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| Deer in Nara during Japan's cherry blossom season |
How to follow the cherry blossom trail by rail
The cherry blossom season begins in late March and usually ends in mid-April but sometimes continues until early May. The stunning pink, white and red flowers and Hanami festivals can be witnessed in several major cities including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Sapporo and Nara.
The easiest and most cost-effective way to visit all locations and see the cherry blossoms in all their glory is to travel by rail, and the best way to follow the blossoms by rail is with a Japan Rail pass. The Japan Rail pass is exclusive to those travelling to Japan. You can’t purchase the pass once you arrive in the country. The JR Pass offers unlimited train travel in Japan for 7, 14 or 21 days’ consecutive travel.
You can plan your cherry blossom trail by checking the Sakura season dates which are listed on the Japan Weather Association website. One way of translating the page is to use Google Chrome and then either accept the translate option if your browser offers it or add a translator app extension such as Google Translate and then translate the text into English that way. You can also use the English cherry blossom forecast found on Japan Travel Advice.
Cherry Blossom Hotspots
Tokyo
Cherry trees start blooming in early April in places all over Tokyo. Some of the popular locations to view the Sakura in Japan’s capital include:
• Asukayama Park
This hilltop public park is one of Tokyo’s most famous Hanami spots. The park is a short walk from Oji Station.
This is one of the most popular spots for cherry blossom celebrations. The park boasts over 1,000 cherry trees and is just a few steps from Ueno Station.
• Kitanomaru Park (Edo Castle)
The western castle moat surrounding the park is famous for its beautiful Sakura trees and Hanami parties in springtime. The park is next to Tokyo Imperial Palace East gardens in the centre of the city.
• Koishikawa Botanical Garden
You can see many weeping cherry trees close to the garden’s entrance gate in spring. The garden is a 10-15 minute walk from either Myogadani Station or Hakusan Station.
Nara
It takes around 35 – 45 minutes to reach Nara by train from Kyoto. Nara’s cherry trees normally bloom in late March and favoured viewing spots include:
This is the most famous Hanami spot in Japan. There are over 30,000 cherry trees around the slopes of the mountain.
• Todai-ji temple in Nara Park
Todai-ji temple is located in Nara Park which contains a large lawn surrounded by cherry blossom trees. The park is also home to around 500 deer.
Kyoto
You can usually see the cherry blossom flowers from late March till mid-April in Kyoto. Some of the best locations to view the Sakura include:
The whole path is lined with cherry trees which become a spectacular sight when they are in bloom. It is magical at night when the trees are lit up and the crowds have diminished.
• Shimbashi
This is a beautiful section of Gion on the banks of the Shirakawa Canal which becomes very crowded during Hanami season. It is a truly enchanting spot when the trees are flowering.
Hiroshima
You can reach Hiroshima by taking the JR Tokaido or Sanyo Shinkansen (bullet train). Fabulous spots to enjoy Hanami parties include:
You can use the Gangi Water Taxi service to enjoy the breathtaking blossoms on a lovely riverside cruise.
• Hijiyama Park
This is one of the most popular places in the city for Hanami festivities with 1,300 cherry trees.
Osaka
The best time to see the Sakura in Osaka is generally late March to early April. The most important cherry blossom viewing locations include:
• Kema Sakuranomiya Park
This park is on the banks of the Okawa River and incorporates the Osaka Mint building which marks a much-loved cherry blossom viewing spot.
You can get your hands on a great-value-for-money Japan Rail Pass (from just $389 AUD for a 7 day, standard class adult pass) by heading to the Rail Plus website to make the most of this spectacular natural event in Japan’s calendar.
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