As spring approaches quietly, areas along the Tobu Railway line spanning Tokyo and its four surrounding prefectures will enter the prime season for cherry blossoms, azaleas, and wisteria. A wealth of breathtaking scenery brings the breath of spring right to you. The following six carefully selected spots offer vivid spring vistas that will have you reaching for your camera instinctively.
Tobu Railway in Japan plans to launch new express train routes in spring 2017. Welcome aboard these convenient and comfortable express trains to fully enjoy the joy of Japanese spring flower viewing.
Wisteria at Ashikaga Flower Park ― One of CNN’s “World’s 10 Most Fantastical Travel Destinations”
The most famous sight at Ashikaga Flower Park is a 150-year-old wisteria tree. Its dreamlike beauty, reminiscent of the Tree of Souls in the movie "Avatar," has earned widespread admiration and led to its inclusion in the 2014 CNN list of “World’s 10 Most Fantastical Travel Destinations,” making it the only Japanese site on the list. What was once a 72-square-meter wisteria trellis has now expanded to 1,000 square meters — more than ten times its original size — over the past decade. Here, you can not only feel the tenacious vitality of the wisteria but also admire its fantastical, stunning beauty. At night, the garden is illuminated, casting the wisteria flowers in alternating light and shadow, creating a mysterious and wonderful atmosphere.
Attraction: Ashikaga Flower Park
Best Viewing Period for Wisteria: Late April to early May 2017 (The “Wisteria Story Festival” will be held from Saturday, April 15 to Sunday, May 21, 2017)
Ashikaga Flower Park Official Website: http://www.ashikaga.co.jp/chinese_s/index.html
※ Ashikaga Flower Park is located in area ① on the map on page 5.
Rhododendron Ridge Park: Admire 800-Year-Old Rhododendrons and Savor Historical Heritage
This area has been home to wild rhododendrons since ancient times. Around the year 1600, active cultivation and management began, gradually developing it into a renowned destination for rhododendron viewing. With approximately 50 species and nearly 10,000 rhododendron plants, some trees are over 800 years old, towering majestically and requiring you to look up to fully appreciate their grandeur. In 1934, the park was designated as a “Place of Scenic Beauty” by the Japanese government due to its exceptional artistic and ornamental value, and in 1977, it was praised as the “World’s No. 1 Tourist Attraction” by David Lynch, then-president of the American Rhododendron Society. Its beauty is truly world-renowned. From Monday, April 10 to Wednesday, May 10, 2017, the “Rhododendron Festival” will be held here — don’t miss it.
Attraction: Rhododendron Ridge Park
Best Viewing Period for Rhododendrons: Mid-April to early May 2017
Rhododendron Ridge Park Website: http://www.utyututuji.jp/world/en.html
※ Rhododendron Ridge Park is located in area ① on the map on page 5.
Sumida Park: Tokyo’s Cherry Blossom Destination ― A Beauty Both Day and Night
The cherry blossom trees in Sumida Park were planted during the Edo period (around 1700). At that time, Tokugawa Yoshimune, the eighth shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, planted a large number of cherry trees here to prevent riverbank collapses. The goal was to attract visitors, thereby reinforcing the ground of the embankment. Today, about 640 cherry trees line both banks of the Sumida River, stretching over a beautiful 1-kilometer stretch. Sumida Park is also listed among Japan’s “Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.” It is close to the popular tourist attraction Senso-ji Temple and the world’s tallest tower, Tokyo Skytree, making it easy to visit both.
When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, numerous food stalls gather here, allowing visitors to enjoy both the blossoms and delicious street food. Don’t miss must-try Japanese cherry blossom treats such as “sakura mochi,” delicately made with pickled cherry leaves, and “Ganmodoki” sweet dumplings that fill your mouth with flavor.
In the evening, the illuminated night cherry blossoms create a perfect composition alongside the distant Tokyo Skytree, making it hard not to reach for your camera.
Attraction: Sumida Park
Best Viewing Period for Cherry Blossoms: Late March to early April 2017
Sumida Park Website: http://visit-sumida.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/sumida_chinese_s.pdf
※ Sumida Park is located in area ② on the map on page 5.
Japanese Sweets at Sumida Park
※ Longevity Temple Sakura Mochi and Ganmodoki can also be purchased at the “Industrial Tourism Plaza Sumida-cho Booth” on the 5th floor of the “Tokyo Solamachi” complex commercial facility at the foot of Tokyo Skytree.
Tobu Treasure Garden: A Pink Carpet Woven by Blooming Flowers
In April, around 100,000 flowers of Nemophila (baby blue eyes) bloom in vibrant competition, creating a breathtaking view resembling a vivid pink gradient carpet. If the blooming periods of Nemophila and cherry blossoms overlap, the resulting spectacle is nothing short of magical. From Saturday, March 25 to Sunday, May 7, 2017, the “Nemophila & Spring Carnival” event will be held, featuring a riot of blooms including nemophila and other blue-hued flowers that paint the garden in springtime splendor.
Attraction: Tobu Treasure Garden
Best Viewing Period for Nemophila: Early to late April 2017 & for Phacelia: Early April to early May 2017
※ Tobu Treasure Garden will begin welcoming visitors on Saturday, March 25, 2017.
Official website of Tobu Treasure Garden: http://treasuregarden.jp/zh/
※ Tobu Treasure Garden is located in Area ① on the map on page 5.
Sukagawa Gongendo Cherry Blossom Embankment: A stunning tunnel of Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms in full bloom
When spring arrives, over a thousand Somei Yoshino cherry trees lining the kilometer-long riverbank burst into bloom, their intertwined branches forming a breathtaking “cherry blossom tunnel.” Beside the embankment, fields of blooming rapeseed flowers create a vivid contrast with the soft pink of the cherry blossoms and the bright yellow of the blooms, offering a stunning visual feast. From late March to early April each year, during the peak cherry blossom season, the “Cherry Blossom Festival” is held here. The event features over a hundred food stalls and a variety of engaging activities. During the festival, transportation is convenient, with Tobu running additional shuttle buses between nearby Sukagawa Station and Gongendo Park (operated by Saitama Prefecture), where the Sukagawa Gongendo Cherry Blossom Embankment is located.
Attraction: Gongendo Park (operated by Saitama Prefecture)
Bloom period for cherry blossoms: Late March – early April 2017
Website of Gongendo Park (operated by Saitama Prefecture): http://www.gongendo.jp/ch/
※ Gongendo Park (operated by Saitama Prefecture) is located in Area ③ on the map on page 5.
Tsuruga Castle Park: A thousand cherry blossoms adorn Tsuruga Castle, mirrored on the water at night
Around Japan’s foremost castle in the Tohoku region—Tsuruga Castle—approximately 1,000 cherry trees grow. It is also one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots. In spring, the vibrant cherry blossoms complement the castle’s keep, creating a magnificent scene. When night falls, the illuminated cherry blossoms reflected on the water alongside the castle form a dreamlike view that offers a truly immersive experience.
Attraction: Tsuruga Castle Park
Bloom period for cherry blossoms: Mid-April – late April 2017 (Lighting schedule: planned for Friday, April 7 – Sunday, May 7)
Website of Tsuruga Castle Park: http://www.tsurugajo.com/language/cha/index.html
※ Tsuruga Castle Park is located in Area ④ on the map on page 5.
Recommended spring sightseeing spots across Japan during cherry blossom and wisteria blooming seasons
Tobu Railway is one of Japan’s major railway lines, with routes centered around Tokyo that cover the entire Kanto region. The areas along the line boast beautiful scenery and numerous attractions, including the world’s tallest tower—Tokyo Skytree, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nikko Toshogu Shrine, and Kawagoe, which preserves the traditional “Kura-zukuri” architectural style. The area attracts visitors all year round.
For detailed information about each facility, including locations and transportation directions, please refer to the following website.
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