Nagoya Castle (Nagoya City)
Nagoya Castle is one of Nagoya's most famous hanami spots, with approximately 1,000 cherry trees, including Somei-yoshino and Shidare-zakura, in full bloom from late March, and illuminated at night during the annual Sakura Festival.
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Inuyama Castle (Inuyama City)
The area around Inuyama Castle and the banks of Kiso River are famous for its cherry blossoms, where approximately 400 cherry trees burst gloriously into full bloom. It is nice to view the cherry blossoms from the promenade along Kiso River, but we also recommend taking a sightseeing boat to enjoy the magnificent view of the castle and cherry blossoms from the water.
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Kawazu River (Kawazu Town, Kamo-gun)
Along the Kawazu River, Kawazu-zakura cherry trees begin to bloom from late January every year. Kawazu-zakura are early-blooming cherry trees discovered in the town of Kawazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, and are characterized by their large, brilliant pink petals. The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival is held when the flowers are in full bloom, and an enchanting light show enhancing the blossoms can be enjoyed after dark.

Hamamatsu Castle Park (Hamamatsu City)
Hamamatsu Castle is known as the castle where Tokugawa Ieyasu spent 17 years as a young man and later ruled over the entire country. Located in the heart of Hamamatsu City and yet surrounded by lush greenery, Hamamatsu Castle Park is one of Hamamatsu's most-adored cherry blossom viewing spots. A light-up event and other associated festivities make the experience even more enjoyable.
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Matsumoto Castle (Matsumoto City)
Every year, Matsumoto Castle hosts the "Night Cherry Blossom Party" and the "National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Cherry Blossom-Lined Path of Light" for eight days from three days after the cherry blossoms are declared to be in full bloom. The castle tower, Honmaru Garden, and rows of cherry trees along the outer moat of Matsumoto Castle are lit up at night, creating a fantastic collaboration between Matsumoto Castle and the cherry blossoms that simply cannot be missed.
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Shiroyama Park (Nagano City)
Shiroyama Park, established in 1900, is Nagano City's oldest park located to the east of Zenkoji Temple. It is widely known as one of Nagano City's top cherry blossom viewing spots. A slope lined with cherry trees leads to the Unjoden Hall of Zenkoji Temple, where bonbori lanterns are hung to add an ethereal feel to your hanami experience.
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Gifu Park and Nagara River Bank (Gifu City)
The area around Gifu Park and the Nagara River bank is a famous hanami spot boasting approximately 1 km of cherry trees. Gifu Park is located at the foot of Mt. Kinga and on the north side of the park, there is a garden built in commemoration of the friendship city affiliation with Hangzhou City in China. This garden takes on the appearance of a beautiful pink painting when the cherry blossoms bloom in spring.
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Around Nakabashi Bridge (Takayama City)
Nakabashi Bridge, which spans Miya River running through the center of Takayama City, is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot where the contrast between the red bridge and the cherry tree branches overhanging the river is breathtaking. At night, the bridge is basked in warm light, creating a fantastic vista that differs from that of the daytime. Some years, the cherry blossoms bloom just in time for the Spring Takayama Festival, so visitors can enjoy the extra special experience of the festival graced by the beauty of the cherry blossoms.
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Miya River Bank (Ise City)
Miya River was once used by visitors to Ise Jingu Shrine to purify themselves before paying homage to the deity, and the river bank is lined with cherry trees for about 1 km. There is also an open, grassy area alongside the river, where many people come to appreciate the cherry blossoms. There is even a promenade along the rows of cherry trees, where visitors can pass through a tunnel of cherry blossoms. At night, the trees are lit up to create a gorgeous spectacle.
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Ueno Park (Iga City)
There are many attractions in Iga-Ueno Park, including Iga-Ueno Castle, the Ninja Residence, the Haiseiden, a memorial hall built in honor of haiku poet Matsuo Basho, and the Old Basho Memorial Hall. The park is surrounded by numerous cherry trees, and the collaboration of Ueno Castle with its stone walls looming 30 meters high and cherry blossoms in full bloom is a sight not to be missed.
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Lake Biwa Canal (Otsu City)
Lake Biwa Canal is a historic canal built in 1890 to carry water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto, and was the first large-scale civil engineering project designed and built by the Japanese. The canal was completed through demanding work that relied heavily on human labor in an era when heavy machinery was not yet available. Today both banks of the canal are adorned with countless cherry trees. You can enjoy the view while strolling along the promenade, or take a ride on the Biwako Canal Boat and appreciate the cherry blossoms from a different angle.
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Hikone Castle (Hikone City)
Hikone Castle was the residence of the Ii family, feudal lords who served in important positions in the Edo Shogunate and supported the reign of the Tokugawa family. Many cherry trees are planted around the double moat that remains to this day, and the reflection of the castle and cherry blossoms in full bloom on the surface of the moat is nothing less than stunning.
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Maruoka Castle (Sakai City)
Maruoka Castle is the only castle in the Hokuriku region with an existing castle tower built before the Edo Period. The castle tower is encircled by 400 cherry trees, and when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the castle tower appears to float on a cloud of pink blossoms, creating a magical sight. When the castle is lit up at night, you can enjoy a different view of Maruoka Castle and the cherry blossoms than that of the daytime.
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Asuwa River (Fukui City)
Running through the heart of Fukui Prefecture, Asuwa River boasts a 2.2 km corridor of cherry blossom trees along its northern bank. 600 cherry trees form one of the largest arches in Japan, making it one of the country's most impressive hanami spots. During the blooming season, the Fukui Spring Festival is held and the trees are illuminated at night.

Kenrokuen (Kanazawa City)
Kenrokuen is one of Japan's three most famous traditional gardens, and was created over a long period of time by successive lords of the Kaga domain. There are more than 400 cherry trees of over 40 varieties in the garden, including a rare species called "chrysanthemum cherry," which looks like a chrysanthemum flower with 300 petals on each flower. Kenrokuen is also lit up gorgeously during the cherry blossom season.
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Ipponmatsu Park (Wajima City)
Ipponmatsu Park is located on a small hill in Wajima City and is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Okunoto, with approximately 1,000 cherry trees. There are cherry trees planted on either side of the promenade, where visitors can enjoy passing under a pink tunnel of cherry blossoms topped off with an unforgettable panoramic view of the Sea of Japan.
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Oyabe River Park (Nanto City)
Oyabe River runs through the center of Fukumitsu Town, Nanto City, and is lined with cherry trees for about 2 km along its banks — an area commonly known as "Senbonzakura" (one thousand cherry trees). There is also an open grass area alongside the riverbed where many people enjoy picnics while appreciating the flowers that surround them. At night, the area is lit up with lanterns, creating a fantastic sight.
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Matsukawa Park (Toyama City)
Matsukawa River runs through the heart of Toyama and is one of the region's best cherry blossom viewing locations, boasting around 500 cherry trees which line both banks. The river used to serve as the outer moat of Toyama Castle, and even today, Toyama Castle can be seen from the riverside. While strolling along the riverside promenade is a good way to view the flowery scene, taking a sightseeing boat through the tunnel of cherry blossoms is also a very special and unique experience.