Best Spots for Cherry Blossoms in Gifu / Aichi

We are lucky here in the Gifu and Aichi area of Japan to have many great spots for viewing the beautiful cherry blossoms. This year they are expected to start blooming earlier than usual and the estimated start date of the bloom is around March 21 in both Gifu and Nagoya. The peak is estimated for around March 29-30.

Below are some of my favourite spots for cherry blossom viewing in the area.

Nagoya-jo Castle – featuring 10 different types and 1600 cherry trees around the park and along the moat of the castle. This is one of the best places for cherry blossom viewing in Japan. Best from late March to early April.

Tsuruma Koen – located in Tsurumai, Nagoya, it features 1000 cherry trees. It is a popular hanami spot with many food stands and plenty of space for hanami parties under the trees. Best from late March to early April.

Inuyama-jo Castle – located in Inuyama City, just outside of Nagoya, it features 400 cherry trees set around the grounds of the famous castle. Best from late March to early April.

Sunomata-jo Castle – located just outside of Ogaki City, Gifu on the banks of the Sai and Nagara Rivers, it features 1000 cherry trees. The castle is a replica of the famous original, which is said to have been built in one night. The area around the castle is illuminated at night and is very spectacular. Best from late March to early April.

Gifu Koen – featuring 480 cherry trees in the area around Gifu park from the foot of Mount Kinka to the Japan-China Friendship Garden, it is one of the best spots for cherry blossom viewing in Gifu. This spot can be enjoyed during both the daytime and the evening/night. Best from late March to early April.

Shinsakai River - located in Kagamigahara City near the Shimin Koen Park this is one of the best spots in Gifu and features in Japan's top 100 best sakura locations. The banks of the river have around 1200 cherry trees and there are many food vendors making this a fantastic hanami location. Best from late March to early April.

Usuzumi Sakura – located in Motosu City, Gifu, it is one of the oldest cherry trees in Japan and considered one of Japan's Three Great Sakura. This unique cherry blossom initially sprouts pale pink flowers, which become white in full bloom. Usuzumi Park features around 50 cherry trees. Best from early April to late April.

Take a look at the Cherry Blossom Forecast 2013 from Japan Travel Advice

Where are you planning to see the Cherry Blossoms this year?

Plum Blossoms at Bairin Koen

Bairin Koen in Gifu City is a famous spot for plum blossoms in Japan. The name Bairin Koen (梅林公園) means “plum grove park” and it certainly lives up to its name with 50 different types of ume or plum blossoms and around 1300 plum trees. About 700 of the trees have white blossoms with the other 600 with red/pink blossoms.

The park was originally a private estate until it passed into the hands of Gifu City, where it was expanded and made into a public park.

The earliest plum blossoms begin blooming in mid-January, with the majority usually reaching their full blossom in late February or early March. The Gifu Ume Matsuri is held around that time in the park on the first Saturday and Sunday of March. It features music, dancing and lots of street vendors selling all kinds of fabulous Japanese festival food.

Close up of the Pink Plum Blossoms

Pink Plum Blossoms

More Pink Plum Blossoms

Close up of the White Plum Blossoms

White Plum Blossoms

Plum Blossom Grove

A point of interest is the park is home to a D51 steam locomotive, which is popular with kids both big and small.

D51 Steam Locomotive

Information

Meet the Snow Monkeys of Japan

Japan is a country famous for many things: the sleek and efficient bullet train; traditional culture; world-famous cuisine and perhaps, most endearing of all, the snow monkey.

It is the small town of Yudanaka that many of these wonderful animals have made their home. Situated deep in the Japanese Alps, in an area known as “Hell Valley” thanks to its hot steam vents, sulfurous streams and other volcanic activity, the snow monkeys can be found taking advantage of their surroundings by bathing in the hot spring baths dotted throughout the area. Indeed, the monkeys have acquired such a reputation that one of these baths has been declared a ‘human-free’ zone and is used exclusively by the monkeys!

Japanese macaques, to call them by their proper name, bathe all year round, but it is especially amusing to watch them during the winter months, when the area is covered in a thick, white blanket of snow, which sits adorably on their heads as they attempt to warm up in a very human-like fashion. Though the animals are still wild, they have become somewhat use to the attention they now receive and photo opportunities abound as groups huddle together against the freezing air temperatures, preen each other and play. Hundreds of monkeys at a time can frequently be seen enjoying the warn and healing waters here.

The journey into the heart of Nagano isn't the easiest for visitors – after riding the bullet train from Tokyo for one and a half hours you then embark on a 40-minute train ride from Nagano City. A pleasant walk through beautiful woodland completes your journey. The sight that awaits you is well worth the effort though and as the area is dotted with hot spring inns, you can follow the monkeys’ lead and soothe away the day’s travels in the natural thermal waters.

This guest post and images have come from Audley Travel,  an award–winning tour operator, specialising in tailor-made trips and small group tours for the discerning traveller, to over 80 countries around the world.

Katy Pannell - Online Travel Editor

Events in the Gifu Area for March / April 2013

March 2-3: Gifu Ume Matsuri at Bairin Koen in Gifu City. Featuring 50 different types of ume blossoms and 1300 trees this is a must see for any ume blossom fan. There will be a kids event on the 2nd while the 3rd will have music and dancing. Lots of food vendors will be there as well for all your favourite festival food.

March 16: Istanbul / Turkey New Attraction at Little World Inuyama in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture. Featuring Turkish food, culture, goods and exhibitions. You can also try on some traditional Turkish costumes. Visit the website for more details http://www.littleworld.jp/english

April 6-7: Inuyama Matsuri at Inuyama-jo Castle in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture. This festival first started in 1635 and features 13 parade floats, lavishly decorated and dating from the 17th century. They are paraded under the beautiful cherry blossoms. At night they are decorated with 365 paper lanterns (chochin).

April 6-7: Gifu Matsuri in the center of Gifu City. Kashimori Shrine, Inaba Shrine and Kogane Shrine host the festival, which features parade floats and street food vendors.

April 6-21: Tulip Festival at Kiso Sansen Koen in Kaizu City Gifu. The park is a blaze of colour with beautiful tulips that can be seen next to the cherry blossoms. There are also many events happening on the weekend. Open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday - Friday, and 800 am to 6:00 pm Saturday - Sunday. http://www.kisosansenkoen.go.jp/e/

April 14-15: Takayama Festival – one of the most spectacular festivals in Japan, featuring elaborate festival floats. The spring festival is also known as Sanno Festival. There are about a dozen festival floats or yatai as they are known in Japan, and each float is lit with 100 paper lanterns.

For more information on what is happening in Japan, you should check out the following travel guide books: (click on the image for more information)