Best cherry blossom spots in Hyogo

Best cherry blossom spots in Hyogo

Apart from Osaka and Kyoto, another prefecture in the Kansai Region that is always chosen in travel plans is “Hyogo”, one of the most important port cities in Japan that has many worth visiting sightseeing spots, such as Himeji Castle, Kinosaki Onsen, and Akashi Park.

Moreover, these sample places are also a good place for admiring cherry blossoms in the Spring season. This year, the cherry blossoms in Hyogo start blooming from late March, coming into full bloom as it gets closer to the beginning of April.

In this feature, we introduce some of the best spots all around Hyogo where you can enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms.

Index : Best cherry blossom spots in Hyogo

1. Akashi Park
2. Kinosaki Onsen
3. Takarazuka Hana no Michi
4. Sumaura Sanjo Yuen Park
5. Himeji Castle

1. Akashi Park

Akashi is one of the most beautiful coastal cities in Japan, but it’s often overlooked by tourists because it’s lesser known compared to Kobe, the capital of Hyogo.

Akashi Park is a park surrounding the Akashi Castle, and in spring, many locals, including people from nearby cities travel to the park to enjoy cherry blossom viewing underneath the cherry trees.

The park is located right in the heart of the city, and it’s only a 5-minute walk from JR Akashi Station. Its magnificent area features a traditional Japanese garden, houses, lake, and various kinds of cherry trees.

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2. Kinosaki Onsen

Kinosaki Onsen is a hot spring town located in north Hyogo, and it is best known for its 1,300 years of history. The area features Otani River, a beautiful river that flows through the town with beautiful willow trees planted on both sides.

There is a well-known cherry blossom spot in the area, called Kiyamachi Street, which features many cherry trees planted on both sides of the street, often illuminated with pink paper lanterns during the cherry blossom season.

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3. Takarazuka Hana no Michi

Takarazuka Hana no Michi is a road extending along the Mukogawa River, which is not so far from Hankyu Takarazuka Station. The road connects you to the Takarazuka Grand Theater, home of the Takarazuka Revue.

Along the path, you can enjoy the view of cherry blossoms in spring, as well as other seasonal flowers like roses. There are many fashionable stores and restaurants along the way, offering adorable knick-knacks and local treats.

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4. Sumaura Sanjo Yuen Park

Sumaura Sanjo Yuen Park is a beautiful spot located by the slopes of Mount Tegai and Mount Hachibuse, and it offers an overlook of Awaji Island, and the pine forest along the coast. The park is mainly known as the battlefield of the ancient Genpei War, but recently it has become a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Hyogo.

You can access the park from Sumaura Koen Station, which is about 30 minutes from Hanshin Kobe Sannomiya Station. The park is dotted with 3,200 cherry trees, which look extremely beautiful when they’re in full bloom.

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5. Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle is one of the greatest castles in Japan, which is also known as a national treasure. The castle is the only fortress that has survived the war in its 400-year history.

The castle, which is also registered as a World Heritage Site, is expansive, featuring a vast area of 233 hectares (576 acres), and approximately 1800 cherry trees, mainly of the Somei Yoshino variety.

The most popular viewing spot is among the rows of trees in the San-no-Maru Plaza, an area in front of the castle tower. From there, you can enjoy a splendid view of cherry blossoms with the castle in the background.

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