By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Team
The colorful cherry blossom season is just around the corner. Every year in late March and early April, large numbers of travelers from neighboring Asian countries flock to Japan to admire the blooms—especially in major cities where the crowds often outnumber the flowers. If you’d rather not battle the masses in first-tier hanami cities like Tokyo and Kyoto-Osaka, consider heading to second- or third-tier cities instead. Here are six recommended cities for cherry blossom enthusiasts, offering equally stunning pink vistas in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Even before entering Kumamoto Castle, visitors are captivated by the surrounding beauty of fully bloomed cherry blossoms. (Photo provided by TRAVELER Luxe Traveler)
● March Hanami Destinations: Kagoshima, Kumamoto
Chūgen Park – Located in the southernmost part of Kagoshima, this is the frontline of cherry blossom season. The park is most famous for its two-kilometer-long sakura-lined path in Chūgen Park, Isa City, which has been selected as one of Japan’s top 100 hanami spots.
Isshin-koji Ōsakura – This giant, historic cherry blossom tree in Minamiaso Village, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, is over 400 years old and surrounded by bright yellow rapeseed fields.
Accommodation Suggestions: Hotel Solaia Nishitetsu in Kagoshima, Kumamoto Castle Hotel
Kumamoto Castle Hotel (Photo provided by Hotels.com)
● April Hanami Destinations: Kanazawa, Okayama
Kenroku-en Garden – Undoubtedly the most beautiful hanami spot in Kanazawa, this vast garden features the famous Hanami Bridge, the ideal vantage point to admire over 400 cherry trees in full bloom. You can also stroll to nearby Kanazawa Castle and enjoy a romantic hanami walk through one of Hokuriku’s most picturesque settings.
Kurashiki Bikan – One of Japan’s few remaining water town historic districts, Kurashiki Bikan offers a scene seemingly frozen in the Edo period, where riverscapes, old streets, cherry blossoms, and weeping willows blend together. Spend an afternoon wandering the lanes to find your own perfect cherry blossom nook.
Accommodation Suggestions: Hotel Kairinbo Trusty in Kanazawa, Okayama Granvia Hotel
Okayama Granvia Hotel (Photo provided by Hotels.com)
● May Hanami Destinations: Sapporo, Hakodate
Mt. Tansan Park – A super-popular hanami spot where you can enjoy barbecuing under the cherry blossoms for a unique floral experience. You can also drive to Shizunai Town to see the spectacular 7-kilometer-long Nijukken Road, lined with cherry trees—the most magnificent such avenue in Japan.
A seven-kilometer-long corridor of cherry trees paints the ground in a mesmerizing pink hue. (Image source: rinya.maff.go)
Experience Japan’s final cherry blossom season in Hokkaido. (Image source: hokkaidolikers)
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