by Bryce Marley
Today Japlanning have part 2 of their ultimate guide to Sakura season in Japan for 2014! Today we are letting you know the best places to experience the Sakura blossoms across Japan. The team have debated these and have come up with our favourite spots to take in Cherry blossom.
So now that you know the best weeks to see the sakura all across Japan, here are Japlanning's best spots to relax and take in the beauty of the season throughout major cities in Japan -
Tokyo
In Tokyo, sakura season is quite an amazing site. With many large public parks, with countless cherry blossom trees throughout they parks almost look like it has snowed in hues of white and pink.
Japlannings top picks are:
- Shinjuku Gyoen - With over a thousand cherry trees blossoming as well as pristine gardens, this tranquil escape in the middle of bustling Shinjuku, Tokyo is a must see during Sakura.
- Ueno Park - Ueno park is busy throughout the year, however during Sakura, it is insane. It sometimes feels like all of Tokyo has descended on the massive park, with over 1000 cherry trees, lining path ways and scattered across the park, you must come to Ueno to feel the festiveness of the season.
- Chidorigafuchi - This is easily Japlannings favourite spot in Tokyo (maybe even all of Japan) with hundreds of cherry trees lining the banks of the moats of the Imperial Palace grounds (pictured in the main shot), this area is perfect. Relax with a picnic on the banks, with street vendors about selling traditional snacks and treats, you can even rent cute little row boats and take a ride through the moats and look up at the blossoms. It's the kind of beauty you can post a million times on Instagram and still not capture the enormity of it all.
Osaka
Photo Credit - MShades
Osaka is filled with cherry trees that erupt in blossoms through the start of April.
Japlannings top pick is:
- Osaka Castle - This is easily the winner in Osaka as the must see place to experience the Sakura in bloom. The historic and beautiful Osaka Castle is the backdrop, and the trees are all through the gardens and adjoining park and along the river bank. Simply beautiful.
Kyoto
Photo Credit - Camknows
Kyoto is the perfect place for experiencing Sakura season with its hundreds of ancient temples and shrines as a backdrop, it is a photographers paradise this time of year.
Japlannings top picks are:
- Philosopher's Path - This tranquil path is just off the Silver Pavilion Shrine and follows a beautiful cobblestone canal with hundreds of cherry trees lining the way.
- Most Temples and Shrines - Really the majority of shrines and temples have impeccable gardens with Cherry trees planted throughout the grounds, they make for beautiful scenes, and take you back centuries to ancient Japan.
Sapporo
Photo Credit - Camknows
Sapporo is a great place to get in the Sakura spirit with a late full bloom in early May, so if you have missed out on most of southern Japan, head up to Sapporo to still get into the season
Japlannings top pick is:
- Maruyama Park - Maruyama Park is located next to historic Hokkaido Shrine and is the main spot for Sapporians to come celebrate the season. The park has wide open vistas where people congregate on mats and enjoy the company and food and drinks under the cherry blossoms.
This time of year is easily one of the best times to visit Japan. With everything the country already has to offer a traveller, year round, Sakura blooms across the land of the rising sun, dusting the country with the most beautiful blossoms and getting to see the beautiful Japanese natives relax, unwind and celebrate under the trees!
We at Japlanning know if someone mentions the idea of planning a trip to Japan during late March or April, it really doesn't take anymore persuading to get us to book!