Recommended spots for viewing cherry blossoms

Posted on JAPAN TODAY on March 28, 2014

TOKYO —

“Hanami” or cherry blossom viewing is one of the most traditional Japanese customs during the spring season. Parks on weekends and in the evenings on weekdays are full of people drinking and singing karaoke usually in the last week of March and the first week of April.

Here are a few popular spots in Japan.

Roppongi Hills (Tokyo) From April 3 until 13. You can enjoy cherry blossoms from the sky at Tokyo City View. “Sunset Cafe” will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
More information: http://www.roppongihills.com/

Ueno Park (Tokyo) Yoshino and other kinds of cherry trees draw big crowds. Entrance to the park is free between 5 a.m and 11 p.m.
More information: http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/format/index038.html

Shinjuku Gyoen (Tokyo) The park has 1,300 cherry trees consisting of 65 kinds that each flower in different times. Here you can enjoy 420 Yoshino trees followed by the flowering season of 500 Yae cherry trees until the end of April.
More information: http://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/

Sumida Park (Tokyo) It is possible to enjoy the sakura trees with a glimpse of Tokyo Skytree both at the park and from sightseeing boats. The sakura festival will be held until April 13.
More information: http://www.enjoytokyo.jp/amuse/event/563390/

Meguro River (Tokyo) The sakura trees along the paths of the Meguro riverbank are gorgeous. Walk along the riverside and you’ll see differences of views in the upper and lower reaches.
More information: http://meguro-kanko.com/

Chidorigafuchi (Tokyo) Enjoy a rowboat ride through a tunnel of 260 cherry trees along the moat that surrounds the Imperial Palace. More than 1 million people come here to enjoy hanami from all over Japan.
More information: http://kanko-chiyoda.jp/Default.aspx?TabId=1117

Senko-Ji Park (Hiroshima) It is possible to enjoy sakura trees in bloom anytime in Senko-Ji temple until the middle of April. You can get to the top of the mountain in three minutes by ropeway and enjoy the beautiful view.
More information: http://www.city.onomichi.hiroshima.jp/www/section/detail.jsp?id=1166

Okazaki Park (Nagoya) The park has 1,000 cherry trees which will be lit up after sunset with lots of stalls along the river. “Okazaki Sakura Festival” will be held from April 1 to 15 with “Ieyasu Procession (April 6).”
More information: http://okazaki-kanko.jp/links/dom/contents/schedule/sakuramatsuri.htm

Matsue-Jo Yama Park (Shimane) The park was selected as one of the 100 most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Japan. Matsue Castle Festival will be held until April 15.
More information: http://www.matsue-tourism.or.jp/cgi-bin/rus7/event/view.cgi?d=63

Matsumae Park (Hokkaido) More than 10,000 cherry trees will welcome you for about a month from April 28 to May 20. It was also selected as one of the 100 most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Japan and 68th Sakura Festival is to be held from April 26 to May 18.
More information: http://www.asobube.com/kankouspot.cgi

Tadamoto Park (Kagoshima) The park was selected as one of the 100 most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Japan for its beautiful 2-km line of 1,000 cherry trees.
More information: http://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/guide/10953/

Original article: JAPAN TODAY
http://www.japantoday.com/category/lifestyle/view/recommended-spots-for-viewing-cherry-blossoms