It is finally starting to feel and look like Spring here in Japan. Spring means ume (plum) blossoms and sukura (cherry) blossoms are in bloom. Below is a list of places I have found that will be having cherry blossom festivals.
Photo taken by Life of Creed in Kamakura, Japan | Feb2014
Spring is a beautiful time of year is it across all of Japan. Cherry blossom’s means its time for hanami. Hanami or flower viewing is Japanese tradition of cherry blossom viewing. You will also see many people pack a picnic to spend the day relaxing under the trees.
Rikugien Garden – Tokyo
March 20 – April, 9 a.m. – 9p.m. | This garden is known for its drooping cherry trees. After sunset they are illuminated. Admission is 300 yen. Nearest station: Subway Nanboku Line, Komagome Station
Sumida River Cherry Blossom Festival – Tokyo
March 20 – April 14 | There are about 1,000 trees along the Sumida River. Nearest station: five minute walk from Asakusa Station on Ginza Line or seven minute walk from Honjo Azumabashi Station on Toei Asakusa-Line
Midtown Blossom 2014 – Tokyo
March 20 – April 20 | There are 150 cherry blossom trees from an open-air terrace at Tokyo Midtown Garden. From 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. the trees are illuminated. Nearest station: Roppongi Station on Hibiya Line or three minute walk from Nogizaka Station on Chiyoda Line
Uneo Park – Tokyo
March 21 – April 6 | 1,200 cherry trees. Nearest station: Ueno Station on Metro Ginza and Hibiya Lines
Toshimaen Amusement Park – Tokyo
March 21 – April 6, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | 144-acre park in Shinjuku. Admission is 200 yen. Nearest station: 10 minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station
Chidorigafuchi – Tokyo
March 28 – April 6 | Chidorigafuchi is the northeastern moat of the Imperial Palace. Trees will be illuminated at 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Nearest station: Subway Tozai Line, Kudan-Shita Station
Yasukuni Shrine Cherry Blossom Festival – Tokyo
March 28 – April 6
There are 800 trees here. For more information: www.yasukuni.or.jp/english/index.html Nearest station: five minute walk from Subway Tozai Line, Kudan-shita Station
Sankeien Garden – Yokohama
March 29 – April 6, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Admission is 500 yen. Nearest station: 10-minute bus ride from JR Negishi Line
Tsukayama Park Cherry Blossom Festival – Yokosuka
March 24 – April 8 | There are about 1,000 cherry blossoms trees with a good view of Yokosuka Port. Nearest station: 25 minute walk from Keikyu Line, Itsumi or Anjinzuka Station
Gongendo Park Cherry Blossom Festival – Saitama prefecture
March 26 – April 10 | There are about 1,000 trees here. Nearest station: 30 minute walk from Satte Station on Tobu Nikko Line or a 20 minute drive from Kuki IC on Tohoku Express
Hamra Flower and Water Festival – Yokota area
March 27 – April 13 | You will see about 500 trees along the Tama River. From 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. the trees will be illuminated. Nearest station: JR Ome Line, Hamura Station
Kingugasa Cherry Blossom Festival – Yokosuka
March 27 – April 7 | There are about 2,000 trees and will be illuminated at night. Kinugasa-yama Park. Nearest station: 25 minute walk from JR Kinugasa Station
Fussa Cherry Blossom Festival – Yokota area
March 29 – April 6 | You can see blossoms along the Tama River bank. Nearest station: 15 minute walk from JR Ushihama Station
Komatsugawa 1,000 Cherry Blossom Festival – Tokyo
March 30, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. | There are about 1,000 trees along the Arakawa River. There will be food booths, live performances, and free pony rides at Komatsugawa Park. Nearest station: five minute walk from Higashi Oshima Station on Towi Shinjuku Line
Odawara Cherry Blossom Festival – Kanagawa prefecture
Late March until early April. There are about 300 trees. They are illuminated at 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. during the bloom. Nearest Station: about 10 minute walk from JR Odawara Station
Tokyo Summerland Cherry Blossom Viewing
March 31 – April 12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | There are 1,500 trees for viewing. There will also be food booths at Family Park with free admission and free parking.
www.summerland.co.jp/english/index.html
Yasukuni Shrine Cherry Blossom Night View Noh Performance – Tokyo
April 1 – 3, 6:40 p.m. | At Yasukuni Shrin Noh-gakudo or Shinjuku Bunka Center if it rains. Cost is 3,000 – 5,000 – 8,000, 11,500 yen. Cherry Blossoms Night Concert Jimukyoku
Yamataka Jindai Cherry Blossom Festival – Yamanashi prefecture
April 1 – 22, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | There is a tree that is believed to be 1,800 – 2,000 years old here. The best time to view it is April 5 – 12. Hokuto city.
Mount Yokoshino Cherry Blossom – Nara prefecture
Throughout the month of April. There are 20,000 trees and Mount Yoshino is best known for its blossom. Nearest station: 75 minute ride from Nagoya Station by Kintetsu Super Express or two hour ride from Kyoto Station by Kintestu Super Express
Takada Park Cherry Blossom Festival – Niigata prefecture
April 4 – 20 | There are over 4,000 trees in bloom. There are 3,000 Bobnori-handled paper lanterns that are illuminated from sunset to 11 p.m. Nearest station: JR Takada Station on Shinetsu Line
Takiyama Park Cherry Blossom Festival – Tokyo
April 5, with April 6 being the rain day. There are 5,000 trees on a hilly terrain in Takatsuki-cho, Hachioji city. There will be traditional live performances, open-air tea services, and sweet drink made from fermented rice.
1,000 Cherry Blossom Festival at Toneri Park – Tokyo
April 5 & 6 | There will be 1,000 trees in bloom. On April 5th from 7 – 7:30 p.m. there will be fireworks. Nearest station: one minute walk from Toneri Koen Station on Nippori-Toneri Line
Shiroishi Castle Cherry Blossom Festival – Miyagi prefecture
April 5 – 30 | At Masuoka Koen there are about 300 trees. At night there is illumination with 350 paper lanterns around the castle until 9 p.m. Nearest station: 10 minute walk from JR Shiroishi Station or 10 minute ride from Shiroishi I.C. on Tohoku Express.
Neodani Usuzumi Cherry Blossom Festival – Gifu prefecture
April 8 – 15, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Usuzumi cherry tree is believed to be 1,500 years old. Motosu city. Nearest station: 15 minute walk from Tarumi Station on Tarumi Line or 80 minute ride from Gifu Hashima I.C. parking is 500 yen.
Shiroishi River Cherry Blossom Festival – Miyagi prefecture
April 10 – 25 | There are 1,000 trees along Shiroishi River, known as one of the best viewing sites. From 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. the trees are illuminated. Nearest station: three minute walk from Ogawara Station on JR Tohoku-Line
Aobayama Park Cherry Blossom Festival – Miyahi prefecture
April 10 – 30 | 10 minute drive from Sendai Miyagi IC or eight-minute bus ride to Hakubutsukan Kokusai Senta-mae bus stop from JR Sendai Station
Miharu Takizakura Cherry Blossom Festival – Fukushima prefecture
April 12 – 20 | Miharu Takizakura (cherry blossom waterfall) is a tree believed to be over 1,000 years old. From 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. there is illuminated. Nearest station: Miharu town – shuttle buses from JR Miharu Station and nearby parking lots. 20 minute ride from JR Miharu Station or 20-minute ride from Funahiki Miharu I.C. on Ban-etsu Express
Kitakami Cherry Blossom Festival – Iwate prefecture
April 15 – May 6 | There are about 100,000 trees at Tenshochi Park and along River Kitakami. From sunset until 9 p.m. they are illuminated. Nearest station: Kitakami city – 20 minute walk from JR Kitakami Station
Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival – Akita prefecture
Mid- April – early May | There are 162 weeping cherry trees around samurai district in Kakunodate town and the River Hinokinaigawa. Nearest station: JR Kakunodate Station on Akita Shinkansen from Morioka. 39402 Kamisugasawa, Kakunodate town, Senboku city.
Matsumoto Castle Cherry Blossom Festival – Nagano prefecture
The festival will start three days after trees have bloom in mid- April. There will also be night illumination, koto and gagaku (traditional Japanese music instruments) and flute performances, and open-air tea services. Admission is free to the Matsumoto Castle during the festival.
Hirosaki Park Cherry Blossom Festival – Aomori prefecture
April 26 – May 6, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | There are about 2,500 trees around moat bloom and Hirosaki Castle. Illumination is from sunset until 10 p.m. Admission is 300 yen. Nearest station: 20-minute bus ride from JR Hirosaki Station
The Cherry Blossoms are so amazing. I can’t wait for them to bloom here, and also for some warmer weather!!
I love Cherry Blossoms! They are so beautiful here in DC, and I love the annual festival there! If Japan’s are anything like it, it must be gorgeous!
I’ll take photos of the blossoms here to share on my blog. They are beautiful! I have heard the DC cherry blossom festival is beautiful.