By Len Kitagawa and Max Burt
Cherry blossom season is rapidly approaching and it will soon be time for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) across the country. Hanami is a tradition that is hundreds of years old and is enormously popular to this day. Here are 20 spots The Japan Times recommends for viewing sakura (cherry blossoms) across Japan in 2019, starting in Hokkaido in the far north of the country, and moving through Honshu and onward to Kyushu in the south.
We’ve provided the forecasted blossoming times for each spot, but for more detailed and up-to-date predictions, visit the map on the Tenki Navigator website.
Goryokaku Park (Hokkaido Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late April to early May
- Sakura Festival: none
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/5bysNe73KxD2
Hirosaki Park (Aomori Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late April to early May
- Sakura Festival: April 20-May 6
- Admission: high school and above, ¥310; elementary/middle school-aged children, ¥100
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/pDa3h3S6cFK2
Tenshochi Park (Iwate Prefecture)
- Blossoms from early-late April
- Sakura Festival: April 10-May 6
- Admission: middle school and older, ¥500; elementary school, ¥300; below elementary school, free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/thzsHJiiGzK2
Tsutsujigaoka Park (Miyagi Prefecture)
- Blossoms from early-late April
- Sakura Festival: early-late April
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/7btrMLcyp6H2
Hanamiyama Park (Fukushima Prefecture)
- Blossoms from early April to late April
- Sakura Festival: none
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/Scsha1sDwxn
Miharu Takizakura (Fukushima Prefecture)
This Fukushima Prefecture park is well known for its cherry blossoms. It is home to Miharu Takizakura, which translates to “waterfall cherry tree.” This large weeping sakura tree is one of the most famous in Japan.
- Blossoms from mid-April
- Sakura Festival: none
- Admission: Middle school and older, ¥300; below middle school, free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/bBBs2S2Sifz
Garyu Park (Nagano Prefecture)
- Blossoms from mid April
- Sakura Festival: April 4-25
- Admission: free (Zoo: Adults, ¥200; children in middle school, ¥70)
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/JKWmRWWkvCm
Mitsuike Park (Kanagawa Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late March to early April
- Sakura Festival: March 16-April 15
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/eCXgf3tdk2G2
Mount Fuji/Lake Kawaguchi (Shizuoka/Yamanashi prefectures)
- Blossoms from late April to early May
- Sakura Festival: April 14-22
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/JqZ7aeBsWcD2
Yamazaki River (Aichi Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late March to early April
- Sakura Festival: none
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/1JWMecbRnYm
Shokubutsu Garden (Kyoto Prefecture)
- Blossoms from mid-March to late April
- Sakura Festival: April 13-16
- Admission: ¥400
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/cAoFdrxXJP22
Osaka Castle Park (Osaka Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late March to mid April
- Sakura Festival: March 24-April 15
- Admission: ¥350 Adults (middle school students and under enter free)
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/faPmE1NcqGP2
Mount Yoshino (Nara Prefecture)
- Blossoms from early-mid April
- Sakura Festival: none
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/TQ4DQL6cuVr
Himeji Castle (Hyogo Prefecture)
- Blossoms from early April
- Sakura Festival: April 7
- Admission: Outer castle: Free; Inner castle: adults, ¥1,000; children (below high school), ¥300
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/yi9Wdykxefy
Kagawa Prefectural Kikaku Park (Kagawa Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late March-early April
- Sakura Festival April 1
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/SF2sqsJJ8gT2
Peace Memorial Park (Hiroshima Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late Mach to early April
- Sakura Festival: none
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/9q32zUYhUas
Matsuyama Castle (Ehime Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late March to early April
- Sakura Festival: April 7-8
- Admission: Adults, ¥510 for cable car; children, ¥310; elderly, free. There are discounts for groups of 25-100 people.
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/xH1GtkS6TDN2
Nishi Park (Fukuoka Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late March to early April
- Sakura Festival: none
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/EGiwh2zd4E92
Ogi Park (Saga Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late March to early April
- Sakura Festival: March 30-April 1, 2018
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/DZZ63Johqrr
Isshingyou no Ozakura (Kumamoto Prefecture)
- Blossoms from late March-early April
- Sakura Festival: March 24-April 8
- Admission: free
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/hc5crJw7cQA2
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