When and where to see the cherry blossoms in Japan

Known as “Hanami” in the local language, Cherry Blossom viewing is an annual event in Japan. It is a time of festivities for the locals as they gather to admire the beautiful sight of the cherry blossom trees spreading their magic everywhere with their various shades of white and pink. For a foreigner who has not seen such beauty before, it is a sight to behold.

Cherry blossoms are found in various parts of Japan at different times and if you are visiting Japan and have missed this stunning sight, you can easily go to other places to see cherry blossoms. Cherry Blossom viewing season lasts from a week to ten days and presents a mesmerizing picture. Japan has more than three hundred species of cherry trees.

Fukuoka is one of the places in Japan where cherry trees first announce their arrival. Maizuru Park with around 1000 cherry trees is located in the ruins of the old Fukuoka Fort. There are several picnic spots in the park where Hanami parties are held. Nishi Park and Atago Shrine are two other places in Fukuoka where cherry blossoms can be seen.

If you are in Tokyo, Shinjuku Gyoen is the best place to go. More than a thousand trees of a dozen varieties of cherry trees are planted here. Due to the different varieties, the Hanami season lasts longer as the trees bloom at different times. Chidorigafuchi and Ueno Park are two other famous cherry blossom viewing spots in the capital city.

Cherry blossoms grace Osaka in early April and some of the best places in the city to see the cherry blossoms are at Kema Sakuranomiya Park. Located on the banks of the Okawa River, the park boasts 5,000 beautiful flowering trees towering majestically. You can see the flowers from the boats on the river and the rides. Or you can enjoy a picnic and the splendor of cherry blossoms from the 4,000 trees on the grounds of Osaka Castle. Nara Park in Nara city is filled with beautiful flowers in early April; other places in Nara are the Heijo Palace and the Koriyama Castle Ruins.

The best and most well-known cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan is still Mount Yoshino or Yoshinoyama in Yoshino. There are more than 30,000 trees on the mountain that bloom from the beginning of April to the middle of the month.

Hokkaido is one of the places in Japan that experiences late cherry blossoms; the season lasts from early to mid-May.