Japan’s spring is well known for its beautiful view of cherry blossom or sakura blooming throughout the country, sakura flavored foods and drinks would appear everywhere and people would go out for hanami. In Japan, hanami or Cherry blossom viewing is very popular during the spring season, people would gather and have picnics while admiring the view of beautiful sakura around them. While you can see sakura blooming everywhere you go in Japan, some places like the Ninna-Ji temple with the special variety of dwarf cherry trees or Hirosaki castle with thousands of sakura trees and the magnificent view of the castle makes it some of the best destinations for spring hanami. Here is a list of the best places to enjoy your sakura-viewing experience in Japan.
Hirosaki Castle
Famous for the splendid view of the cherry blossoms in the spring. A landmark with a history of 400 years, symbolizing the city of Hirosaki.
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| Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 05:00 PM ) November 24th-March 31st *During the above period, entry into the keep is not possible. Hirosaki Park is open every day. |
| Price | Adults: 310 YEN Child: 100 YEN Joint ticket for Hirosaki Castle/Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden Adults 510 yen Children 160 yen |
| Address | 1 Hakugincho, Hirosaki, Aomori See map |
| Telephone | 0172-33-8733 |
| Website | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirosaki_Castle |
Maruyama Park
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The oldest park in Kyoto. In spring, the sky is covered with cherry blossoms in full bloom
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| Business Hours | Everyday |
| Price | FREE |
| Address | 円山公園,473 Maruyamacho Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
| Telephone | 075-561-1350 |
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Enjoy nature at Tokyo’s version of Central Park in the middle of the city
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| Business Hours | Tuesday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) Wednesday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) Thursday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) Friday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) Weekends ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) Last entry 4:00 PM [close] Monday Open on National Holidays,but closed the next weekday 29th Dec. - 3rd Jan. |
| Price | Adult: 200 JPY Elementary and Junior high school student: 50 JPY Infant: Free |
| Address | Shinjuku Gyoen, 11 Naito-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo See map |
| Telephone | 03-3350-0151 |
Himeji Castle
A castle, a World Heritage Site, whose beautiful exterior creates a majestic appearance
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| Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:00 PM ) |
| Price | Adults: 1,000 JPY Child: 300 JPY |
| Address | Himeji Castle, 68 Hommachi, Himeji-shi, Hyogo, 670-0012 See map |
| Telephone | 079 -285-1146 |
| Website | http://translate.city.himeji.lg.jp/LUCHIMEJI/ns/tl.cgi/http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/guide/castle.html?SLANG=ja&TLANG=en&XMODE=0&XCHARSET=utf-8&XJSID=0 |
Ninna-ji Temple
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Ninna-ji is recommended to see the beautiful late-blooming cherry blossoms.
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| Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) |
| Price | Adults: 500 JPY Child: 300 JPY |
| Address | 33 Omuro Ouchi, Ukyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto See map |
| Telephone | 075-461-4070 |
| Website | http://www.ninnaji.or.jp/multilingual_info.html |
Ueno Park
A park filled with cherry blossom trees, museums, and a zoo
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| Business Hours | Everyday ( 05:00 AM ~ 11:00 PM ) |
| Address | Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo See map |
| Telephone | 03-3828-5644 |
| Website | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ueno_Park |
Sankei-en Garden
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Japanese architecture and its harmony with nature
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| Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 05:00 PM ) |
| Price | Adults: 500 JPY Child: 200 JPY |
| Address | 58-1Honmoku Sannotani, Naka-ku Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa See map |
| Telephone | 045-621-0634 |
| Website | http://www.sankeien.or.jp/en-about/index.html |
Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle is the symbol of Osaka, filled with history
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| Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 05:00 PM ) |
| Price | Adults: 600 JPY Child: FREE |
| Address | Osaka Castle, 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo-ku Osaka-shi, Osaka See map |
| Telephone | 06-6941-3044 |
| Website | http://www.osakacastle.net/english/ |
Nara Park
Come and meet the friendly deer at Nara Park with its many World Heritage sites
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| Business Hours | Everyday |
| Price | FREE |
| Address | Nara Park, Nara, Nara Prefecture See map |
| Telephone | 0742-27-8036 |
| Website | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_Park |
Mt. Yoshino
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The ultimate place for cherry blossoms. A sacred festival for a mountain dedicated to sakura.
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| Business Hours | Everyday ( 09:00 AM ~ 04:30 PM ) |
| Price | World Heritage sites Kinpusen-ji Temple Zao Hall 500 yen (special viewing 1000 yen) Yoshimizu Shrine 400 yen Yoshino Mikumari Shrine Free Kinpu Shrine Free/200 yen (Yoshitsune hiding tower) |
| Address | Yoshinoyama station, Yoshino-cho Yoshino-gun, Nara See map |
| Telephone | 0746-32-1007 |
| Website | http://www.yoshinoyama-sakura.jp/english/ |
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5 days itinerary
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