Best cherry blossom spots in Nara

Best cherry blossom spots in Nara

It is no exaggeration to say that cherry blossom season is the most wonderful time of the year in Japan, and many tourists visit the country to enjoy the beautiful view of the dainty pink petals, every year.

This year, the cherry blossoms in Nara start blooming from late March, coming into full bloom as it gets closer to early April. In this feature, we introduce some of the best spots all around Nara where you can enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms.

Index : Best cherry blossom spots in Nara

1. Koriyama Castle
2. Mount Yoshino
3. Butsuryu-ji Temple
4. Himuro Shrine
5. Nara Park

1. Koriyama Castle

Koriyama Castle was built in the Middle Ages by Mitsuhide Akechi and Takatora Todo, and it functioned as the administrative offices of the late Heian period. Not so many castle ruins in Japan are as amazing as Koriyama Castle, given the fact that it has been selected as one of the ‘Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles’ and ‘100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan’.

The castle is surrounded by lush gardens, including an abundant amount of cherry trees. During Spring nights, the illuminated cherry trees reflect beautifully on the surface of the pond, creating a breathtaking scenery.

Moreover, the festival called ‘Yamato Koriyama Castle Matsuri’ is held annually from March to April to ward off evil spirits and to celebrate the spring.

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2. Mount Yoshino

Not so many places in Japan offer the stunning scenery of cherry blossoms like you find at Mount Yoshino, and it has been one of Japan’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots for centuries.

There are approximately 30,000 cherry trees of many varieties, and the first cherry trees here are said to have been planted more than 1,300 years ago.

The area is divided by their places on this northward-facing slope. From top to bottom, these areas are called Naka Senbon (middle 1,000 trees), Kami Senbon (upper 1,000 trees), and Oku Senbon (inner 1,000 trees).

The best season to see cherry blossoms on Mount Yoshino is from early to mid April.

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3. Butsuryu-ji Temple

Butsuryu-ji Temple is an ancient temple built in the year 850. It is known as a home to one major feature in particular: a gigantic, 900-year old cherry tree, called ‘Sennen-Zakura’.

The cherry tree here is recognized as the oldest cherry tree in Japan, and its white petals are in full bloom every April.

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4. Himuro Shrine

Himuro Shrine is a shrine dedicated to the god Himuro Myōjin, Nara’s God of Ice. The shrine is located near the upstream of the Yoshiki River at the foot of Mount Mikasa, which also functioned as an icehouse.

These days, the shrine is known for its amazing cherry blossoms, which bloom from late March to early April. The main highlight of this spot is the weeping cherry trees (Shidarezakura) here, which are particularly stunning scenery to look at.

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5. Nara Park

Nara Park is a large park located at the foot of Mt. Wakakusa, accommodating many historical cultural heritage sites like the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Kofukuji Temple.

Mainly known for its 1,300 wild deer and the total area of 511 hectares, Nara Park is one of Japan’s top tourist destinations. This park has been selected as one of Japan’s ‘100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots’. In fact, it’s a gorgeous site for cherry blossoms, having about 1,700 cherry trees growing in the open areas.

Read more articles

• Seven best cherry blossom viewing spots in Nara 2023!
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• Best cherry blossom spots in Osaka

 

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