Seeing cherry blossoms not just in Washington, D.C., or any destination abroad, but sakura in Japan should be a tick on your travel bucket list – at least according to Trafalgar Tours, a United States-based company where you can book tours and travel packages.
Japanese sakura is not just a must-see but a must-witness within your lifetime. They’re magnificent, they’re fragrant, and they can even make you cry in awe. Like seriously! Are you wondering about the most beautiful places to see them in Japan? Here are our top 10 choices!
Tokyo
Most travelers in Japan fly to Tokyo, so there won’t be a better choice for you than to view the cherry blossoms here unless you’d want to stray too far. Tokyo’s best cherry blossom spots are:
Ueno Park
There seems to be no point in visiting a cherry blossom garden if you’re alone. Like eating in a restaurant, enjoying the blooms in the presence of other people is a pleasure. Most sakura crowds are here at Ueno Park, live, popular, and giving off that sakura party vibe. There are over 1,000 trees in this spot.
Chidorigafuchi
The moats around the former Edo Castle around Kitanomaru Park at Chidorigafuchi are not just about the water and boring trees. The cherry blossoms here are among the most outstanding in Tokyo and all over Japan. You can rent out boats to view the blooms while sailing, but once you’re on land, you cannot set up picnics, though.
Sumida Park
Cherry blossoms at Sumida Park also lie along the riverbank of the river with the same name. There are views of the famous Tokyo Sky Tree here with some food stands available when you go hungry.
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Yokohama
Interestingly enough, the really best cherry blossoms for some are not in Tokyo. They’re great places since most attractions for your Japan trip are in Tokyo. According to Condé Nast Traveler, at the top of their list is Mount Yoshino in the Nara Prefecture.
So, you’ll really need to travel to the prefectures outside Tokyo to see the more mesmerizing cherry blooms, such as in Yokohama, where two spots are highlighted.
Mitsuike Park
The only cherry blossom spectacle of its kind is found in Yokohama at Mitsuike Park. Here, you can find three ponds around which there are thousands of cherry trees planted.
Sankeien Garden
Sankeien is neither a temple nor a shrine, but a landscape garden with a central pond with several historic buildings constructed there from all over the country. So, you can feel what’s the vibe here. Cherry trees are around the place, too.
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Kamakura
While there are a few other cherry blossom spots in Kamakura, there’s one that stands out.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Referred to as Dankazura, the last frontier before Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is lit up with not just hundreds of cherry trees but trees along its 500 meters. There are also ponds on the shrine grounds for a little breather.
Izu Peninsula
It may sound like a place in the “Pokémon” Japanese animation, but the Izu Peninsula is completely distinct.
Kawazu
This Kawazu town on this Peninsula is among the first spots near Tokyo to view cherry blossoms so if you want a bit of contrast from Tokyo’s sakura vibes, head to Kawazu, where the town’s cherry tree variety is often in full bloom from as late as February to as early as March, drawing in tourists in springtime.
Osaka
And so you’re back to a famous spot. After maybe visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you can check out some cherry blossoms.
Osaka Castle Park
This is a famous location for cherry blossoms in Osaka, where there’s also a traditional castle. Experience it breathtakingly by riding a boat across the moat around the castle for unique views of the blossoms. Find almost 4,000 cherry trees planted here.
Nishinomaru Park
Second is Nishinomaru Park, a park just at the western citadel of the castle. Picnic is totally allowed here where you can munch on delicious Japanese snacks with your loved ones while enjoying its lawns, views of the castle tower, and maybe lighting at night.
ALSO READ: BEST CHERRY BLOSSOM SPOTS IN OSAKA
Saitama Prefecture
Last are the cherry blossoms in Saitama Prefecture.
Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi
The prefecture’s Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi also features cherry blossoms along the river with rows of 500 trees lined by rapeseed flowers. Very accessible since it’s near the train station.
Cherry blossoms-hopping, you guys? No, every cherry blossom experience in those places you’ve seen above is unique. You must try.
Want to discover more of Osaka with a local? Join our Osaka Free Walking Tour and experience Osaka’s rich food, culture, and history.
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