Asia Cherry Blossoms Map

Tokyo

Japan's capital of temples, towers and food

9.7

Picnics under the trees, called hanami, are a spring ritual here. Groups claim spots at Ueno Park early in the morning. Rowboats glide under branches at Chidorigafuchi, the old castle moat. Lanterns light the Meguro River at night. Blossoms usually peak in late March or early April.

Highlights:

🖼️ Visit the teamLab digital art museum
🌆 Enjoy panoramic city views from observation decks
🍣 Savor sushi at a local eatery

Aomori

Apples, giant lantern floats and beech forests

7.9

Samurai once guarded Hirosaki Castle, which now has about 2,600 cherry trees around its moats. Blossoms open in late April, often around Golden Week. Fallen petals cover the outer moat in a pink layer called a flower raft. Rent a rowboat to drift under the branches. Lanterns light the grounds at night.

Highlights:

🍎 Taste fresh apples and local seafood at Aomori markets
♨️ Relax in a hot spring overlooking snow-capped mountains
🎆 Experience the vibrant Nebuta Matsuri summer festival floats

Izu Peninsula

Hot springs, volcanic coast and beaches

8.3

February is when Kawazu-zakura, an early pink cherry, opens in the town of Kawazu. About 850 trees line the Kawazu River for several kilometers. The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival runs into early March. Yellow rapeseed flowers bloom below the pink branches. Hot spring baths are close by.

Highlights:

🌸 Explore Izu Kogen highland's flower gardens
🏔️ Watch the sunset over Suruga Bay from Cape Koganezaki
🛁 Soak in Atami's famed hot spring baths

Fukuoka

Kyushu's biggest city, known for yatai and ramen

8.4

Earlier than most of Honshu, Fukuoka's trees often bloom in late March. Maizuru Park has about 1,000 cherry trees around the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. Lanterns light the stone walls after dark. Families picnic under the branches at Nishi Park on a hill by the sea. Yatai food stalls sell ramen nearby.

Highlights:

🌸 Explore Fukuoka Castle ruins during cherry blossom season
🌅 Stroll through Ohori Park’s lakeside paths at sunset
🍜 Slurp tonkotsu ramen at the original Ichiran stall

Kanazawa

Samurai streets, gold leaf and Kenrokuen garden

8.2

Kenrokuen is one of Japan's three great gardens. It often opens free during cherry season in early April. About 400 trees bloom around its ponds and stone lanterns. Next door, the white walls of Kanazawa Castle glow under evening lights. Walk the Asano River in the geisha district.

Highlights:

🍵 Wander the preserved tea houses of Higashi Chaya District
🏯 Explore Kanazawa Castle and its impressive defensive grounds
🌸 Stroll through Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s finest landscapes

Fuji

Mountain views, paper mills and fresh shirasu

7.7

Pink clouds of blossoms frame the snowy cone of Fuji from Chureito Pagoda. Climb about 400 steps through Arakurayama Sengen Park for the view. The north shore of Lake Kawaguchi has a row of cherry trees along the water. Blossoms open here in early to mid April.

Highlights:

🌸 Enjoy plum blossoms and Fuji views in Iwamotoyama Park
🏞️ Take a relaxed walk along the Fuji River
🏮 Explore the historic Tokaido post town of Yoshiwara

Matsumoto

Black castle town below the Alps

7.9

Matsumoto Castle has a black wooden keep from the late 1500s. In April about 300 cherry trees bloom around its moat. The keep is lit up with the blossoms at night. The Northern Alps rise snowy in the distance. Takato Castle Park, about 90 minutes away, has small pink Takato cherries.

Highlights:

🎨 Visit Matsumoto City Museum of Art and see Yayoi Kusama works
🛤️ Stroll along the charming streets of Nakamachi and Nawate
🏯 Explore the historic wooden Matsumoto Castle and its black keep

Yamanashi

Mount Fuji's north side, lakes and wine

9.4

The Jindai-zakura at Jissoji Temple in Hokuto is about 2,000 years old. It is one of the oldest cherry trees in Japan. Its gnarled trunk is held up by poles. The snowy Southern Alps rise behind it in early April. Peach orchards bloom pink across the Kofu basin at the same time.

Highlights:

🌅 Explore Lake Kawaguchi's sunrise reflections of Mt. Fuji
🍇 Pick grapes and peaches in Yamanashi's fruit orchards
🚡 Taste hōtō, Yamanashi's hearty flat noodle stew

Toyota

Car capital with Korankei maple gorge

8.7

Autumn is when Obara's four season cherry trees bloom pink beside red maple leaves. About 10,000 of these trees grow in the hills of this district. They flower from late October into early December. Shikizakura Festival brings evening lights. The trees bloom again lightly in spring.

Highlights:

🏭 Explore Toyota's industrial park and production facilities
🏢 Walk through Toyota City Hall's modern architecture
🚗 Tour the Toyota Kaikan Museum to see the latest cars and technology

Nagoya

Castle, car makers and miso-rich food

7.7

Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered Nagoya Castle built in 1610. Its grounds now have about 1,000 cherry trees. The Yamazaki River has a path of blossoms about 2.5 km long. Tsuruma Park adds night lanterns and food stalls. Blossoms usually open in late March or early April.

Highlights:

🚄 Explore SCMAGLEV and Railway Park to see futuristic trains
⛩️ Marvel at the Atsuta Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest Shinto sites
🏯 Admire the golden shachihoko ornaments at Nagoya Castle

Yamaguchi

Hagi castle town, Iwakuni bridge and fugu

9.1

Called the Kyoto of western Japan, this small city has an old tree lined river. The Ichinosaka River is lined with cherry trees for about 2 km. Rurikoji Temple has a five story pagoda among the blossoms. Iwakuni's Kintaikyo, a wooden arched bridge, is an hour away. Blossoms usually open in early April.

Highlights:

🦪 Taste fresh oysters from local aquaculture farms
🌊 Walk through the undersea Kanmon Tunnel from Shimonoseki to Kyushu
🏯 Explore the historic Rurikoji Temple’s five-story pagoda

Kinugawa-Onsen

Gorge hot spring resort near Nikko

8.3

Mid April is when cherries bloom in this hot spring town, a bit later than in Tokyo. Branches lean over the deep Kinugawa River gorge. Hotels line the cliffs, so many rooms have blossom views from the baths. The Tobu railway brings visitors from Tokyo in about two hours. Nikko is close by.

Highlights:

🍜 Taste local soba noodles at riverside izakaya
🏞️ Hike to Kinugawa Gorge waterfalls
♨️ Soak in outdoor hot springs overlooking mountains

Hakone

Onsen town with Fuji views and lake cruises

8.6

Steam rises from hot springs while cherry petals drift along the Hayakawa River. The riverside path in Miyanoshita and Miyagino has rows of trees. Higher up, blossoms open later, so the season stretches into mid April. Pirate style boats on Lake Ashi pass pink shores on clear days.

Highlights:

🚠 Take a scenic ride on the Hakone Ropeway
🖼️ Explore stunning sculptures at Hakone Open-Air Museum
♨️ Soak in relaxing waters of Hakone Onsen hot springs

Utsunomiya

Gyoza city with stone quarry caverns

8.9

Hachimanyama Park is a wooded hill in the center of town. In early April its cherry trees turn the slopes pink. The observation tower gives views over the city to the mountains. Families picnic on the lawns under the branches. Afterward, eat gyoza, the dumplings the city is known for.

Highlights:

🛒 Sip cocktails in Utsunomiya's renowned bar scene
🏰 Explore the vast underground quarry at the Oya History Museum
🍜 Taste Utsunomiya's famous gyoza at a local restaurant

Mount Yoshino

Japan's most famous cherry blossom mountain

Pilgrims planted cherry trees here as offerings for over 1,300 years. Today about 30,000 trees cover the slopes in four groves. They bloom one after another from the bottom to the top over about two weeks. The Kami Senbon viewpoint looks over hills of pink. Peak bloom is usually early to mid April.

Highlights:

🌸 See thousands of cherry trees bloom across the mountainside
⛩️ Explore the sacred temples of Kinpusen-ji
🍂 Admire fiery autumn foliage along the mountain trails

Best cherry blossom destinations in Asia