Discover a culture that is always blossoming

Springtime in Japan is nothing less than magical. From late March to mid April or even early May, the country’s iconic Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) capture the attention of visitors and locals alike as their beautiful pink flowers blanket the country in soft colorful splendor.

Desirable ways of cherry blossom viewing

The most familiar flower for Japanese is sakura (cherry blossoms). Every spring, people admire cherry blossoms and have a picnic party under the blooming trees. This picnic party is also called “hanami (cherry blossom viewing)” and it is one of the most popular events of spring in Japan. Starting from late March through early May, cherry blossoms across Japan will be in peak bloom in one region after another. Cherry blossoms in Kyushu start blooming earlier than other regions of Japan. And the opening of cherry blossoms moves northward as time goes by. The blossoms will be falling in about one week after the peak bloom. While it is nice to simply appreciate the beauty of the blossoms at the places known for cherry blossoms like Shinjuku Gyoen or Arashiyama in Kyoto, you will have more ways to enjoy cherry blossoms if you visit other popular tourist attractions. If you come to Japan in the cherry blossom season, why not be a bit more desirous and enjoy the different cherry blossom viewing.

Admire Mt. Fuji together with cherry blossoms; the surrounding area of Lake Kawaguchi which is one of the five lakes at the foot of Mt. Fuji, is recommended to enjoy both Mt. Fuji, one of the most known mountains of Japan and cherry blossoms.

Admire the cherry blossoms on the waterfront while tasting tempura on Yakatabune; Yakatabune is a kind of pleasure boat with the Japanese style floor and roof. People enjoy dining or partying on the yakatabune and viewing the scenery outside. From late March through early April, about 330 cherry trees reach peak bloom all at once on the certain section of the banks of Sumida River that runs through the eastern part of Tokyo.

Admire Cherry blossoms at a World Heritage site; in the central part of Nara Prefecture, there is Mt. Yoshino and the entire mountain is part of a World Heritage site. About 30,000 cherry trees cover all along the slope of Mt. Yoshino from the top to the foot.

Feel the thrill of skiing while viewing cherry blossoms; if you want to enjoy winter sport along with a spring charm, namely skiing and cherry blossoms, Yuzawamachi in Niigata Prefecture is recommended. There is Kagura Ski Resort which boasts one of the largest ski resorts in Japan. And in the Kagura and the Mitsumata areas it is possible to enjoy skiing and snowboarding in early spring even when the winter ski season is over.

Soak in hot spring while viewing cherry blossoms: There is a place that enables you to kill two birds in one stone; it is where you can ease fatigue by soaking in a hot spring after enjoying the cherry blossoms in full bloom. There are five hot spring towns in Okuhida Onsen-go in the northern end of Gifu Prefecture. One of them is Tochio. In Tochio, you can enjoy both cherry blossom viewing and hot spring within the town. Every year a cherry blossom festival “Tochio Onsen Sakura Matsuri” is held from April 23 to May 5 when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the row of cherry trees is lit up in the evening. You can enjoy fantastic cherry blossom viewing.