Yamanashi Cherry Blossom Guide: Best Sakura Spots

Mt. Fuji and Cherry Blossoms

"So this is a true sublime view" - travelers who see this scene for the first time are said to lose their voices in spite of themselves. With the sacred peak of Mt. Fuji, clad in snow, as the backdrop, pale pink cherry blossoms bloom in full glory - it is breathtakingly beautiful, as if "Japan's spring" had been distilled into a single scene. If you visit Yamanashi, you cannot go home without seeing this view. No matter how many photos you have seen, the emotion of the moment it actually spreads out before your eyes far exceeds imagination - that is the true power of the sublime view woven by Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms.

At spots such as Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine (near Oshino Village) and around Lake Kawaguchi, you can crop Mt. Fuji towering beyond the cherry blossoms like a painting. Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine in particular is one of Yamanashi's premier shooting spots, where from the observation deck reached after climbing 398 stone steps you can take in the trinity sublime view of the five-story pagoda, cherry blossoms, and Mt. Fuji. The scenery, which locals unanimously describe by saying "even though I was born and live here, I am moved every year each time I see it," draws many flower-viewers from home and abroad and has become a representative seasonal tradition of spring Yamanashi. Also, the rows of cherry trees along the shore of Lake Kawaguchi are famous as a spot where you can aim for the fantastical "inverted Fuji" mirrored on the lake surface together with the blossoms. The very time spent searching for your favorite shot while cycling all the way around the lake on a rental bicycle is sure to become the real thrill of the trip.

Peak Viewing Period

The peak is usually late March to mid-April, but there are differences in blooming time depending on altitude and region. In the low-altitude Kofu Basin, blossoms begin in late March, while in the highland areas at the foot of Mt. Fuji they can be enjoyed until mid-April. By crafting "a journey crossing Yamanashi while chasing the cherry-blossom front," you may encounter multiple full blooms in a single trip - a luxurious way to enjoy that is unique to Yamanashi.

The peak of full bloom is only about a week. Frequently check the blooming status on Yamanashi Prefecture's official tourism site and social media so as not to miss the timing. The recommended time slot is early morning, around 6-8 a.m. The silhouette of Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms floating in the morning haze has a profound beauty different from daytime, and it is an especially popular time slot among photography lovers. Since there are fewer tourists, being able to face the sublime view at length in the stillness is also a great reward for rising early. By all means feel with your own skin the transition as the snowy surface of Mt. Fuji changes from pink to pure white as the sun rises.

[Access] To the Lake Kawaguchi area, use the Fujikyuko bus "Fujisan Gogome Line" or the Fujikyuko Line from Shinjuku Station. About 2 hours to Kawaguchiko Station. There are several rental-bicycle shops around the station, and electric-assist bicycles can be rented too, making it ideal for touring the lakeshore cherry-blossom spots at your own pace. The Oshino and Lake Yamanaka areas are also accessible by bus from Kawaguchiko Station. To Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine it is about a 12-minute walk from Kawaguchiko Station, a nice point that it is close to the station and easy to drop by.

Illumination

When the curtain of night falls, the famous cherry-blossom spots transform into a completely different world from daytime. The illuminated cherry petals are lit by a golden-tinged light, and the way they float fantastically in the jet-black sky is just like being in a dream. Should the silhouette of Mt. Fuji rise up black there, the emotion is utterly beyond words. The beauty of the night cherry blossoms, showing an expression entirely different from daytime, is etched into the heart as an unforgettable memory once you have seen it.

Since the dates and lighting hours differ from year to year, be sure to check each spot's official information before visiting. For photography lovers who bring a tripod and enjoy shooting at length, a nighttime visit on a weekday with few people is especially recommended. Also, just before the lights go out after the illumination ends is a "hidden gem time" when the tourists heading home begin to thin out, so you can monopolize the fantastical space relatively at leisure.

[Tips for Travelers]

• Mt. Fuji-view spots often have strong winds, so warm clothing and a windbreaker are essential. Especially in the early morning and at night the temperature drops sharply, so keep layering in mind even in spring.
• On weekends and holidays the parking lots can fill up. To avoid traffic jams, we strongly recommend using public transportation.
• Procuring a bento using local ingredients at a convenience store or bakery around Kawaguchiko Station and having a picnic flower-viewing on the lakeshore is also great. Rice balls eaten under the cherry trees are sure to taste more delicious than any luxury cuisine.
• The Fujikyuko Line's "Mt. Fuji View Express" is a sightseeing train from which Mt. Fuji can be viewed inside the car. Why not enjoy the travel time itself as part of the trip?

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Minobusan

While known as a famous cherry-blossom spot, Minobusan is also deeply loved by repeat visitors as "a serene sacred place of flowers known to those in the know." In this land that holds Kuonji, the head temple of the Nichiren sect, what awaits you is the overwhelming presence of weeping cherry trees said to be over 400 years old. The countless petals hanging down as if flowing from the trunk combine stillness, as if time had stopped, with a glamorous beauty, and the harmony with the historic structures is etched deeply, deeply into the hearts of those who visit. Here is an experience that makes you stand still in spite of yourself, thinking "I never knew cherry blossoms could be this dramatic."

The view that spreads out after climbing the steep stone steps (Bodaitei, 287 steps) is truly "a reward only for those who reach it through hardship." With each single step you climb, the carpet of cherry blossoms spreading below fills your field of vision little by little - that process too is a real thrill of this place's journey. Those not confident in their stamina can also use the ropeway, but the collaboration of the five-story pagoda and cherry blossoms looked up at from the stone steps is a sublime view you should experience by walking, one to see at least once in a lifetime. The peak is late March to early April. It tends to bloom a step earlier than the foot-of-Mt.-Fuji area, making it a spot fit to open the cherry-blossom journey of Yamanashi.

Access

[Access by Train and Bus] Get off at JR Minobu Line "Minobu Station," about a 10-15-minute walk. Using the limited express "Fujikawa" from Shinjuku, it is about 2 hours 30 minutes with a transfer at Kofu. During the spring flower-viewing season, temporary direct buses are often added, sometimes operating from Minobu Station to in front of Kuonji. Check the latest information on the Minobu Town Tourism Association website.

On weekends during flower-viewing season the surrounding roads can get congested, so access by train plus walking is by far recommended. If you visit early in the morning, the sound of the morning service bell combines with the stillness of the cherry blossoms for a heart-cleansing experience that makes you forget the bustle of the city. The lingering resonance of the bell echoing through the stillness, and the petals fluttering down - that moment is sure to remain as a special memory even within your trip.

[Hidden Gem Info] Not only the Kuonji precinct, but the rows of cherry trees along the back approach are a hidden spot secretly loved by locals. Compared with the front approach crowded with tourists, there are far fewer people, and you can stroll while admiring the flowers leisurely amid a moist, tasteful atmosphere. Also, from around the Oku-no-In reached by ropeway, you can take in the mountain range of Minobusan beyond the cherry blossoms, enjoying a three-dimensional sublime view that makes use of the difference in altitude. The view from the Oku-no-In is so exceptional that local guides unanimously say "it would be a waste to go home after seeing only Kuonji's weeping cherry trees." Those with time to spare should by all means extend their steps there.

[Tips for Travelers]

• Because the stone steps are steeply graded, we strongly recommend visiting in easy-to-walk-in sneakers or athletic shoes. Sandals and heels are dangerous, so please be careful.
• Early morning, 6-8 a.m., is a perfect hidden-gem time slot with few worshippers, letting you view at leisure. Visiting to coincide with the morning service hours lets you feel a deeper Minobusan atmosphere.
• Gourmet foods unique to the temple-gate town, such as Minobu manju and yuba cuisine, are also a must-check. Taking a breather at a long-established shop in the temple-gate town after worship is the correct, local-style way to enjoy Minobu.
• The ropeway can have wait times when crowded. Checking times and crowd conditions in advance is reassuring.

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Kofu Castle

The place we want you to visit at the finale of your Yamanashi cherry-blossom journey is Kofu Castle (Maizuru Castle Park), standing grandly in the center of Kofu City. Known as a land connected to the Takeda clan, heroes of the Sengoku period, these castle ruins see about 200 cherry trees coloring the castle walls bloom all at once in spring, with the weight of history and the gorgeous spring colors harmonizing splendidly. The contrast of the white-shining stone walls and the pale pink cherry blossoms is as beautiful as a single Japanese painting, a special place that equally charms both history lovers and cherry-blossom lovers. It is no wonder that first-time visitors marvel, "I had no idea a place like this was right by the station."

Kofu Castle's appeal also lies in its good access. The superb location of just a 3-5-minute walk from Kofu Station combines the casualness of being able to drop by on a whim between legs of a trip with the quality of a full-fledged flower-viewing spot. It is also a place of relaxation for local citizens, and the sight of families spreading out bento and spending time leisurely under the cherry blossoms, and locals enjoying flower-viewing during a stroll, tells of the warm daily life of this place. Flower-viewing where you feel the breath of daily life, different again from tourist-spot bustle - that too is the one-of-a-kind charm of Kofu Castle's cherry blossoms. The peak is late March to early April. Because it is located in the Kofu Basin, it blooms relatively early even within Yamanashi, making it perfect as the finale or the start of a cherry-blossom journey.

Nearby Gourmet

After flower-viewing, savor Kofu's food culture to the fullest. Within walking distance around Kofu Castle, shops where you can enjoy Yamanashi specialties are abundant. Savoring local flavors while lingering in the afterglow of the cherry blossoms - that itself is the finest moment to perfectly conclude a Yamanashi trip.

• Hoto: Yamanashi's soul food, thick noodles and plenty of vegetables simmered in miso. Piping-hot hoto warms a body chilled from outdoor flower-viewing from the core. Within Kofu City there are many specialty shops from long-established to distinctive, and comparing them is one of the pleasures.
• Koshu Wine: Savor the delicate, high-quality taste that Yamanashi, one of Japan's premier wine regions, is proud of, at a wine bar or restaurant in Kofu City. Some shops offer rose wine limited to the cherry-blossom season, letting you enjoy a pairing unique to spring.
• Torimotsu-ni: A Kofu specialty that became nationally known as B-grade gourmet. The sweet-and-savory sauce is exquisite, perfect as a snack while gazing at cherry blossoms. You can casually enjoy it at local diners and izakaya.
• Flower-Viewing Bento: Procuring a bento using local ingredients at a department-store basement food hall or shopping street near the castle and enjoying a picnic mood beneath the stone walls is the connoisseur's way to enjoy. Hunting for Yamanashi-style side dishes lined up in the deli corner of a local supermarket is also a real thrill of the trip.

[Access] About a 3-5-minute walk from the north exit of JR Chuo Main Line and Minobu Line "Kofu Station." From Tokyo and Shinjuku, about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours by limited express "Azusa" or "Kaiji." It boasts the very best access among Yamanashi's major tourist areas, fully enjoyable even on a day trip. Even in a one-night, two-day plan combined with the Minobusan or Lake Kawaguchi areas, Kofu Castle makes an excellent starting and ending point.

[Tips for Travelers]

• Avoid crowds with an early-morning or weekday visit. Especially on weekend daytimes it is lively as local citizens gather too, but those who want to view at leisure should aim for the time slot right after opening.
• A course enjoying the cherry blossoms while touring the castle's highlights such as the Inari-kuruwa, the keep base, and the Kurogane Gate is recommended. The required time is about 1-2 hours as a guide, and the fact that admission is free is also a nice point.
• At dusk the sky dyes orange, and the silhouette of cherry blossoms and white stone walls shows a fantastical expression. By all means bring a camera and aim for a dramatic shot different from daytime.
• There are areas in the park where eating and drinking are allowed. Bringing a leisure sheet makes it even more comfortable. Sitting down beneath the cherry trees and leisurely looking up at the sky, you can taste a pleasant feeling as if your travel fatigue were melting away.