See the Cherry Blossoms in Tohoku

North of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, is the Tohoku region. The Tohoku region is a beautiful place made up of six prefectures full of lush forests, natural hot springs and culinary delights. Tohoku will never disappoint travelers in search of an idyllic countryside escape especially in spring. Here are some Tohoku’s best Cherry Blossom viewing places that you cannot miss this spring.

 

Hirosaki Park (Aomori)

From late April to Early May, Hirosaki Park in Aomori Prefecture has some of Japan's best cherry blossoms. Impressive in scale and picturesque in setting, the Hirosaki Park cherry blossoms are one of Japan's top locations for hanami, or cherry blossom viewing. With more than 2,600 cherry trees, some of which are over 300 years old, the scale of the Hirosaki Park Cherry Blossoms is tremendous. The park has more than 50 varieties of cherry trees, including the most famous type, somei yoshino. Using the same pruning techniques that Aomori farmers use on their apple trees, the groundskeepers in Hirosaki Park have made the cherry trees flower with more buds than most other cherry trees. The volume of flowers on every branch is nearly double what grows naturally.

For more information, visit here.

 

Kitakami City Park Tenshochi (Iwate)

The Kitakami city in Iwate prefecture is quite famous for the 10,000 plus cherry trees planted alongside the Kitakami River in Kitakami City Park Tenshochi. In late April during the Cherry blossom season take a horse drawn carriage in the park or just stroll through a tunnel of white cherry blossoms along the 1.2-mile walkway. Alternatively, enjoy a panoramic view of the blossoms from a boat while cruising down the Kitakami River. The park is also home to about 100,000 azalea trees, which flourish after the cherry blossom season.

For more information, visit here.

 

Kannonji-gawa River (Fukushima)

This beautiful 1 km-path along the banks of the Kannonji-gawa River transforms into a spectacular tunnel of Yoshino and weeping cherry trees in spring. Kannonji-gawa River is one of the most fantastic places to see cherry blossoms in Tohoku with the calming river and the lovely petals falling like snow. The lush green bank contrasting with the pale pink blossoms creates an unforgettable scene. While enjoying the delicate blossoms, visitors to Kannonji-gawa River can also have a picnic and enjoy some of the tasty food from street vendors available only during the cherry blossom season. Be sure to come back during the evening when the trees are illuminated, and the river transforms into a magical dreamscape.

For more information, visit here.