As of March 19, the Japan Meteorological Agency predicts that cherry blossoms will begin blooming March 28 in Tokyo. For a more complete list, go to http://ift.tt/1dtZAvF.
The following are places to celebrate the bloom.
Japan
TSUKAYAMA PARK CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Yokosuka): March 24-April 8; about 1,000 cherry blossom trees with a view of Yokosuka Port; 25-minute walk from Keikyu Line, Itsumi or Anjinzuka Station; 046-822-2575.
GONGENDO PARK CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Saitama prefecture): March 26-April 10; 1,000 trees along a roughly half-mile-long dike is one of the best spots for cherry blossoms in Japan; 30-minute walk from Satte Station on Tobu Nikko Line or a 20-minute drive from Kuki IC on Tohoku Express, 1, parking available nearby; 0480-43-1111 ext. 538.
HAMURA FLOWER AND WATER FESTIVAL (Yokota area): March 27-April 13; this festival has food, street performers and features about 500 trees along the Tama River, illuminated 6-8 p.m.; JR Ome Line, Hamura Station; 042-555-6211.
KINUGASA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Yokosuka): March 27-April 7; 2,000 trees which are also illuminated in evening at Kinugasa-yama Park, 25-minute walk from JR Kinugasa Station; 046-853-1611.
CHIDORIGAFUCHI (Tokyo): March 28-April 6; Chidorigafuchi, the northeastern moat of the Imperial Palace is one of the most famous sites to view cherry blossoms in Japan and illumination is 6:30-10 p.m. during the festival; Subway Tozai Line, Kudan-Shita Station; 03-5211-4185.
YASUKUNI SHRINE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Tokyo): March 28-April 6; when predicting the bloom for the Tokyo area, the meteorological agency’s staff uses the 800 trees here; five-minute walk from Subway Tozai Line, Kudan-shita Station; 03-3261-8326.
SANKEIEN GARDEN (Yokohama): March 29-April 6, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; seasonal flowers and historic buildings in the garden; 10-minute bus ride from JR Negishi Line; 500 yen; 045-621-0634; tinyurl.com/78ccezf.
FUSSA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Yokota area): March 29-April 6; cherry trees along the bank of Tama River, 15-minute walk from JR Ushihama Station; 042-551-1511.
KOMATSUGAWA 1,000 CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Tokyo): March 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; event with 1,000 cherry trees in bloom along the Arakawa River, has live performances, food booths and free pony ride at Komatsugawa Park, five-minute walk from Higashi Oshima Station on Toei Shinjuku Line; 03-5662-5543.
NINGYOCHO CHERRY BLOSSOMS FESTIVAL (Tokyo): March 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; celebrating the bloom on Hamacho Ryokudo Street (Amasake Yokocho Intersection to Meiji-za Theater, where there were many amasake — sweet drink made from fermented rice or sake lees — stores in Meiji Period (1868-1912). A free cup of amasake is given to first 1,200 people; JR Asakusabashi Station on Subu Line or Ningyocho Station on Toei Asakusa Line; 03-3666-7662.
ODAWARA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Kanagawa prefecture): Late March until early April; about 320 trees, which are also illuminated 6-9 p.m. during the bloom; 10-minute walk from JR Odawara Station; 0465-33-1521.
TOKYO SUMMERLAND CHERRY BLOSSOM VIEWING: March 31-April 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 1,500 cherry blossoms trees, along with food booths at Family Park; free admission and free parking; 042-558-6511.
YASUKUNI SHRINE CHERRY BLOSSOM NIGHT VIEW NOH PERFORMANCE (Tokyo): April 1-3, 6:40 p.m.; at Yasukuni Shrine Noh-gakudo or Shinjuku Bunka Center if rain; 3,000-5,000-8,000-11,500 yen; Cherry Blossoms Night View Concert Jimukyoku 03-5215-2890.
YAMATAKA JINDAI CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Yamanashi prefecture): April 1-22, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; a tree here is believed to be 1,800-2,000 years old and the best time to view it is April 5-12; Hokuto city; 15-minute ride from JR Hinoharu Station on Chuo Line or 15-minute ride from Sudama I.C. on Chuo Express; 0551-42-1351.
MOUNT YOSHINO CHERRY BLOSSOM (Nara prefecture): Early April through late April; Mount Yoshino is known as the best cherry blossom site in Japan with 20,000 trees; 75-minute ride from Nagoya Station by Kintetsu Super Express or nearly two-hour ride from Kyoto Station by Kintestu Super Express; 0746-32-1007.
ASAKUSA HANAYASHIKI NIGHT ILLUMINATION & BEER GARDEN (Tokyo): April 2-5 & 9-11, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; visitors to Japan’s oldest amusement park, founded in 1853, can enjoy the illuminated bloom, five rides, street performances, and enjoy a beer at Asakusa Hanayashiki Amusement Park, five-minute walk from Asakusa Station on Ginza Line; 500 yen; 03-5789-8686.
MIIDERA TEMPLE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Shiga prefecture): April 2-13, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; more than 1,000 trees at the precinct of Miidera Temple are illuminated 6:30-9:30 p.m.; 20-minute walk from JR Otsu Station or a five-minute walk from Miidera Station on Ishiyamasaka Line (Keihan); 500 yen adults, 300 yen senior and junior high school students, 200 yen elementary school students; 077-528-2772.
TAKADA PARK CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Niigata prefecture): April 4-20; commemorating 400th anniversary of founding of shogunate government at Takada by Tadateru Matsudaira, celebrating cherry blossoms festival at Takada Park, which is more than 4,000 trees in bloom are illuminated by 3,000 Bonbori-handled paper lanterns sunset-11 p.m.; JR Takada Station on Shinetsu Line; 025-543-2777.
UEDA CASTLE CHERRY BLOSSOMS (Nagano prefecture): April 4-20; 1,000 trees bloom at the ruins of Ueda Castle Park and the trees are illuminated 6:30-9:30 p.m. weekends during the full bloom; 12-minute walk from JR Ueda Station; 0268-23-5408; tinyurl.com/lcq38ou.
TAKIYAMA PARK CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Tokyo): April 5; 5,000 trees on hilly terrain and traditional live performances, open-air tea services and sweet drink made from fermented rice April 5 (April 6 if rain April 5); Takatsuki-cho, Hachioji city; 042-691-5215.
INOGASHIRA PARK CHERRY BLOSSOMS (Tokyo): Through April 5; 500 trees around the pond bloom at Inogashira Park, near shopping district of Kichijoji; 10-minute walk from JR Kichijoji Station on Chuo Line; 0422-47-6900.
1,000 CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL AT TONERI PARK (Tokyo): April 5 & 6; 1,000 trees in bloom, along with 3,000 fireworks at 7-7:30 p.m. April 5; one-minute walk from Toneri Koen Station on Nippori-Toneri Line; 03-3880-5853.
SHIROISHI CASTLE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Miyagi prefecture): April 5-30; about 300 cherry trees at Masuoka Koen, with a night illumination around the castle with 350 paper lanterns until 9 p.m.; 10-minute walk from JR Shiroishi Station or 10-minute ride from Shiroishi I.C. on Tohoku Express; free parking; 0224-24-3030.
KOISHIKAWA KORAKUEN (Tokyo): Through April 6, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; five weeping cherry trees in bloom at Japanese garden here; 300 yen adults, kids free; three-minute walk from Iidabashi Station on Oedo and Sobu Lines; 03-3811-3015; tinyurl.com/kvjfrgs.
RIKUGIEN GARDEN (Tokyo): Through April 6, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; this garden built in the Edo Period is famous for drooping cherry trees which are illuminated after sunset during the bloom; Subway Nanboku Line, Komagome Station; 300 yen; 03-3941-2222.
UENO PARK (Tokyo): Through April 6, until 8 p.m.; 1,200 cherry trees; two-minute walk from Ueno Station on Metro Ginza and Hibiya Lines; 03-3828-5644.
TOSHIMAEN AMUSEMENT PARK (Tokyo): Through April 6, until 9 p.m.; 800 cherry trees; 500 yen after 3 p.m., free April 4 & 5, 1,000 yen adults and 500 yen kids for ride ticket after 3 p.m. during the week; Seibu Ikebukuro Line, Toshimaen Station; 03-3990-0884.
NEODANI USUZUMI CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Gifu prefecture): April 8-15, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Usuzumi cherry tree is believed to be 1,500 years old, illuminated until 9 p.m.; Motosu city, 15-minute walk from Tarumi Station on Tarumi Line or 80-minute ride from Gifu Hashima I.C; 500 yen/parking; 058-323-7756.
SHIROISHI RIVER CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Miyagi prefecture): April 10-25; one of the best known sites to view the bloom, featuring 1,000 cherry trees along Shiroishi River dike, illuminated 6-10 p.m. during the event; three-minute walk from Ogawara Station on JR Tohoku-Line; 0224-53-2141.
AOBAYAMA PARK CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Miyagi prefecture): April 10-30; 480 trees; 10-minute drive from Sendai Miyagi IC or eight-minute bus ride to Hakubutsukan Kokusai Senta-mae bus stop from JR Sendai Station; 022-225-7211.
MIHARU TAKIZAKURA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Fukushima prefecture): April 12-20; Miharu Takizakura (cherry blossom waterfall) — a cherry tree believed to be more than 1,000 years old — is illuminated 6-9 p.m.; Miharu town, shuttle buses from JR Miharu Station and nearby parking lots or a 20-minute ride from JR Miharu Station or 20-minute ride from Funahiki Miharu I.C. on Ban-etsu Express; 300 yen; 0247-62-3690.
SUMIDA RIVER CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Tokyo): Through April 14; about 1,000 trees along the Sumida River; five-minute walk from Asakusa Station on Ginza Line or seven-minute walk from Honjo Azumabashi Station on Toei Asakusa-Line; 03-5608-6951.
KITAKAMI CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Iwate prefecture): April 15-May 6; about 100,000 trees at Tenshochi Park and along River Kitakami are illuminated sunset-9 p.m.; Tenshochi Park, Kitakami city, 20-minute walk from JR Kitakami Station; 0197-65-0300.
KAKUNODATE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Akita prefecture): Mid-April through early May; 162 weeping cherry trees around samurai district in Kakunodate town and the River Hinokinaigawa; 394-2 Kamisugasawa, Kakunodate town, Senboku city, JR Kakunodate Station on Akita Shinkansen from Morioka; 0187-54-2700.
MIDTOWN BLOSSOM 2014 (Tokyo): Through April 20; 150 cherry blossom trees in bloom and see them from an open-air terrace at Tokyo Midtown Garden, and 5-11 p.m. the trees are illuminated; Roppongi Station on Hibiya Line or three-minute walk from Nogizaka Station on Chiyoda Line; tinyurl.com/p6tdvrp.
MATSUMOTO CASTLE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Nagano prefecture): festival starts three days after trees bloom in mid-April and features night illumination, koto and gagaku (traditional Japanese music instruments) and flute performances, open-air tea services and free admission to Matsumoto Castle during the festival; 0263-32-2902.
HIROSAKI PARK CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Aomori prefecture): April 23-May 6; about 2,500 trees around Hirosaki Castle and moat bloom and are illuminated sunset-10 p.m.; 20-minute bus ride from JR Hirosaki Station; 300 yen admission 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; 0172-35-3131.
SHINJUKU GYOEN (Tokyo): Through April 24, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; 144-acre park in Shinjuku, a famous blossom viewing spot; 10-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station; 200 yen; 03-3350-0151; tinyurl.com/nzg2mjo.
South Korea
HWAGAE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (South Gyeongsang province): March 29-April 8; Gyeongsangnam-do Hadong-gun Hwagae-myeon Unsu-ri; +82-2-1330; http://bit.ly/xgEvhr and http://ift.tt/1dtZC6J.
CHINHAE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (South Gyeongsang province): April 1-10; celebration started as a memorial in 1952 to remember Admiral Yi Sun-shin, a 16th century Korean military leader, then the community added the cherry blossoms celebration about 10 years later; +82-2-1330.
JEJU CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL: April 4-6; Jeju’s king cherry trees bloom in Seogwipo’s downtown area (Jeju Citizen Welfare Town) and surrounding Jeju Sports Complex, take Bus 500 and get off at New Jeju Rotary; free; +82-2-1330.
GYEONGJU CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (North Gyeongsang): April 4-13; at Bomunho Lake Resort, along with neighboring Gyeongju, the city’s most beautiful sites for viewing cherry blossoms; Dongbu Historic Complex and Heungmu Park & Geumjangdae, take a Bus 10 to Gyeongju Kyoyuk Munhwa Hoekwan bus stop from Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal; +82-2-1330; tinyurl.com/ozwl26l.
SEOMJINGANG RIVER CHERRY FLOWER FESTIVAL (Jeollanam-do): April 5 & 6; enjoy viewing cherry trees in full bloom, as well as traditional drum performance, paragliding contest, face painting and more; take an intercity bus from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal to Gurye; +82-2-1330.
SEOKCHON LAKE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (Seoul): April 11-13; cherry blossom night walk along Seokchon Lake, plus performances, exhibitions and more; Jamsil Station (Seoul Subway Line 2 or 8); +82-2-1330.
CHEONGPUNGHOBAN CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (North Chungcheong province): April 11-13 & April 15, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; on the shores of Cheongpunghoban Lake, with forsythias, azaleas and other wild flowers in bloom and exhibitions, performances, bungee jumping and water sports on the lake; Chungcheongbuk-do Jecheon-si Cheongpung-myeon Multae-ri, two-hour bus ride from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal; +88-43-1330; tinyurl.com/7yfxmra and http://ift.tt/P4csgD.
YEOUIDO HANGANG SPRING FLOWER FESTIVAL (Seoul): April 12-18; Seoul’s best location to see cherry blossoms on Yeouido Island when the road behind the National Assembly buildings is lined with hundreds of cherry trees; five-minute walk from National Assembly Station (Subway Line 9, Exit 1 or 6).
SILK TOWN MOUNTAIN CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (South Chungcheong): April 19; hundreds of wild cherry blossom trees in bloom in Sanan-ri village in Geumsan-gun near Bogwang-ri, Sanggok-ri and Jajeon-ri; take an intercity bus to Geumsan from Seoul Express Bus Terminal, in front of the dental clinic, take a Geumsan-Jewon route bus to Jajinbaengi bus stop; +82-2-1330; tinyurl.com/nsh2wj3 and http://ift.tt/1dtZC6N.
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