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 are 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 14 spots in Chugoku and Shikoku region out of those.
Contents
- Tottori Castle & Kyusho Park / Totori
- Utsubuki Park / Totori
- Matsuejozan Park / Shimane
- Hiikawa Riverbank / Shimane
- Tsuyama Castle (Kakuzan Park) / Okayama
- Senkoji Park / Hiroshima
- Ueno Park / Hiroshima
- Kintai Bridge & Kikko Park / Yamaguchi
- Tokiwa Park / Yamaguchi
- Seibu Park / Tokushima
- Kotohiki Park / Kagawa
- Shiroyama Park (Matsuyama Castle) / Ehime
- Kagamino Park / Kochi
- Makino Park / Kochi
Tottori Castle & Kyusho Park / Totori
photo by Tottori Prefecture
Kyusho Park(久松公園), located at the foot of Mt.Kyusho, is a historic park established at the site of Tottori Castle Ruins, and there are now remains of castle tower and Nihomaru, castle gate, and stone walls constructed from medieval to early modern ages. It will be really gorgeous to see Someiyoshino trees blooming around Nihomaru and moats. Roughly 400 cherry trees are illuminated with paper lanterns in the evening, and many cherry blossom views will be fascinated by its beauty.
Spot Information
| Name | Tottori Castle & Kyusho Park(鳥取城跡＆久松公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 2-chome, Higashi-machi, Tottori City, Tottori, Japan |
Utsubuki Park / Totori
photo by Tottori Prefecture
Utsubuki Park(打吹公園) is located at the base of Mt.Utsubuki, a symbol of Kurayoshi, in the northern west of Tottori. It is well known as one of the best spots of cherry tree viewing in Sanin Region, and the park will be brilliantly filled with about 4000 cherry trees all around in full bloom. Cherry treess are illuminated with paper lanterns at night and the cherry blossoms reflecting in the Hagoromo pond is really impressive!
Spot Information
| Name | Utsubuki Park(打吹公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Nakano-cho, Kurayoshi City, Tottori, Japan |
Matsuejozan Park / Shimane
photo by Shimane Prefecture Tourism Association
Matsue Castle(松江城), built by Yoshiharu Horio in 1611, is one of Japan’s three premier castles along with Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle and it is one of 12 existing castle towers in Japan and only one in the Sanin region. The area around the Matsue Castle has established as a Matsuejozan Park and about 220 cherry trees such as Someiyoshino, Yae-zakura, and Shidare-zakura are planted in the park. In full bloom, the castle tower and the cherry trees at night will seemingly float in the darkness of the night, creating the magical atmosphere all around.
Spot Information
| Name | Matsuejozan Park(松江城山公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 1-5 Tono-machi, Matsue City, Shimane, Japan |
Hiikawa Riverbank / Shimane
photo by Shimane Prefecture Tourism Association
At the bank of Hii river is one of the best spots of cherry blossom viewing in Chugoku Region. A long row of cherry trees is lined up over 2km along Hii river, where roughly 800 cherry trees will create the tunnel of cherry blossoms in spring. Cherry blossoms are illuminated with paper lanterns in the evening and a festival is held during the flowering season.
Spot Information
| Name | Hiikawa Riverbank(斐伊川堤防) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Mid-April | |
| Address | Kisuki, Kisuki-cho, Unnan City, Shimane, Japan |
Tsuyama Castle (Kakuzan Park) / Okayama
photo by Okayama Prefecture
Kakuzan Park(鶴山公園) is a park established at the site of Tsuyama Castle Ruins and it is known as the best spot of cherry blossom viewing in the Western Japan. There are about 1000 cherry trees such as Someiyoshino, Oyama-zakura, and Yae-zakura planted in the park. Seen from the Honmaru of the castle, a carpet of cherry trees seemingly stretches as far as the eye can see. At night, the cherry trees are illuminated during the flowering season and many visitors will be attracted by the beauty of cherry blossoms well matched with the stone walls.
Spot Information
| Name | Tsuyama Castle [Kakuzan Park] ( 津山城 [鶴山公園]) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | 135 Sange, Tsuyama City, Okayama, Japan |
Senkoji Park / Hiroshima
photo by Hiroshima Prefecture
Senkoji Park(千光寺公園) is situated from the top to the middle of the Mt.Senkoji, which is one of a popular tourist attractions in Onomichi of Hiroshima. Mt.Senkoji will be entirely covered with roughly 1500 cherry trees in full bloom and tunned cherry pink all around. Visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of Seto Inland Sea from observation deck at the mountaintop, and it will be highly impressive to see the cherry blossoms against the backdrop of the blue sea.
Spot Information
| Name | Senkoji Park(千光寺公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 19-1 Nishi-tsuchidou-cho, Onomichi City, Hiroshima, Japan |
Ueno Park / Hiroshima
photo by Hiroshima Prefecture
Ueno park(上野公園) is located in the northern part of Hiroshima and well known as the night viewing spot of cherry blossom. There are about 600 cherry trees planted over 2 km around the Ueno-ike pond, and cherry blossoms bloom all together in spring, creating sakura world as far as you can see. Cherry trees are illuminated by the electrical lights in the evening and it’s breathtakingly beautiful to see cherry blossoms relfecting in the water of the pond.
Spot Information
| Name | Ueno Park(上野公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | 1-chome, Higashi-hon-machi, Shobara City, Hiroshima, Japan |
Kintai Bridge & Kikko Park / Yamaguchi
photo by Yamaguchi Prefectural Tourism Federation
Kintai Bridge(錦帯橋) is an unique wooden bridge with five arches over Nishiki river and it’s famous for one of the Japan’s three beautiful bridges. The area around Kintai Bridge and nearby Kikko park are a place well known for beautiful cherry blossoms. There are about 3000 cherry trees gorgeously blooming at the bank of Nishiki river, highlighting the beauty of Kintai Bridge gorgeously.
Spot Information
| Name | Kintai Bridge & Kikko Park (錦帯橋＆吉香公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Iwakuni, Yokoyama, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi, Japan |
Tokiwa Park / Yamaguchi
photo by Ube Visitors & Convention Association
Tokiwa park(常磐公園) is a comprehensive park with the site of over 189 hectare, designed Tokiwa lake at the center of the park. Various kinds of 3500 cherry trees such as Kanhi-zakura, Oshima-zakura, and Yae-zakura are planted in the park. In full bloom, the park covered with thousands of cherry blossoms is amazing! The park will be crowded by many cherry blossom viwers during the Tokiwa Park Cherry Blossom Festival.
Spot Information
| Name | Tokiwa Park(常磐公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Mid-April | |
| Address | 3-4-1Norisada, Ube City, Yamaguchi, Japan |
Seibu Park / Tokushima
Seibu Park(西部公園) is situated on the hillside of the Mt.Bizan and it has been favored by people in the city as a beauty spot to enjoy cherry blossoms. About 550 Someiyoshino cherry trees will bloom all together in spring, and the whole area around the park will be brilliantly filled with cherry pink flowers. Cherry trees will be illuminated with the paper lanterns in the evening, attracting many visitors every year.
Spot Information
| Name | Seibu Park(西部公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Shozan, Kamona-cho, Tokushima City, Tokushima, Japan |
Kotohiki Park / Kagawa
photo by Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association
Kotohiki Park(琴弾公園) is a part of Setonaikai National Park and also designated as a place of national scenic beauty. There are many scenic sites and historic sites within the park, including Ariake Beach and Mt.Kotohiki. Roughly 450 cherry trees burst into bloom in spring, and the park is crowded with many cherry blossom viewers.
Spot Information
| Name | Kotohiki Park(琴弾公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | Ariake-cho, Kanonji City, Kagawa, Japan |
Shiroyama Park (Matsuyama Castle) / Ehime
Shiroyama Park(城山公園) is a park established at the area around Matsuyama Castle(松山城), which is located on the Mt.Shiroyama in the center of Matsuyama city. There are about 200 cherry trees planted in the park. Cherry blossoms against the backdrop of the castle tower is a lovely view and fasciates visitors all over the world.
Spot Information
| Name | Shiroyama Park [Matsuyama Castle] (城山公園 [松山城]) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Marunouchi, Matsuyama City, Ehime, Japan |
Kagamino Park / Kochi
photo by Kochi Visitors & Convention Association
A variety of 600 cherry trees such as Someiyoshino and Yae-zakura are planted in the park. The tunnel of cherry blossoms will stretch over full length of 200 meters in full bloom of spring. Cherry blossom viewers can enjoy illuminated cherry trees in the evening.
Spot Information
| Name | Kagamino Park(鏡野公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Mid-April | |
| Address | Miyanokuchi, Tosa-yamada-cho, Kami City, Kochi, Japan |
Makino Park / Kochi
photo by Sakawa town
Makino Park(牧野公園) is named in honor of botanist Dr.Makino who donated a cherry tree in 1902. The park is situated in the hillside of Mt.Kojo, and the mountain will be coverd with 600 cherry trees at their best. Among various kinds of cherry trees, Sendaiya-zakura, named by Dr.Makino, is especially originated in this city, which is deeper pink and bloom a few days later than Someiyoshino. Cherry blossoms are illuminated with paper lanterns in flowering season.
Spot Information
| Name | Makino Park(牧野公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 2458 kou, Sakawa-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi, Japan |
