Discover the 100 Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms in Japan

A plethora of captivating locations awaits in spring. One notable example is Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture, renowned for its breathtaking cherry blossoms that create a striking contrast against the castle’s chalk-white towers.

This captivating scenery claims the top spot in TripAdvisor’s esteemed ranking. Following closely in second and third place are Chidorigafuchi and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, both nestled within Tokyo.

While we can’t delve into all 100 spots, let’s explore a selection of our personal favorites. By doing so, you’ll be equipped to fully immerse yourself in Japan’s most enchanting and spellbinding time of the year.

About the Ranking

TripAdvisor curated their top 100 cherry blossom ranking by examining 33 of Japan’s prefectures. The ranking highlights the prefectures with the highest representation, where Kyoto takes the lead with an impressive 19 blossom spots, closely followed by Tokyo with 17 spots. While parks and gardens emerged as the most popular choices, historic sites like temples, shrines, and castles also received abundant recognition.

These top-ranked locations captivate visitors with their mesmerizing charm, achieved through the stunning contrast between delicate cherry blossoms and their surroundings. Himeji Castle, for instance, exemplifies this enchanting ambiance. Additionally, scenes featuring cherry blossoms alongside bridges or airplanes have gained significant popularity. This ranking emphasizes that it’s not merely the quantity of trees that matters, but rather the unique beauty of each location.

The evaluation process involved meticulous curation of Japanese reviews submitted on TripAdvisor over a two-year period, from March 2016 to February 2018. Leveraging keywords such as “sakura” (cherry blossom) or “hanami” (cherry blossom viewing), alongside factors like comment ratings, volumes, and frequency, a unique algorithm was employed to create this extraordinary ranking.

Now, let’s delve into a selection of noteworthy reviews that capture the essence of these enchanting cherry blossom spots.

Himeji Castle (Hyogo Prefecture) – Ranked #1 in 2018 among best cherry blossom spots in Japan!

Himeji Castle stands as a prestigious UNESCO World Heritage site, serving as an emblem of Japan’s early Edo period.

The castle grounds boast an impressive ensemble of approximately 1,000 individual cherry trees, including the renowned Somei Yoshino (Yoshino Cherry) and Shidare-zakura (Weeping Cherry) varieties that bloom magnificently throughout the castle’s surroundings. This captivating spectacle presents a breathtakingly beautiful scene, with the chalk-white castle gracefully standing in the backdrop.

“The pink flowers and the white castle look so beautiful,” and “There were so many cherry blossoms and the white castle looks stunning in contrast to the flowers. I could look at it forever” are some of the comments.

Kintai Bridge (Yamaguchi Prefecture) – Ranked #13 in 2018 for best cherry blossom spots in Japan!

The Kintai Bridge, an iconic historical wooden arch bridge composed of five distinct sections, gracefully spans across a river. Along the picturesque riverbanks, an abundance of trees burst into bloom, with many showcasing the delicate Somei Yoshino variety.

“Of course, the season doesn’t matter much, but the cherry blossom scenery during spring is something that I will never forget,” “Needless to say, this is a famous place of Yamaguchi Prefecture’s beautiful cherry blossoms. The bridge before the blossoming trees is a scenery so beautiful, words fail me” are only some of the comments praising this spot.

Sakuranoyama Park (Chiba Prefecture) – Ranked #14 in 2018 for best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan!

Sakuranoyama Park in Chiba presents an unparalleled sight, where delicate cherry blossoms intermingle with the graceful presence of flying planes. This verdant haven hosts approximately 350 trees, including the iconic Somei Yoshino and Yamazakura (Wild Cherry) varieties.

“Even if you’re not an airplane enthusiast, having both a plane and cherry blossoms on a picture is simply amazing,” “There are many international flights, so you’ll see planes with all kinds of flags. In spring, the scenery of blossoms and springs is fantastic,” are two comment examples.

Miho Museum (Shiga Prefecture) – Ranked #49 in 2018 for top cherry blossom places in Japan!

Miho Museum is home to ancient art from both Japan and all around the world. The approach to the museum is a large, stunning tunnel – in front of it stands a row of shidare-zakura and during spring, they dye the tunnel’s interior in soft pink.

“We visited in mid-April. The road is lined with Weeping Cherry trees that were full of flowers. Seen from the tunnel, the scenery looks like a painting,” “The cherry blossoms visible from the other side of the tunnel look somewhat mysterious,” reviewers praise this spot.

Check #51 to #100 via this link (in Japanese):
http://tg.tripadvisor.jp/news/ranking/sakura-100/