The most important element of spring in Japan is the cherry blossoms!
The cherry blossoms in many famous scenic spots have entered the withering period in April, but there are also some places where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in April, which is the most suitable for viewing flowers!
Here are the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan in April.
1. Haratani Garden
Haratani Garden in Kyoto is a privately owned garden. Every April, when the cherry blossoms in the garden are at their peak, they will be open to the public.
The highlight of the cherry blossoms in the park is the brightly colored weeping cherry. There are about 400 cherry trees including the weeping cherry and Somei Yoshino, and the color is rich pink.
It is worth mentioning that in addition to cherry blossoms, Haratani Garden is also famous for plum blossoms and red leaves.
2. Shiraishi River Embankment Ichimoku Sakura
The Shiraishi River embankment in Miyagi Prefecture is the most representative spring scenery in northeastern Japan.
As its name suggests, the 1,200 cherry blossom trees spanning 8km across the Shiraishi River embankment are dazzlingly beautiful, like a sea of pink clouds. And about one-third of the cherry trees are more than 90 years old.
The old trees and new flowers are combined with the clear Shiraishi River in front of the trees and the Zao Mountains with remnants of snow still in the distance.
3. Miyama Park
With about 8,000 cherry blossoms, Miyama Park is one of the largest cherry blossom viewing spots in Saitama Prefecture.
Since the park is located on the top of the mountain and there are no other peaks around, the view is very wide. More than 50 kinds of cherry blossoms are planted in the "Flower Forest" in the park, and you can enjoy the beauty of different cherry blossoms.
4. Shizuho Furusato Park
Shizuko Furusato Park was selected as one of the "Top 100 Sakura Famous Spots", and Yae Sakura is the most famous.
There are about 2,000 cherry trees planted in the park, and the "Yae Cherry Blossom Festival" is held in mid-April every year, which is suitable for family fun. The night light night cherry blossoms are also not to be missed!
5. Tsuruoka Park
Tsuruoka Park is also a scenic spot included in Japan's "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots". There are relatively complete ruins of Tsuruoka Castle Honmaru and Ninomaru in the garden, which are worth seeing.
There are a total of 730 cherry trees including Someiyoshino cherry, mountain cherry, weeping cherry, etc. When in full bloom, there are corresponding flower-viewing activities in the park, and some small shops can also experience tea parties and wagashi making.
6. Takayuan Castle Ruins Park
The most distinctive feature of Takayuan Castle Ruins Park is that the cherry blossoms planted here are "Takayuan Small Other Shores", which are known as "the best cherry blossoms in the world".
This sakura is beautifully shaped and does not turn white when fully bloomed like the Somei-Yoshino sakura, but maintains a light, endearing sakura pink throughout.
There are many stone tablets in the park where literati and writers left their words, which also adds a cultural flavor to the cherry blossom scene here.
7. Koyama pond Aoshima Park
Koyama pond is the largest natural pond in Japan, and Koyama pond Aoshima Park is located on the island of the pond. There are about 500 cherry trees of 30 species in the park.
When they bloom, the lush lake island is dyed pink, which is very cute. Another great beauty of the Koyama pond is the sunset scene.
8. Katsuo Temple
Katsuo-Ji Temple has a history of more than 1,300 years. In the temple grounds of 80,000 pyeong, various cherry blossoms, such as weeping cherry, sakura, and mountain cherry, bloom continuously from March to May.
The vermilion temple buildings and the pink cherry blossoms set against each other are worth seeing.
9. Takada Park
Takada Park is most famous for its cherry blossom night view, which is regarded as one of the three major night cherry blossoms in Japan. About 4,000 cherry trees look antique under the illumination of more than 3,000 snow cave lamps.
From April 1st to 15th, there will be a "Takada Castle Cherry Blossom Viewing Party for One Million People", where you can see various events such as fireworks and mikoshi.
10. Okutama Lake
Okutama Lake in Okutama County, Tokyo is one of the best natural cherry blossom viewing spots in the Japanese metropolitan area, and it is also one of the few places where cherry blossoms bloom late in the metropolitan area.
When more than 4,000 cherry trees, including the Somei-Yoshino and Yamazakura trees, are in bloom, the pink cherry blossoms are reflected on the water of Okutama Lake, giving a full sense of spring.
