Giant lantern cherry blossoms fill the sky! Osaka Mint Bureau’s Pink Path opens for a limited time

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department, compiled and reported

Japan’s cherry blossom season is a major annual tourist highlight. Known as the most beautiful cherry blossom path in Kansai, the “Osaka Mint Bureau” cherry blossom avenue opens for a one-week season around mid-April each year, allowing visitors to walk through a tunnel of white and pink cherry blossoms.

To bring visitors closer to the cherry blossoms, the Mint Bureau selects an “Annual Representative Flower” from among many varieties each year and introduces it, helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of the blossoms. This year’s representative is the giant lantern cherry. Currently, about 134 varieties and 349 cherry blossom trees line the Mint Bureau’s path in full bloom.

The giant lantern cherry gets its name from its fluffy, drooping buds. Its large, spherical petals hang naturally and come in pale red and white, typically blooming around mid-April.