The Best Spots to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan

Spring is coming. Going for a holiday in spring often means that you will visit places that have blooming cherry blossoms. As the Land of Cherry Blossoms, Japan has many spots for anyone wishing to view the beautiful cherry blossoms. Where are the best places to see the blooming cherry blossoms in Japan? You can find the answer in this article!

Mount Yoshino, Nara Prefecture

Mount Yoshino (吉野山, Yoshinoyama) in Nara Prefecture has been Japan’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spot for centuries. According to stories among the surrounding community, the first cherry blossom trees planted along the mountain’s slopes are more than 1,300 years old. So, it is not surprising that now there are around 30,000 cherry blossom trees of various types, especially Yamazakura, in Mount Yoshino.

Visitors can enjoy the cherry blossom trees in this area while climbing the mountain, passing through the tourist town of Yoshino, where there are Buddhist and Shinto temples, or do hanami (the activity of viewing the beauty of the blooming cherry blossoms) in the surrounding parks. In 2024, the cherry blossoms on Mount Yoshino are expected to fully bloom on 5 April.

Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefecture

Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture is another best destination in Japan to view the blooming cherry blossoms. As stated on the official website of the Himeji Convention and Visitors Bureau, Himeji Castle's Sannomaru Square is selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots.

This castle area is special as Himeji Castle has a status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other attractive features this place has to offer is in addition to seeing the cherry blossoms, you can also enjoy the traditional Japanese cultural performances, called the performances of koto (a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument) and Japanese drums in the middle of Sannomaru Square and with a backdrop of Himeji Castle.

Visitors can also experience a Japanese tea ceremony, taste Himeji specialty’s sake, Himeji specialty oden, kamaboko or fried fish cakes, and/or take part in many other cultural activities here. The cherry blossoms in Himehi Castle usually bloom for the first time at the end of March and it is estimated that they will be in full bloom on 2 April 2024.

Fuji Five Lakes area, Yamanashi Prefecture

The area of Fuji Five Lakes (富士五湖, Fujigoko) is located at the base of Mount Fuji, Japan and consists of Lake Yamanaka, Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Saiko, Lake Shōji, and Lake Motosu. This area is located on the North side of Mount Fuji, precisely at an altitude of around 1,000 meters above sea level, with Fujiyoshida as the city center.

The geographical factor above makes Fujigoko one of the best spots in Japan to view cherry blossoms. Not only that but while seeing cherry blossoms, you can get a close-up view of Mount Fuji as well as the five lakes. As you can imagine, viewing the beauty of the blooming cherry trees in this place will give you a mesmerizing experience.

Since this area is known as a lake resort area, visitors who want to see the cherry blossoms can also do other activities such as camping, fishing, playing in the snow, or visiting one of Japan's most popular amusement parks. Despite being called the Fuji Five Lakes Region, Lake Kawaguchiko is the most accessible lake and has much to offer foreign tourists. According to the forecast, the cherry blossom trees will fully bloom here on 12 April 2024.

So, those are some of the best places to see cherry blossoms across Japan. Before visiting one or the three spots above, you should buy Travel Insurance to Japan from MSIG Indonesia, hich will protect you and your family during your holiday to Japan in the spring.