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 15 spots in Hokkaido and Tohoku region out of those.
Contents
- Nijukken Road / Hokkaido
- Matsumae Park / Hokkaido
- Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle) / Aomori
- Ashino Park / Aomori
- Takamatsu Park / Iwate
- Kitakami Tenshochi / Iwate
- Shiroishigawa Riverbank & Funaoka Castle Park / Miyagi
- Hinokinaigawa Riverbank & Bukeyashiki / Akita
- Senshu Park / Akita
- Mato Park / Akita
- Tsuruoka Park / Yamagata
- Eboshiyama Park / Yamagata
- Miharu Takizakura / Fukushima
- Kasumigajo Park / Fukushima
- Tsurugajo Park / Fukushima
Nijukken Road / Hokkaido
photo by Shinhidaka Town
Nijyukken road(二十間道路) is located in the southeast of Sapporo in Hokkaido, and it came to be called “Nijyukken” as the width of the road is 36m. Japan’s longest row of cherry trees is spectacularly lined over 7km on the both sides of the road along Nijukken road, where roughly 3000 cherry trees will create the superb tunnel of cherry blossoms in spring. This grand prospect is particular to Hokkaido in Japan and fascinate visitors all over the world.
Spot Information
| Name | Nijukken Road(二十間道路) | |
| Best Viewing | Early May – Mid-May | |
| Address | Shizunai-tahara – Shizunai-misono, Shinhidaka-cho, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido, Japan |
Matsumae Park / Hokkaido
Matsumae Park(松前公園) is known familiar as a popular view spot for cherry blossoms as well as a historical site. There are about 250 kinds and more than 10,000 cherry trees planted in the park, so that visitors can enjoy various kinds of cherry blossoms over one month. It’s great to see the original kinds of cherry trees only seen here.
Spot Information
| Name | Matsumae Park(松前公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late May | |
| Address | Matsushiro, Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido, Japan |
Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle) / Aomori
photo by Hirosaki Tourism And Convention Bureau
Hirosaki Park(弘前公園) is well known as one of the most popular view spot for cherry blossoms, and the park will be beautifully covered with 2600 cherry trees in late-April. It’s highly impressive to see the cherry pink tunnel of cherry trees created on the west side of outer moat. Illuminated cherry blossoms at night are also amazing different from the daytime.
Spot Information
| Name | Hirosaki Park [Hirosaki Castle] (弘前公園 [弘前城]) | |
| Best Viewing | Late April – Early May | |
| Address | 1 Shimoshirogane-cho, Hirosaki City, Aomori, Japan |
Ashino Park / Aomori
photo by Aomori Prefecture
Ashino Park(芦野公園) covering about 800,000 ha is known familiar as recreation place with big playground, small zoo, and camping site, where it’s popular to see the trains of Tsugaru railway running through the park. It’s the best sights for cherry blossom viewing in the Tsugaru Peninsula and it will be covered with 2000 cherry trees in full bloom. Ashino lake surrounded by 1500 cherry trees and 1800 pine trees will be a lovely view in spring.
Spot Information
| Name | Ashino Park(芦野公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late April – Early May | |
| Address | Ashino, Kanagi-cho, Gosyogawara City, Aomori, Japan |
Takamatsu Park / Iwate
There are various kinds of 800 cherry trees planted over 2km around the Takamatsu pond, and visitors will enjoy a spectacular view in full bloom mirroring the cherry trees on the surface of the water. During the cherry blossom festival, cherry blossoms will be illuminated with paper lanterns, creating a magical atmosphere all around the park.
Spot Information
| Name | Takamatsu Park(高松公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 1-26-1 Takamatsu, Morioka City, Iwate, Japan |
Kitakami Tenshochi / Iwate
photo by Iwate Prefecture
Kitakami Tenshochi(北上展勝地) is one of three major spots for cherry blossom viewing in Tohoku region and there are about 10,000 cherry trees planted in the vast site of 293ha. A long row of cherry trees lined over 2km along Kitakami river is highly impressive! The cherry blossom festival is yearly held during the flowering season, and it will be crowded with a lot of Hanami viewers all day.
Spot Information
| Name | Kitakami Tenshochi(北上展勝地) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Early May | |
| Address | Tachibana, Kitakami City, Iwate, Japan |
Shiroishigawa Riverbank & Funaoka Castle Park / Miyagi
photo by Miyagi Prefecture
A long row of cherry trees is lined over 8km extending from Ogawara-machi to Shibata-machi on the banks of Shiroishigawa river, where about 1200 cherry trees will create beautiful tunnel of cherry blossoms in spring. While Funaoka Castle Park is brilliantly filled with 1000 Someiyoshino cherry trees in full bloom and it’s a lovely view to pass through cherry-pink tunnel by monorail. Visitors can enjoy seeing the row of cherry trees at the Shiroishigawa Riverbank from the observation deck at the mountaintop of the Funaoka Castle Park.
Spot Information
| Name | Shiroishigawa Riverbank & Funaoka Castle Park(白石川堤＆船岡城址公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April | |
| Address | Shibata-machi & Ogawara-machi, Miyagi, Japan |
Hinokinaigawa Riverbank & Bukeyashiki / Akita
photo by Akita Prefecture
Kakunodate-machi, located in the center of Akita, is a popular tourist site known as some old samurai residences (Bukeyashiki), which tells life style of samurai over 200 years ago. Bukeyashiki with black exterior wall is well matched with Shidare-zakura cherry tree in spring, while a beautiful row of Someiyoshino cherry trees appeared over 2km at the Hinokinaigawa Riverbank will also create a fantastic scenery at their best.
Spot Information
| Name | Hinokinaigawa Riverbank & Bukeyashiki(桧木内川堤＆武家屋敷) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Early May | |
| Address | Kakunodate-machi, Senboku City, Akita, Japan |
Senshu Park / Akita
photo by Akita Prefecture
Senshu Park(千秋公園) was built at the site of Kubota Castle site in 1868, and recovered Yaguramon (front gate) and corner tower retain the atmosphere of the castle 200 years ago. In spring the entire park will be covered with 800 cherry trees as far as the eye can see at their best, and many Hanami viewers will come for its awesome scenery.
Spot Information
| Name | Senshu Park(千秋公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 1-1 Senshu Park, Akita City, Akita, Japan |
Mato Park / Akita
Mato Park(真人公園) was built to commemorate the enthronement of the Emperor Taisho, and it’s familiarly known as a recreation place that visitors can enjoy the various kinds of flowers planted around the pond throughout four seasons of the year. The park is also one of the most popular spots for cherry blossom viewing in Akita, and roughly 2000 cherry trees beautifully bloom all over the park.
Spot Information
| Name | Mato Park(真人公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late April – Early May | |
| Address | Mato, Masuda-machi, Yokote City, Akita, Japan |
Tsuruoka Park / Yamagata
photo by Yamagata Prefecture
Tsuruoka Park(鶴岡公園) was built at the site of the Tsurugaoka castle, and moats and stonewalls in the park trace back to it. A variety of 730 cherry trees bloom all over the park in spring and the park will be full with people enjoying a wonderful scenery. There are some historical sites such as Taihokan and district office near the park, which are excellently harmonized with cherry blossoms.
Spot Information
| Name | Tsuruoka Park(鶴岡公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 4 Baba-cho, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata, Japan |
Eboshiyama Park / Yamagata
photo by Yamagata Prefecture
Eboshiyama Park(烏帽子山公園) is a scenic spot having a great view of Okitama basin from the observatory as well as a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing that can be seen a variety of 1000 cherry trees throughout the park. In spring, it will be entirely covered with cherry blossoms and tunned cherry pink all around, fascinatiing the many Hanami viewers every year.
Spot Information
| Name | Eboshiyama Park(烏帽子山公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 1415 Akayu, Nanyo City, Yamagata, Japan |
Miharu Takizakura / Fukushima
photo by Fukushima Prefecture
Miharu Takizakura(三春滝桜) is estimated to be over 1000 years old of Beni-shidarezakura cherry tree, and it has 13.5 meters height and 11.3 meters in a trunk circumference, spreading out over 25 meters east-west and 20 meters north-south. This solitary drooping cherry tree is one of Japan’s three giant cherry tree and designated as a natural monument. Its branches streching in all directions droop till they fall to the ground and produce deep pink flowers in spring, which seems like water flowing down from a waterfall and it’s breathtakingly beautiful!
Spot Information
| Name | Miharu Takizakura(三春滝桜) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 296 Sakurakubo, Taki, Miharu-machi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima, Japan |
Kasumigajo Park / Fukushima
photo by Fukushima Prefecture
Kasumigajo Park(霞ケ城公園) is a park that established at the site of mountain castle ruins built on the top of Mr.Shirohatagamine, 345m above sea level. The park is named after the mountain covered with 4500 cherry trees seemingly veiled in a haze. Illuminated cherry blossoms at night are really amazing!
Spot Information
| Name | Kasumigajo Park(霞ケ城公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April | |
| Address | 3-chome, Kakunai, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima, Japan |
Tsurugajo Park / Fukushima
photo by Fukushima Prefecture
Tsurugajo Castle(鶴ケ城), a symbol of Aizu, is known as a impregnable castle because it held out a long siege at the battle of Boshin War against the newly formed Meiji government. The park has been established centering on the castle and approximately 1000 cherry trees planted in the park. In spring, cherry blossoms will enhance its beauty against castle tower, stone walls and moats of the castle.
Spot Information
| Name | Tsurugajo Park(鶴ケ城公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 1-1 Oute-machi, Aizu Wakamatsu City, Fukushima, Japan |
