The Japanese islands are covered in clouds of exquisite pink every spring as the cherry trees come into bloom. The cherry blossom season, which is steeped in history and lore, is a high point of the Japanese year. People go outside to spend time contemplating the meaning of life, appreciating the beauty of nature, and embracing seasonal changes. It has been increasingly popular in recent years for tourists to visit Japan during this season since there are so many breathtaking scenery and photo opportunities galore. Here you’ll discover a comprehensive reference to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan, whether you’re organizing your own vacation there or are just curious to learn more.
Best time to see the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan
Depending on the weather, cherry blossom trees bloom at various times across the nation and may do so earlier or later in the year. In general, the Honshu region’s cherry blossom season starts in January and peaks in late March, while Hokkaido specifically experiences a full bloom in May.
The cherry blossom festival, when hanami is observed to honor the beauty of the pink flowering trees, is the ideal time to view cherry blossoms in Japan. To celebrate the beauty of the cherry blossom tree, large numbers of tourists attend the festival in parks all around the nation. From March 20 to April 13 in 2020, Japan will celebrate cherry blossoms.
5 Best places to see Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan
Shinjuku Gyo-en National Garden
Shinjuku Gyo-en National Garden is a 144-acre national park in the center of Japan’s busiest metropolis, stretching through two districts of Tokyo (Shinjuku and Shibuya). The traditional gardens in the French, English and Japanese architectural styles that make up Shinjuku Gyo-en each cover a distinct section of the park.
Despite being widely displayed, just 1,500 of the park’s 20,000 trees—or trees—are cherry blossom trees. The park also has about 2,000 tropical and subtropical plants housed in its greenhouses. The hanami celebrations at Shinjuku Gyo-en are notably noteworthy, fitting for the nation’s capital.
Nara
As the first permanent capital of Japan, Nara has a rich cultural and architectural history that is enhanced by the delicate pinks and whites of sakura. Nara Park is home to many of the city’s top attractions and is noted for housing shockingly friendly herds of deer. It’s a very pleasant location for hanami because of the many temples and scenic areas, which include ponds, well-kept lawns, and more than a thousand cherry trees.
Due to the astounding 30,000 cherry trees that cover the mountain slopes, Mount Yoshino (pictured), which is roughly an hour from Nara city, has been regarded as one of Japan’s top sakura locations for decades. Because a variety of various tree species have been planted throughout the years, the undulating terrain is even more impressive due to the color changes.
Mount Fuji
Snow-capped Mount Fuji is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most recognizable sites, and cherry blossom season is the best time to take in those renowned views. The best hanami spots are in the Fuji Five Lakes region, particularly around Lake Kawaguchi’s northern shores, where you may take a leisurely boat trip. Pink moss (shibazakura), which covers the ground, causes the fields at the base of Mt. Fuji to blossom in rich magenta hues in addition to the sakura.
The appeal of capturing the well-known photo of the Chureito Pagoda (shown) against Fuji’s flawless volcanic cone in the background, made even more alluring by the surrounding cherry blossom, will be difficult for keen photographers to ignore. The Hakone National Park offers a fantastic starting point from which to explore the area and engage in a variety of outdoor activities while you’re there.
Osaka
Osaka, a bustling city that you might not immediately think of as hanami-friendly, attracts a significant percentage of flower enthusiasts who go there particularly to visit the grounds of the Japan Mint. Every April, a viewing tunnel is made available to the public for a single week so that hundreds of tourists can stroll beneath the lovely pink and white cherry trees. It’s incredible that the Japan Mint has maintained this practice since the 19th century.
The Kema Sakuranomiya Park provides riverbank vistas, with thousands of cherry trees surrounding the Okawa River and beautiful lawns ideal for leisurely picnics. Visit Osaka Castle for its impressive architecture; it makes for a wonderful picnic location due to the abundance of trees that line the grounds.
Hiroshima
Visits to Hiroshima are somber but necessary for obvious reasons. You’ll notice that the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park adopts a more jovial but nonetheless solemn tone during hanami if you go there. Additionally, the cherry trees themselves are magnificent. The exceedingly scenic Shukkeien Garden, located in the city’s center, depicts forests and mountain valleys in its well-maintained grounds.
Hiroshima is no different from any other self-respecting Japanese city in claiming to have its own castle. Despite being rebuilt, Hiroshima Castle is a top hanami location thanks to the more than 450 cherry trees that are scattered around the grounds. A simple day trip from the city will take you to the magnificent Miyajima Island, where you can see the well-known “floating” torii gate against a backdrop of in-bloom trees.
Conclusion
Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan, but it can be difficult to forecast when they will be in full bloom, making planning a Japan visit challenging. To ensure that you get the opportunity to take part in this renowned festival, we advised conducting your research and pay attention to our advice. You won’t be let down after you’ve scheduled a time to witness this amazing phenomenon and can confidently claim to have engaged in the age-old custom of Hanami by “viewing the flowers.”
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