meters north-south. This solitary cherry tree is one of Japan’s three giant cherry tree and designated as a natural monument. The feauture of this tree is interestingly to change the colors of flower from buds to the time of falling flowers. It’s light pink when it has buds, gradually turns to white in full bloom, and changes an inky black toward the time of falling cherry blossoms. Usuzumi-zakura cherry tree is illuminated during the flowering season, attracting cherry blossom viewers by its elegantly beauty.
Spot Information
| Name | Neodani & Usuzumizakura (根尾谷＆淡墨桜) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | Neoitasho, Motosu City, Gifu, Japan |
Fuji Cemetery / Shizuoka
Fuji Cemetery(冨士霊園) has the total site of 2.3 million square meters located at the base of Mt.Fuji. There are about 8000 cherry trees planted in the extensive grounds. The cemetery is coverd with thousands of cherry blossoms in full bloom and create a long row of cherry trees along the central street.
Spot Information
| Name | Fuji Cemetery(冨士霊園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | 888-2 Omika, Oyama-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka, Japan |
Sakurano-sato / Shizuoka
photo by Shizuoka Prefectural Tourism Association
Sakurano-sato(さくらの里) is located at the foot of Mt.Ohmuro about 15km south driving from Ito City of Shizuoka. About 40 kinds and 1500 cherry trees are planted in the total site of 40,000 square meters. With various kinds of cherry trees, visitors can enjoy cherry blossoms for a quite long time from October to May against the backdrop of Mt.Ohmuro.
Spot Information
| Name | Sakurano-sato(さくらの里) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Mid-April | |
| Address | Futo, Ito City, Shizuoka, Japan |
Okazaki Park / Aichi
photoby Aichi Prefectural Tourism Association
Okazaki Park(岡崎公園) is a park established at the site of Okazaki Castle Ruins which was a birthplace of Ieyasu tokugawa, a patriarch of Tokugawa (Edo) regime (1603-1868). Roughly 1000 Someiyoshino cherry trees are planted in the park, and the park is the most popular view spot for cherry blossoms at night in Tokai region. In full bloom, both of the cherry trees and the castle tower are illuminated at night, creating the amazing scnery.
Spot Information
| Name | Okazaki Park(岡崎公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Kosei-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi, Japan |
Yamazakigawa River / Aichi
Yamazakigawa River(山崎川) flows through the center of Mizuho-ku of Nagoya city, and about 600 Someiyoshino cherry trees are planted over 2.8km along the both banks of the river between Ishikawa bridge and Aratama bridge. During the flowering season, the row of cherry trees between Kanae bridge and Kanae small bridge is illuminated in the evening, and the area is crowded with many cherry blossom viewers every year.
Spot Information
| Name | Yamazakigawa River(山崎川) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 3-chome, Tanabetori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi, Japan |
Tsuruma Park / Aichi
Tsuruma Park(鶴舞公園) is an urban park built for the first time in Nagoya city in 1909, and there are about 1000 cherry trees, mainly Someiyoshino, planted within the park. A thousand of cherry trees burst into bloom and they are beautifully covered with the entire park at their best. Cherry blossoms are illuminated with paper lanterns in the evening and the park is crowded with many cherry blossom viewers every year.
Spot Information
| Name | Tsuruma Park(鶴舞公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 1 Tsurumai, Showa-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi, Japan |
Gojogawa River / Aichi
photoby Aichi Prefectural Tourism Association
Gojogawa River(五条川) runs north-south in the center of Iwakura city, located in the northwest part of Aichi. Various kinds of 1400 cherry trees are lined for a long distance along the both banks of the river, providing gorgeous scenery in full bloom. During the flowering season, a long row of cherry trees between Nitta bridge and Heiwa bridge is illuminated at night and the cherry blossoms beautifully reflecting the water of the river create a magical atmosphere all around.
Spot Information
| Name | Gojogawa River(五条川) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Inoue-cho – Kawai-cho, Iwakura City, Aichi, Japan |
