These are the best places to catch cherry blossoms after winter
Everyone loves spring in Japan, and for good reason. The mere sight of thousands of pink and white cherry blossom trees in full bloom across the country is sure to soften even the most hardened cynics around! That’s why late March to early April tends to be the busiest travel season for both domestic and international visitors — everyone’s in town to catch the cherries.
But did you know that there are dozens of sakura varieties which bloom at different times during spring and late winter? Beyond the most common pale white and light pink Somei Yoshino type, Japan is home to many different kinds of cherry blossoms that bloom from as early as January to as late as May. This means that cherry blossom season lasts longer than just 10 days. In theory, if you visit places all across Japan, the season actually lasts several months!
In this article, we’ll introduce four different types of cherry blossoms and where you can catch them. There’s a wide world of sakura to see after winter’s gone — have a place for these spots on your 2023 cherry blossom journey!
Atami-zakura in Shizuoka Prefecture
©Shizuoka Prefectural Tourism Association
If you’re planning a last-minute winter holiday in Japan in January or February but feel like you’re missing out on the cherry blossoms, don’t worry — you can have your snow and see the sakura too. Head to Atami City in Shizuoka Prefecture in January to mid-February to see Atami-zakura, some of the earliest-blooming cherry blossoms in Japan.
Atami-zakura is a type of kanzakura or ‘winter sakura’ with tiny pink and light-crimson flowers. One of the best places to see them is along the Itogawa River, a small, pretty stream a short walk away from Atami Station. Try taking pictures from Shinyanagi Bridge, Dragon Bridge and Itogawa River for some of the most picturesque views of this frothy pink sakura spot!
Atami City is located 90 minutes south of Tokyo by train (or 45 minutes on the bullet train), making this an easy day trip from the big city. As a bonus, Atami-zakura generally blooms around the same time as the plum blossoms in this quiet seaside town. That’s double the flower fun!
Location information
Name: Itogawa River Promenade
Address: Ginza-cho to Chuo-cho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 413-0015
Public transportation: 10 to 15-minute walk from Atami Station
Website: https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/208/ (Japanese only)
Miharu Takizakura in f*ckushima Prefecture
If you have a limited amount of time for cherry blossoms, you may want to blow your hanami quota on this beauty — the Miharu Takizakura in f*ckushima Prefecture.
With a canopy of cascading blossoms like a waterfall — hence the name, which means ‘waterfall sakura’ — this magnificent 13.5-metre-tall cherry tree is said to be over 1,000 years old. It is considered one of the three great cherry trees of Japan, and in 1922, it became the very first cherry tree designated as a National Monument. It’s located in Miharu, a small farming town in central f*ckushima.
Its rural location makes it comparatively difficult to get to by public transport, but there is a temporary bus service between Miharu Station and the Miharu Takizakura during peak cherry blossom season between the end of March to mid-April. Top tip: Go early in the morning for the best photos! Or, visit at nightfall for cherry blossom illuminations.
Location information
Name: Miharu Takizakura
Address: Sakurakubo Taki, Miharu-machi, Tamura District, f*ckushima Prefecture 963-7714
Public transportation: 25-minute bus ride from Miharu Station
Website: https://miharukoma.com/experience/183
Gyoiko-sakura in Shimane Prefecture
Cherry blossoms aren’t all pink or white. Head over to the Mitoya River in Shimane for a cherry blossom experience that’s out of the ordinary.
Blooming at its peak in late April, gyoiko-sakura is a rare and unusual cherry blossom appearing after the Somei Yoshino sakura has fallen. Its petals are pale green when it first blooms, gradually taking on a yellow cast and crimson-pink stripes at its heart as the season continues. Its name is a reference to the clothing of Heian period (794–1185) aristocrats, as the flowers’ green petals evoke the elegant colours of their robes. Isn’t that simply gorgeous?
Location information
Address: Mitoyacho Mitoya, Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture 690-2404
Public transportation: Take a 15-minute bus from Kisuki Station. It’s a 3-minute walk from Asahi-cho bus stop.
Website: https://www.kankou-shimane.com/destination/20729
Yae-zakura in Ibaraki Prefecture
Here’s another late April cherry blossom beauty — yaezakura, also known as double-flowered sakura.
Within the yaezakura family are at least a dozen sub-varietals, with more than six petals per flower and up to 300, making some of the flowers look like ruffled pom-poms! This late-blooming varietal has a long season, lasting from around mid-April to mid-May, with flowers ranging from white to pale pink to vivid pink.
A great place to see them is in Shizumine Furusato Park in Ibaraki Prefecture. The park is listed as one of Japan’s 100 best places to see cherry blossoms, with over 2,000 yaezakura double-flowering cherry blossom trees. It also gets illuminated during the Yaezakura Festival, held from mid to late April.
Location information
Name: Shizumine Furusato Park
Address: 1720-1 Shizu, Naka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 319-2106
Public transportation: A 30-minute walk from Shizu station.
Website: http://www.naka-kanko.jp/page/page000015.html
Bonus Dessert: Sakura Yokan
No sakura outing is complete without a cherry blossom-themed dessert! One to put on your snack list is sakura yokan, a springtime twist on the classic red bean jelly snack. How the sweet is flavoured and presented varies by shop, but sakura yokan will typically incorporate salted cherry blossom flowers, imbuing the sweet with a savoury yet floral flavour.
If your heart’s desire is to experience cherry blossoms in Japan, don’t stress about missing the late March or early April travel period — there are so many different types of sakura to enjoy after winter. Whether you visit during the Chinese New Year holidays or later in April to mid-May, there’s a sakura spot for everyone. Why not start planning your flower-viewing trip?
Discover more beautiful sites in Japan!
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