Want to participate in the hanami festivities in Japan but prefer to avoid the crowds of Tokyo and Osaka? I got you! Hop on a 1.5-2h shinkansen ride and travel up north to Tohoku, where you'll find some of Japan's most beautiful cherry blossom displays — with none of the frenzy.
The Tohoku region in northeastern Honshu is one of Japan's best-kept secrets. It's made up of 6 prefectures — Miyagi, Aomori, Yamagata, Akita, Iwate and Fukushima — and is famous for world-class ski slopes and stunning volcano landscapes.
With springtime comes the unique opportunity to view stunning sakura displays against the region's snow-capped mountains. Sakura season runs a little later than the usual spots due to Tohoku's cooler climate. Peak bloom was from early-mid April in 2023 but may change annually (check Japan's latest cherry blossom forecast here for the latest estimates). I got a chance to road trip around Tohoku this spring, so here's rounding up my top 6 favourite spots for peak sakura goodness:
1. Hitome Senbonzakura (白石川堤一目千本桜) and Funaoka Castle Park (船岡城址公園), Miyagi
Nearest JR train station: Funaoka
Hitome Senbonzakura, which literally translates to 'view of a thousand cherry trees', absolutely delivers on its promise. Sakura trees stretch endlessly across the Shiorishi River, making for a picture-perfect landscape (even on rainy days — see photos haha). Stroll or cycle along the riverbanks, then climb up the nearby hill to Funaoka Castle Park for panoramic views.
Don't miss the vintage slope car that ascends through tunnels of dreamy pink petals. Tickets are priced at ¥500 (adult)/ ¥300 (child) and the ride takes about 3 minutes per direction.
2. Tsutsujigaoka Park (榴岡公園), Miyagi
Nearest JR train station: Sendai
This city park boasts a one-month-long flowering season thanks to its diverse variety of sakura trees. It also bursts to life over the weekends with food stalls and live music stages. I was lucky to visit during the hanami festival and it was such a beautiful sight to see groups of friends picnicking under an endless canopy of petals. The atmosphere was lively — but not excessively crowded. There were happy vibes all around and as a friend commented: "there's not a single sad person here". Guess it's time to move here 🥺
3. Hanamiyama Park (花見山), Fukushima
Nearest JR train station: Fukushima
Located at the fringe of central Fukushima, Hanamiyama Park is a privately-owned park that was started by a family of farmers who wanted to share the joy of flowers with the public. Second-generation owner Ichiro Abe quips: "Hanamiyama is my life. I want many visitors to come every year and have the same feeling for flowers that I have. It makes me very happy to know that my idea was not wrong." Indeed, every corner I turned sent me into a photo-snapping and 'omg so pretty' squealing frenzy. Hike up the park's many viewpoints to see cherry blossoms, rapeseed and tulips all blooming in unison. There's also a beautiful rapeseed field at the base that makes for a perfect photo op.
4. Miharu Takizakura (三春滝桜), Fukushima
Nearest JR train station: Miharu
Miharu Takizakura is one of the top three cherry trees in Japan. Estimated to be over 1,000 years old, this red weeping cherry tree has been designated as a natural monument. At full bloom, a waterfall of pink petals cascades delicately along the tree's 10-metre-long branches, making for a stunning sight from afar and up-close. The tree is also illuminated at night, creating a surreal, pink landscape that's worth staying past sunset for.
5. Nicchu Line Weeping Cherry Blossom, Fukushima
Nearest JR train station: Kitakata
This sakura viewing site is not like the rest — and I say this because even after 5 full days of cherry blossom viewing, this site still blew me away. With about 1,000 weeping cherry trees lining both sides of an old railway track, every spot along this whimsical tunnel of pink is basically a scene straight out of an anime. Admire the 3km stretch of blossoms on foot or rent a bicycle from the shops outside Kitakata station.
6. Tsurugajo Castle (鶴ヶ城), Fukushima
Nearest JR train station: Aizu-Wakamatsu
Think sakura in Japan and a picture of a Japanese castle framed with cherry blossoms will probably come to mind. Here's a spot in Fukushima for your must-have Instagram shot. The 600-year-old Tsurugajo Castle is one of the final strongholds of the samurai and stands today as a symbol of courage and faithfulness. Explore the castle's museum and climb to the top floor for panoramic views of the valley as well as the lush castle park that's dotted with sakura trees.
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