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Kaminoyama Castle (Tsukioka Park) and the cherry blossom trees
Kaminoyama City, Yamagata Prefecture
Tsukioka Park was formerly part of Kaminoyama Castle, which was torn down in 1873 and reconstructed in 1982. The castle has an entrance fee. and the park is filled with around 80 sakura in different varieties, including the Somei Yoshino, the most widely planted variety in Japan.
In Tsukioka Park, there is a footbath where visitors can enjoy a view of Kaminoyama Castle and the Zao mountain range as well as the sakura. There are four other footbaths in the city, each with its own view. Near the park, there is a samurai street where you can feel how samurai once lived, and restaurants where you can try soba and ramen.
The city of Kaminoyama, located at the foot of the Zao mountain range, is rich in nature and known for growing cherries and grapes. It is just 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen and 1 hour 30 minutes from Sendai Airport, and offers easy access to Tohoku sightseeing spots such as Okama, Yamadera, and Ginzan Onsen, making it a great base for Tohoku travel.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Yamagata Shinkansen bullet train for about 2 hours 35 minutes.
Get off at Kaminoyama Onsen Station and walk about 15 minutes.
From Haneda Airport, take a flight to Yamagata Airport (1 hour), then drive for 50 minutes.
3-7 Motojonai, Kaminoyama-shi, Yamagata-ken
