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 10 spots in Okinawa and Kyushu region out of those.
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Nishi Park / Fukuoka
photo by Fukuoka City/Fumio Hashimoto
Nishi park(西公園), opened in 1881, is a popular spots having a great view of Hakata Bay from the observatory. Roughly 1300 cherry trees such as Someiyoshino and Yamazakura are planted in the park and beautifully filled with the park at their best. Cherry trees are lit up with paper lanterns in the evening and visitors will enjoy viewing awesome cherry blossoms at night.
Spot Information
| Name | Nishi park(西公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Nishi Park, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, Japan |
Ogi Park / Saga
photo by Ogi City
Ogi park(小城公園) is a famous garden constructed by Motoshige Nabeshima and his son, Naoyoshi who governed this region in the 17th century. There are about 3000 Someiyoshino Cherry trees planted in the garden and it’s known for the magnificent cherry trees since old times. The garden is beautifully filled with the cherry blossoms at their best.
Spot Information
| Name | Ogi park(小城公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 185 Ogi-machi, Ogi City, Saga, Japan |
Omura Park (Kushima Castle) / Nagasaki
photo by Nagasaki Prefecture Tourism Association
Omura park(大村公園) has established at the Kushima Castle Ruins(玖島城跡) which was a castle of Omura Domain governed this region from late 16th century to late 19th century, and the stone wall of the castle still remains intact. More than 2000 cherry trees such as Someiyoshino and Yaezakura are planted in the park. Specially “Omura Zakura”, a rare variety of a plant found in Omura city, is naturally designed as a national monument. It’s characterized that the number of its flower petals and sepals is relatively large, so that each flower blooms in double layer. It’s worth seeing this precious variety of cherry trees only seen here!
Spot Information
| Name | Omura Park [Kushima Castle] (大村公園 [玖島城跡]) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Mid-April | |
| Address | 1-45 Kushima, Omura City, Nagasaki, Japan |
Kumamoto Castle / Kumamoto
photo by Kumamoto Internation and Tourisism Bureau
Kumamoto Castle(熊本城) is one of Japan’s three premier castles along with Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle, built by Kiyomasa Kato, a feudal Lord governed this region, over seven years since 1601. Kumamoto Castle is highly popular for cherry blossom spot where about 800 cherry trees such as Someiyoshino, Yamazakura, and Higozakura are planted within the castle. Stonewalls and Tenshukaku (castle towers) filled with Cherry blossoms will be very impressive in their best. Cherry trees are illuminated in the evening, and visitors will enjoy viewing beautifully marvelous cherry blossoms at night against the backdrop of the castle.
Spot Information
| Name | Kumamoto Castle(熊本城) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March | |
| Address | 1-1 Honmaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto, Japan |
Ichifusa dam Lake / Kumamoto
photo by Kumamoto Prefectural Government
Ichifusa Dam Lake(市房ダム湖畔) is a Dam lake that built at the headstreem of Kuma river in the mountainous region of southern Kumamoto, and also a popular cherry blossom viewing spot known as 10,000 cherry trees. Roughly 20,000 cherry trees, mostly Someiyoshino, are planted around the lake so far. Cherry trees surrounding the lake are simultaneously in full bloom in spring. It’s a spectacular and overwhelming view attracting many visitors every year.
Spot Information
| Name | Ichifusa Dam Lake(市房ダム湖畔) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Yuyama, Mizukami-mura, Kuma-gun, Kumamoto, Japan |
Minamata City Cherry Road / Kumamoto
Cherry Road is a shore road connecting Yunoko Hot Spring with Yunotsuru Hot Spring in Minamata City of Kumamoto, and approximately 500 cherry trees are lined up for 5 km along the road. It’s gonna be a wonderful drive going through the tunnel of cherry trees in full bloom! Visitors can enjoy cherry blossom viewing from Yatsushiro Sea by getting on the moter boat.
Spot Information
| Name | Minamata City Cherry Road(水俣市チェリーライン) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Yunoko, Osako, Minamata City, Kumamoto, Japan |
Oka Castle Park / Oita
photo by Oita Prefecture
Oka Castle Ruins is ruins of mountain castle built on the top of Mt.Tenjin, which is 325m above sea level. Oka Castle Park has established at a site of the castle and only stonewalls of the castle remain at the present time. Roughly 1500 cherry trees are planted within the castle and cherry blossoms are brilliantly well matched with the stone walls.
Spot Information
| Name | Oka Castle Park(岡城阯公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Taketa, Taketa City, Oita, Japan |
Mochio Park / Miyazaki
photo by Miyazaki Prefecture
Mochio Park(母智丘公園) is known as the best spot of cherry blossom viewing in Southern Kushu. About 2600 cherry trees such as Someiyoshino, Yaezakura, and Yamazakura are planted in the park. It’s highly impressive to see a row of cherry trees beautifully stretched over 2km from the park to the approach to the Mochio Shrine.
Spot Information
| Name | Mochio Park(母智丘公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | Yokoichi-cho, Miyakonojo City, Miyazaki, Japan |
Tadamoto Park / Kagoshima
Tadamoto Park(忠元公園) is located on the hillside looking down the entire city, and a popular spot to see 1000 cherry trees in the park. There is a row of cherry trees, called “Senbonzakura” (one thousand cherry trees), stretching about 2km within the park, which greatly fascinates visitors every year. These cherry trees are illuminated by many paper lanterns at night, and visitors enjoy viewing lovery cherry blossoms at night.
Spot Information
| Name | Tadamoto Park(忠元公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late March – Early April | |
| Address | 2484-193 Okuchi-harada, Isa City, Kagoshima, Japan |
Nagojo Park / Okinawa
photo by OCVB
Nagojo Park(名護城公園) has established at the ruins of Nago castle in Nago city, positioned roughly in the center of the Okinawa mainland. It is known as a popular spot of cherry blossom viewing in Okinawa. The park has about 20,000 Kanhi-zakura trees, which blooms with deep pink flowers from late January to early Febraury. It is the earliset cherry blossoms seen in Japan. Visitors will enjoy viewing a lovely landscape created by cherry blossoms and glittering emerald green sea from the observation deck at the mountaintop.
Spot Information
| Name | Nagojo Park(名護城公園) | |
| Best Viewing | Late January – Early February | |
| Address | Nago, Nago City, Okinawa, Japan |
