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March 13, 2025 | 10:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spring has arrived; trees are beginning to sprout leaves and flowers, including the revered cherry blossoms. These distinctive flowers, with their beautiful combination of pink and white colors, are best witnessed in Japan.
Cherry blossoms are not the official national flower of the Land of the Rising Sun. Nevertheless, the flowers come to mind whenever people think of Japan. Even the locals have a longstanding tradition of hanami, or cherry blossom viewing.
If you're planning to experience hanami this year, here are some of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan in 2025, according to recommendations from Lonely Planet and Live Japan.
8 Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan 2025
1. Maruyama Park, Kyoto
There are several favorite hanami spots in Kyoto. However, according to Lonely Planet, Maruyama Park is the best place to see cherry blossoms in the city. The park boasts approximately 680 cherry blossom trees, but the most iconic is the weeping cherry tree, or Gion Shidare-zakura. This tree towers at 10 meters tall and is easily spotted as it stands right in the middle of Maruyama Park.
2. Yoyogi Park, Tokyo
In Japan's capital, Tokyo, visitors can visit and picnic in Yoyogi Park. The location is suitable for families as the park is spacious. Don't forget to capture the beauty of cherry blossoms adorning every branch for social media. Aside from admiring the flowers, some visitors also enjoy barbecuing or singing with portable karaoke machines.
3. Ueno Park, Tokyo
In comparison to Yoyogi Park, Ueno Park is actually the most popular spot for cherry blossom viewing. According to Live Japan, this tourist destination attracts nearly 2 million visitors, both domestic and international, every spring. So, due to its popularity, don't expect Ueno Park to be devoid of visitors during the hanami season.
4. Arakurayama Sengen Park, Fujiyoshida
Travelers with an affinity for taking pretty pictures must visit Arakurayama Sengen Park in Fujiyoshida. Here, visitors can capture beautiful cherry blossoms with the majestic backdrop of Mount Fuji. While spring is the best time to admire cherry blossoms in this park, in autumn, the place is bustling with visitors wanting to see the distinctive red autumn leaves blending perfectly with the colors of the Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine pagoda, as stated by the Japan National Tourism Organization.
5. Hirosaki Park, Tohoku
The next recommendation for the best place to see cherry blossoms in Japan is Hirosaki Park in Tohoku. Spanning nearly 50 hectares, there are over 2,500 cherry blossom trees adorning the park. For a more romantic hanami experience, visitors can rent rowing boats to cruise along the cherry blossom-lined moats.
6. Goryokaku Park, Hakodate
In northern Japan, Goryokaku Park is an option for admiring the beauty of cherry blossoms. Additionally, the star-shaped French-style fort adds to the allure of this location. For a more breathtaking view, climb the Goryokaku Tower to enjoy the view of the park, adorned with white and pink colors, from above.
7. Himeji Castle, Himeji
While at Arakurayama Sengen Park visitors have the chance to see cherry trees against the backdrop of Mount Fuji and the Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine pagoda, here, it is the Himeji Castle that enhances the scenery.
According to Live Japan, there are over 1,000 cherry blossom trees around the castle area. Furthermore, during cherry blossom festivals, there are usually boat tours that can take visitors on a cruise around the castle moats while enjoying the gentle pink hues of the cherry trees.
8. Mount Yoshino, Yoshino
Mount Yoshino concludes the list of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan. Yoshinoyama is actually a mountainside that has become the most famous spot in the Far East region for cherry blossom viewing, as reported by the Japan Guide.
The mountain area is divided into four sections, each boasting approximately 1,000 cherry blossom trees. Therefore, you will always be greeted by cherry blossoms as you journey through Mount Yoshino.
Best Time to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan
In general, as mentioned by Lonely Planet, the best time to witness the splendor of cherry blossoms in the Land of the Rising Sun is during spring, around March and April.
Japan Meteorological Corporation has released their latest forecast for the cherry blossom season in Japan on Tuesday, March 6, 2025. As quoted from Live Japan, here are the forecasted when cherry blossoms start to flower and reach full blooms in several locations in Japan:
- Tokyo: March 23 (first flower), March 31 (full bloom)
- Nagoya: March 26 (first flower), April 5 (full bloom)
- Fukuoka: March 26 (first flower), April 4 (full bloom)
- Kyoto: March 29 (first flower), April 6 (full bloom)
- Hiroshima: March 29 (first flower), April 7 (full bloom)
- Osaka: March 30 (first flower), April 6 (full bloom)
- Sendai: April 6 (first flower), April 11 (full bloom)
- Kanazawa: April 6 (first flower), April 11 (full bloom)
- Mount Fuji area (Lake Kawaguchi): April 13 (first flower), April 19 (full bloom)
- Sapporo: April 27 (first flower), May 1 (full bloom)
LONELY PLANET | LIVE JAPAN | JAPAN GUIDE
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