Great cherry blossom viewing sites over the next few weeks!

Lying on a long, north to south axis, the Japanese archipelago has different times of bloom by regions, allowing people to enjoy cherry blossoms for a relatively long period of time (about two months). Let’s go and see the beautiful blossoms by using a JR EAST PASS!

■JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)

Hirosaki Park / Aomori Prefecture

cherry blossoms in Hirosaki Park

The park is home to about 2,600 cherry trees of about 50 kinds, including someiyoshino and weeping types. If it is clear, you can enjoy magnificent scenery combining Hirosaki Castle tower, beautiful cherry blossoms, and Mt. Iwaki in the distance.

Peak Season: late April to mid-May

Access15 min by bus from Hirosaki Station on the JR Ou Line (bus fare applies)

Kitakami Tenshochi Park / Iwate Prefecture

Kitakami River, the line of cherry blossoms

Peak Season: mid-April to early May

Access20-min walk from Kitakami Station on the JR Tohoku Line

Kakunodate / Akita Prefecture

 Cherry blossomes in Kakunodate

Peak Season: mid-April to early May

Access20-min walk from Kakunodate Station on the Akita Shinkansen Line

Funaoka Castle Ruins Park / Miyagi Prefecture

cherry blossom of Funaoka Castle Ruins Park

A great cherry blossom viewing spot with more than 1,300 cherry trees. Looking out from the slope car, which takes you directly to the top of the mountain, you will feel like you are going through a cherry blossom tunnel. The view of the cherry blossoms from the top is also gorgeous. 

Peak Season: early April to mid-April

Access15-min walk from Funaoka Station on the JR Tohoku Line (slope car fee applies)

Kajo Park / Yamagata Prefecture

cherry blossom of Yamagata Castle (aka Kajo Castle)

In the Ninomaru site of Yamagata Castle (aka Kajo Castle), 1,500 cherry trees bloom. Inside the park, you can enjoy cherry blossoms everywhere along the moat. At night, the blossoms are illuminated, creating a fantastical atmosphere. 

Peak Season: mid-April to late April

Access10-min walk from Yamagata Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen Line

Nicchusen Kinen Bicycle/Pedestrian Path / Fukushima Prefecture

cherry blossom of Nicchusen Kinen Bicycle/Pedestrian Path

KITAKATA Tourism and Product Association 
You will feel overwhelmed by about 1,000 weeping cherry trees blossoming along the path stretching over 3 km. At the halfway point of the path, an old steam locomotive is on display, offering a perfect site for taking a photo. 

Peak Season: mid-April to late April

Access5-min walk from Kitakata Station on the JR Ban-etsu-West Line

■JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)

Iiyama Nishi-Otaki Dam / Nagano Prefecture

cherry blossomes of Iiyama Nishi-Otaki Dam / Nagano Prefecture

In the Sakura Square along the Nishi-Otaki Dam, about 140 someiyoshino cherry trees bloom. They are late-blooming even for Nagano Prefecture and usually are in bloom until around early May.

Peak Season: late April to early May

Access5-min walk from Nishi-Ōtaki Station on the JR Iiyama Line

Shinano River Yasuragi-tei Embankment / Niigata Prefecture

cherry blossomes of Shinano River Yasuragi-tei Embankment

Along the Shinano River for 1.5 km, about 1,000 cherry trees, including someiyoshino cherry trees and double cherry blossoms as well as tulips are blooming gorgeously. During the blooming season, lamps are lit, and you can enjoy the cherry blossoms in the evening. 

Peak Season: early April to mid-May

Access5-min walk from Hakusan Station on the JR Echigo Line

JR EAST PASS

About “JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)”

JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)

www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_t/ 

Validity: Flexible for 5 days (any 5 days within 14 days of issuance) 

Prices: Outside Japan: Adults 19,000 yen, Children 9,500 yen / Within Japan: Adults 20,000 yen, Children 10,000 yen 

Sales locations: JR EAST Travel Service Center (Narita Airport Terminal 1 / 2·3, Haneda Airport International Terminal, Tōkyō, Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Hamamatsuchō, Sendai sta.) and other ticket counter 

About “JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area)”

JR EAST PASS_(Nagano, Niigata_area)

www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_n/

Validity: Flexible for 5 days (any 5 days within 14 days of issuance)

Prices: Outside Japan: Adults 17,000 yen, Children 8,500 yen / Within Japan: Adults 18,000 yen, Children 9,000 yen

Sales locations: JR EAST Travel Service Center (Narita Airport Terminal 1 / 2·3, Haneda Airport International Terminal, Tōkyō, Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Hamamatsuchō sta.) and other ticket counter

JR-EAST Train Reservation   
You can reserve seats of JR East Shinkansen bullet trains and major limited express via "JR-EAST Train Reservation" website.

*The status of blooming may change due to weather.

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The information herein is as of Jan 2019
Writer
att.JAPAN Editorial Team
att.JAPAN consists of members in their 20s and 30s, and we are all travel lovers. In addition to information about sightseeing and great dishes all over Japan, we offer a wide range of information about various subjects/topics, such as onsen (hot spring) and ryokan hotels. We introduce lots of information only att.JAPAN can offer, including information about famous sightseeing spots, the latest news about new facilities all over Japan and rare less-known areas in Tokyo, one-day model walking courses, and anime pilgrimages. We also offer contents to introduce Japan from the view of writers from abroad.

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