Hirosaki Park
Chinese Herald News Japan's "Weathernews" website introduces the latest ranking of cherry blossom attractions in the country in 2024.
The leaderboard was created based on the results of The Weather News' survey of smartphone app users on the following topics: "What cherry blossom spot would you like to visit once?"
■Cherry blossom spot ranking■
1st Place: Hirosaki Park (Aomori Prefecture)
2nd Place: Mt. Yoshino (Nara Prefecture)
3rd place: Sanharu waterfall cherry blossoms (Fukushima Prefecture)
4th Place: Goryokaku Park (Hokkaido)
5th Place: Takato Castle Park (Nagano Prefecture)
6th place: Mint Sakura Avenue (Osaka Prefecture)
7.Ueno Park (Tokyo)
1st Place: Hirosaki Park (Aomori Prefecture)
2nd Place: Mt. Yoshino (Nara Prefecture)
3rd place: Sanharu waterfall cherry blossoms (Fukushima Prefecture)
4th Place: Goryokaku Park (Hokkaido)
5th Place: Takato Castle Park (Nagano Prefecture)
6th place: Mint Sakura Avenue (Osaka Prefecture)
7.Ueno Park (Tokyo)
Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan's northernmost state of Honshu, tops the list, with about 2,600 cherry blossom trees in full bloom during the cherry blossom season, including 300 trees that are more than 100 years old.
There are more than 40 varieties of Yoshino cherry trees, the oldest cherry trees in Japan, the thickest trunks in Japan, and more than 40 varieties of double-petaled cherry blossoms, Hirosaki Snow Blossoms, which originated in Hirosaki and bloomed after Somei-Yoshino cherry trees. Hirosaki Park was planned in 1603 by Tsugaru Nobu, whose son Tsugaru Nobume began construction in 1610 and took one year to complete, and was a symbol of power during the Tsugaru feudal period and has always been the political and economic center of the ancient Tsugaru region. Hirosaki Castle in the park is about 600 meters long from east to west and 1,000 meters from north to south, and is surrounded by a triple moat and earthen walls. From the observation deck that was installed along with the restoration of the Honmaru stone wall of Hirosaki Castle, you can see Mt. Iwaki, the castle tower, and the cherry blossoms at the same time, and you can enjoy a precious view that can only be seen in Hirosaki Castle.
The cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Park have been selected by the Japanese government as one of the "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Japan", "Top 100 Japanese Landscapes Created by Man and Nature", and "Top 100 Castles in Japan". Cherry blossoms have been cultivated around Hirosaki Castle since 300 years ago, and the cherry blossoms are pruned using apples, a specialty of Hirosaki, which increases the number of buds from 3 to 4 to 5 to 7. The increase in the number of buds creates a breathtaking flower landscape, and the weight of the flowers makes the branches droop and the tree shape becomes more beautiful.
When you go to the cherry blossoms in Hirosaki, the first thing that comes to mind is the scenery of Hirosaki Castle and the cherry blossoms. The best time of the year is from late April to early May, when the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Hirosaki Park, where boat rentals and street stalls are bustling, and you can enjoy the cherry blossoms illuminated at night.
Mt. Kongo's Shoshoin Temple is also a cherry blossom viewing spot in Hirosaki. The temple was founded in 1532 and moved from its original location to a short distance from Zenlin Street in 1611. During the Meiji period, when the separation of gods and Buddhas was implemented, Sakatsuin Temple accepted the temple registrations of 11 temples that had been abolished in Hirosaki at that time. The temple has a five-storied pagoda (31.2 meters high) that was built by two generations of the Tsugaru clan over a period of more than 10 years, and is known as the "No. 1 Beautiful Pagoda in Tohoku", which was first built by the Sengoku daimyo Kamatsu Noshin, and has a history of more than 500 years, and is an important cultural property of Japan.
One of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Hirosaki, the Yae cherry blossoms in full bloom at Mt. Kongo's Satsuin Temple are a type of double-petaled cherry blossom with a large number of petals, and the flowers and flowers are extremely beautiful.
Mt. Yoshino
The cherry blossoms of Mt. Yoshino in Nara are at their best
Mt. Yoshino is a nationally famous cherry blossom viewing spot, with around 30,000 white mountain cherry trees in full bloom from early to mid-April. Like many cherry blossom viewing spots across Japan, Mt. Yoshino retains cherry blossom tree trails, carefully preserving ancient trees and planting and managing cherry blossoms.
Mt. Yoshino is home to about 30,000 cherry trees of about 200 varieties, mainly wild cherry blossoms. Mt. Yoshino is roughly divided into four areas: Shimosenbon, Nakasenbon, Uesenben, and Okusenben, and the flowers bloom from bottom to top, so you can enjoy them for a long time.
About 30,000 cherry blossom trees on Mt. Yoshino in Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture, with a focus on Hakusan cherry blossoms, are at their best on the 7th, and the mountains are covered in light pink. According to Yoshino Town, cherry blossoms are already in full bloom in the lower and middle thousand tree areas at lower altitudes. It is reported that this year's flowering time is about a week later than last year.
The cherry blossoms of Mt. Yoshino have been passed down from about 1,300 years ago, and it is said that the founder of the Shugendo Trail practiced in Yoshino and carved the throne of the Zao on the cherry tree, so the cherry trees here are protected as sacred trees. The scenery of the entire mountain covered in cherry blossoms is also known as "Ichimoku Senki".
It is expected that the area with more than 1,000 trees at higher altitudes will be in full bloom around the 8th, and the Okusenshu near the summit will be in full bloom around the 13th.
Miharu is a small town in the center of Fukushima, which was established in 1889 and merged with the five villages of Nakago, Sawashi, Aota and Nakatsuma in 1955. In spring, plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, and peach blossoms bloom at the same time, hence the name. Miharu's most famous tree is the Miharu Waterfall cherry blossoms, which are recognized as a natural attraction in Japan. When it blooms, it cascades down like a waterfall, and it's one of the three best cherry blossom trees in Japan (the other two being the ink cherry blossoms in Tatami Prefecture and the Kamiyo cherry blossoms in Yamanashi Prefecture).
Due to the different climates, the cherry blossoms are already in full bloom in most parts of Hokkaido in May, and in Hokkaido in May, the long winter is finally over, and spring is in full bloom all over Hokkaido, allowing you to experience a unique landscape that is different from the main island of Japan. Matsumae Park, Hakodate Park, and Hokameji Temple are all cherry blossom viewing spots in southern Hokkaido, and Higashimokotoshiba Sakura Park in Ozora Town is a place where the gentle hills are dyed pink. From early May to early June, the shiba cherry blossoms are in full bloom on a 10-hectare site.
Goryokaku Park is also a cherry blossom spot in Hokkaido. The old castle Goryokaku has been preserved and a park has been established around it, including not only the Goryokaku Star Castle but also the surrounding area. About 1,600 cherry trees are in full bloom, centered on Yoshino cherry blossoms, and the view of the cherry blossoms from the top of Goryokaku Castle is breathtaking.
Ueno Park (Ueno Park) is located in the capital city of Tokyo, where you can fully enjoy the beauty of nature all year round. During the cherry blossom season, Somei Yoshino, Yamazakura, Sekiyama Cherry, Oshima Cherry, and Kanscarlet Cherry Blossom form a splendid flower, as well as art galleries, museums, and zoos. Ueno has been famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot since the Edo period. It is said that the cherry blossoms were transplanted from Mt. Yoshino in Nara by the monk Tenkai, and about 800 cherry blossom trees dot the park centered on the cherry blossom road.
Recently, a new variety of cherry blossoms has been discovered in Ueno Park, which has become a hot topic. This cherry blossom tree was named after the public because it was a famous spot, and it was carefully named "Ueno Shirayuki Weeping".