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 20 spots in Kanto region out of those.
Contents
- Shizumine Furusato Park / Ibaraki
- Kamine Park & Heiwa St. / Ibaraki
- Ohirasan Natural Park / Tochigi
- Nikko Road / Tochigi
- Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura / Gunma
- Sakurayama Park / Gunma
- Kumagaya Sakurazutsumi / Saitama
- Omiya Park / Saitama
- Nagatoro / Saitama
- Shimizu Park / Chiba
- Mobara Park / Chiba
- Izumi Natural Park / Chiba
- Ueno Park / Tokyo
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden / Tokyo
- Sumida Park / Tokyo
- Koganei Park / Tokyo
- Inokashira Park / Tokyo
- Mitsuike Park / Kanagawa
- Odawara Castle Park / Kanagawa
- Kinugasayama Park / Kanagawa
Shizumine Furusato Park / Ibaraki
photo by Ibaraki Prefecture
There are about 1800 Yae-zakura cherry trees planted in the vast site of 120,000 square meters, and visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of cherry blossoms at their best. Cherry blossoms will be beautifully illuminated at night, creating a magical atmosphere throughout the park.
Spot Information
| Name | Shizumine Furusato Park(静峰ふるさと公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Early May | |
| Address | 1720-1 Shizu, Naka City, Ibaraki, Japan |
Kamine Park & Heiwa St. / Ibaraki
photo by Ibaraki Prefecture
Kamine Park(かみね公園) is a comprehensive park with zoo, amusement park, and swimming pool and located in the hilly area of Hitachi city, having a great view of the Pacific Ocean from the observatory. In spring, a thousand of cherry trees burst into bloom in the park and attracts a lot of cherry blossom viwers every year. A long row of cherry trees is lined up over 1km along the Heiwa street(平和通り) nearby park, creating the brilliant tunnel of cherry blossoms at their best.
Spot Information
| Name | Kamine Park & Heiwa St.(かみね公園＆平和通り) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | 5-2-22 Miyata-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki, Japan |
Ohirasan Natural Park / Tochigi
photo by Tochigi Prefecture
Mt.Ohira(太平山), lying centrally in the Ohirasan Natural Park, is 343m above sea level, located about 5km west driving from the downtown of Tochigi city. About 4000 of cherry trees such as Someiyoshino and Yama-zakura are planted in Mr.Ohira, and all cherry trees will bloom simultaneously, covering the whole mountain with cherry pink flowers in spring. On the way to the top of the mountain, cherry trees are lined up for 2km along the road. It’s gonna be a wonderful drive going through the tunnel of cherry trees in full bloom!
Spot Information
| Name | Ohirasan Natural Park(太平山県立自然公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | Hirai-cho, Tochigi City, Tochigi, Japan |
Nikko Road / Tochigi
photo by Tochigi Prefecture
Nikko Road(日光街道桜並木) is one of Go-Kaido Road, literally five major roads starting from Edo (now Tokyo), used in Edo period. Approximately 1500 Yama-zakura cherry trees are lined up for 16 km along the road from Utsunomiya city to Yamaguchi of Nikko city, which is one of the longest row of cherry trees in Japan. It seems like being in a magical world driving or walking through the long tunnel of cherry trees.
Spot Information
| Name | Nikko Road(日光街道桜並木) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 3-chome, Kamito-matsuri, Utsunomiya City – Yamaguchi, Nikko City, Tochigi, Japan |
Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura / Gunma
photo by Gunma prefecture
A thousand of cherry trees, including 60-year-old Someiyoshino trees, are lined up for 1.3km along the road at the south foot of Mt.Akagi and gorgeously bloom in spring. The cherry blossom festival is yearly held during the flowering season, and visitors can enjoy the street stall as well as cherry blossom viewing. Cherry trees are illuminated with paper lanterns at night.
Spot Information
| Name | Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura(赤城南面千本桜) | |
| Best Viewing | Early April – Mid-April | |
| Address | 2511-2 Naegashima-machi, Maebashi City, Gunma, Japan |
Sakurayama Park / Gunma
photo by Gunma prefecture
Sakurayama Park(桜山公園) is a popular view spot for cherry blossoms known as “winter cherry blossoms” designated a national monument, which bloom twice a year in both winter and spring. The first flowering season of winter cherry blossoms is from November to December, and visitors can enjoy both autumn leaves and 7000 of cherry blossoms at the same time. In addition to the winter cherry blossoms, 3000 of Someiyoshino trees bloom all together in spring. The park will be beautifully filled with 10,000 cherry trees as far as the eye can see.
Spot Information
| Name | Sakurayama Park(桜山公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Early November – Early December / Mid-April – Late April | |
| Address | 2166-1 Sanbagawa, Fujioka, Gunma, Japan |
Kumagaya Sakurazutsumi / Saitama
It has been highly popular view spot for cherry blossoms since Edo period and roughly 500 cherry trees are lined over 2km along the embankment of Arakawa river. Yellow rape blossoms on the river bank begin to bloom at the same time, which emphasize the beauty of cherry blossom creating the lovely scnery. This area is crowded with many cherry blossom viewers throughout the day during the flowering season .
Spot Information
| Name | Kumagaya Sakurazutsumi(熊谷桜堤) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 2-chome, Kawara-cho, Kumagaya City, Saitama (Arakawa Riverside), Japan |
Omiya Park / Saitama
Omiya Park(大宮公園) was opened in 1885 for the first park in Saitama with small zoo, sports facilities, and amusement park for children, and the park is full of families throughout the year. The park is also one of the best spots for cherry blorrom vieweing in Saitama and various kinds of 1200 cherry trees will gorgeously bloom all over the park in spring. There are many street booths and cherry blossoms will be illuminated with paper lanterns at night during the flowering season, the park will be crowded with a lot of Hanami viewers all day.
Spot Information
| Name | Omiya Park(大宮公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 4 Takahana-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama City, Saitama, Japan |
Nagatoro / Saitama
Nagatoro-machi(長瀞町) is famous for a scenic area of the pile of rocks on Nagatoro valley, located in the upper reach of Arakawa river in the southern west of Saitama. A long row of Someiyoshino cherry trees is lined over 4km from Nagatoro station to Nogami station, which will create beautiful tunnel of cherry blossoms in spring. After Someiyoshino cherry trees fall the flowers, 30 kinds and 500 Yae-zakura cherry trees known as the pathway of cherry blossoms will bloom in mid-to-late April at the base of Mt.hodosan. Illuminated cherry blossoms are really impressive!
Spot Information
| Name | Nagatoro(長瀞) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Late April | |
| Address | Nagatoro-machi, Chichibu-gun, Saitama, Japan |
Shimizu Park / Chiba
photo by Chiba prefecture
Shimizu Park(清水公園) covers the vast site of 280,000 square meters with big playground, flower garden, and camping site. The park is popular spot for cherry blossom viewing and there are approximately 50 kinds and 2000 cherry trees planted in the park, which will brilliantly bloom throughout the park in the flowering season. Especially, estimated over 100 year-old-tree in Konjoin temple called Kosho-no-sakura is an old tree recovering by the growth of young tree from its trunk though it seemed to die once. It’s must-see spot when you visit there once!
Spot Information
| Name | Shimizu Park(清水公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 906 Shimizu, Noda City, Chiba, Japan |
Mobara Park / Chiba
photo by Chiba prefecture
Mobara Park(茂原公園) covering about 280,000 square meters is known familiar as recreation place, where visitors can enjoy the various kinds of flowers throughout four seasons of the year. The park will be filled with various kinds of 2850 cherry trees in spring, creating a romantic atmosphere all over the park. It’s amazing to see cherry blossoms against Benten-do floating on the pond.
Spot Information
| Name | Mobara Park(茂原公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 1325-1 Takashi, Mobara City, Chiba, Japan |
Izumi Natural Park / Chiba
photo by Chiba prefecture
Izumi Natural Park(泉自然公園) is a scenic park located in the southeast from downtown area of Chiba, where visitors can enjoy interacting with nature thoughout the year. About 1500 cherry trees, mainly Someiyoshino, are planted in the park and the entire park will be enveloped in cherry pink in full bloom.
Spot Information
| Name | Izumi Natural Park(泉自然公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Late April | |
| Address | 108 Noro-cho, Wakaba-ku, Chiba City, Chiba, Japan |
Ueno Park / Tokyo
Ueno Park(上野恩賜公園) has been a famous view spot for cherry trees since Edo period, it is said to be the beginning that high priest Tenkai transplanted the cherry trees from Mt.Yoshino in Nara after Kanei-ji temple was built. There are totally about 1200 cherry trees, mainly Someiyoshino trees, planted in the extensive area of 53 square meters, and during the flowering season more than 2 million people visit to see cherry blossoms every year. The park will be full with people enjoying party and night-viewing under the illuminated cherry blossoms.
Spot Information
| Name | Ueno Park(上野恩賜公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 5-20 Ueno-koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden / Tokyo
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden(新宿御苑) was first buit at the house site of feudal lord Naito as the garden of imperial household in 1906 and then it’s opened for public since 1949. The park, covering 58.3 ha and 3.5km in circumference, is located within 10 minutes walk from Shinjyuku Station. The park is elegantly designed with three different types of gardens that are English landscape garden, France landscape garden, and Japanese garden, so that visitors can enjoy a variety of flowers brilliantly blooming from season to season. About 65 kinds and 1300 cherry trees gorgeously bloom in spring, and the park is crowded with many cherry blossom viewers during the flowering season.
Spot Information
| Name | Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden(新宿御苑) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Late April | |
| Address | 11 Naito-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
Sumida Park / Tokyo
Sumida Park(隅田公園) is a popular spot of cherry blossom viewing at the downtown area of Tokyo, and a low of cherry trees are lined over 1km from Azuma bridge to Sakura bridge. Visitors can enjoy viewing cherry blossoms from a houseboat on Sumida river. It’s also a perfect spot to see cherry blossoms against the backdrop of the Tokyo Skytree.
Spot Information
| Name | Sumida Park(隅田公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 1 Mukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
Koganei Park / Tokyo
Koganei Park(小金井公園) is the biggest urban park in Tokyo, covering the site area of 79 square meters, and there are about 50 kinds and 1800 cherry trees planted throughout the park. Especially there are about 440 cherry trees planted in Sakura-no-sono within the park, and visitors can enjoy viewing various kinds of cherry trees over one and half month from mid-March to early-May.
Spot Information
| Name | Koganei Park(小金井公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 1-31-1 Sekino-cho, Koganei City, Tokyo, Japan |
Inokashira Park / Tokyo
Inokashira Park(井の頭恩賜公園) extends from Musashino city to Mitaka city, covering about the vast area of 380,000 square meters. Inokashira pond, the water source in Edo period (1603-1868), is situated in the center of the park, and 250 cherry trees surrounding the pond will gorgeously bloom in spring. Cherry blossoms reflecting water of the pond is really awesome, but cherry blossoms in full bloom falling like a snowstorm on the pond is also breathtakingly beautiful.
Spot Information
| Name | Inokashira Park(井の頭恩賜公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 1-18-31 Gotenyama, Musashino City, Tokyo, Japan |
Mitsuike Park / Kanagawa
Mitsuike Park(県立三ツ池公園) has three ponds as its name suggests, and about 78 kinds and 1600 cherry trees surrounding the ponds bloom all together in spring. The park will be brilliantly filled with cherry pink flowers, attracting a lot of cherry blossom viwers every year.
Spot Information
| Name | Mitsuike Park(県立三ツ池公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Mid-March – Mid-April | |
| Address | 1-1 Mitsuike-koen, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa, Japan |
Odawara Castle Park / Kanagawa
There are about 350 Someiyoshino cherry trees in Odawara Castle Park(小田原城址公園), which will brilliantly bloom surrounding the castle tower in their best. The paper lanterns are lit up at night, creating a fantastic atmosphere with cherry blossoms against the castle tower and moat.
Spot Information
| Name | Odawara Castle Park(小田原城址公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 6-1 Jonai, Odawara City, Kanagawa, Japan |
Kinugasayama Park / Kanagawa
Kinugasayama Park(衣笠山公園) is well known as one of the best spots of cherry tree viewing in the Miura Peninsula and approximately 2000 cherry trees such as Someiyoshino, Shidare-zakura, Yama-zakura cherry trees planted throughout the park. The entire park covered with 2000 cherry trees as far as the eye can see at their best is really impressive!
Spot Information
| Name | Kinugasayama Park(衣笠山公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 4-922 Koyabe, Yokosuka City, Kanagawa, Japan |
