The Season for Sakura Cherry Blossom Viewing in Nara

Between February and April, Japan is slowly covered with a cloak of pink and white sakura cherry blossoms. Cherry-blossom viewing sites are compiled into the “100 Best”, and the regional flowering and full bloom are reported daily as an addition to the weather report. According to the latest, Nara’s blossoms are forecast to flower around March 23^rd, coming into full bloom around April 1^st, though predictions change slightly by the week. Travelers to Japan surge at this time and it is a testament to the country that its nature – even within its cities – is as much a draw as its culture is. In fact, in the case of cherry blossoms, nature is culture, inasmuch as it is a perennial subject in art, literature, film, animation, and music, to the extent that is representative of Japan more than perhaps anything else. Like anything else though, the real thing is irreplaceable, and a quintessential Japanese experience.

Woodblock Print, Utagawa Kunisada (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Along with sites in the centre of Nara City such as Nara Park, there is a wealth of places all over the prefecture in which to view the flowers, some of which are huge events with music and food stalls, others that are quiet, hidden spots for a more tranquil experience, and others which have iconic trees. Some prefer to be among hundreds of cherry trees, something that transforms one’s surroundings, but another experience is to be in the presence of one particular tree singled out for its age, size, or flower variety (there are hundreds of varieties, the most common being Yamazakura, Somei yoshino, and Yaezakura). Here is a sampling – from Yoshino’s famous mountaintop spread and Osaka’s Mint festival to Tenri Church’s headquarters and trees amid castle ruins.

At Tsubosakadera Temple, 1.5 hours by train from Kintetsu Nara Station in Nara City, is another beautiful site for viewing, nestled in the mountains. The cherry trees surround the individual buildings, and the stone statues outside, including a huge seated Buddha. Its Daihina Mandala, a unique display of hundreds of “princess dolls” inside the temple is also running until April 18^th, so the two sights could be combined.

Mount Yoshino is south of Mount Tsubosaka, and is possibly the most famous cherry-blossom viewing spot in Japan though it is still not widely-known as such outside Japan. The vast, dense clouds of flowers of around 30,000 trees are truly stunning during full-bloom. At Kinpusenji, a major esoteric Buddhist temple, one is able to view the usually hidden icon, a gigantic and ferocious Zao Gongen, worshipped by mountain monks. We write about the mytho-historical connection between cherry blossoms and Zao Gongen here.

Another Buddhist temple famous for its cherry blossoms is Butsuryuji Temple in Uda, just an hour from Nara City, but here it is not the trees in general that are the attraction, but one particular tree which is 950 years old and has a root circumference of around 8 metres. It also has a night illumination. The age of Butsuryuji’s cherry tree eclipses that of another iconic tree nearby: the weeping Matabei-zakura, an icon among cherry trees, which overshadows its elder in terms of size. It is a massive, magical “faraway tree” named after a warrior (Matabei Goto) who lived in the area in the 16^th century, and attracts vast numbers of appreciators, including photographers, during the spring.

The cherry blossoms around the buildings and moat at Koriyama Castle ruins are also impressive. The castle itself is distinguished by its unusual wall with includes among its stone building blocks gravestones and a small Buddhist statue. Yamato Koriyama Castle Festival runs from March 24^th to April 7^th with its famed goldfish contest on March 30^th, a period costume parade on the 31^st and a concert on April 7^th, and late night illuminations from 6-9pm.

Tenrikyo’s Church Headquarters in Tenri City offers a fantastical sight at its central facility, which is eye-catching even without cherry blossom adornment.  The flowers one can see here are of a number of varieties donated by adherents. Especially as lit up at night, three large weeping cherry trees are especially beautiful.

Closer to Nara city centre are some spots of great beauty. Nara Park, at which one can view the blossoms between the end of March and the beginning of May, has the added attraction of its huge population of friendly deer while secluded parts away from the crowds reward the wanderer. Not far are the Kawaji Cherry Blossoms that run alongside the Saho River. These are named after a Nara magistrate who was active in foreign diplomacy toward the end of Shogunal rule and during whose tenure they were planted.  Further still from city life, a walk up Mount Wakakusa offers vast views over Nara and its crowds of blossoms.

Morning Cherries at Yoshiwara, Utagawa Hiroshige (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Just beyond Nara, Osaka’s offerings are worth a visit too. There is a more exclusive event, Sakura Torinuke, in the grounds of the Osaka Mint Bureau – cherry-viewing open from April 7th to 13th only to those who have applied early enough online (it has yet to open and is limited to individuals to prevent huge tour groups). There are 339 trees and 140 varieties to enjoy and the blossoms are illuminated in the evenings.

The cherry blossom season in Japan is a very special one and its celebration in culture throughout history is easy to understand. It offers an almost unique kind of enchanting beauty, without a doubt worth visiting the country for.

Access:

Tsubosaka Temple: Four kilometers into the mountains from Tsubosakayama Station on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line (about 40 minutes by limited express), requiring a bus ride to Tsubosakadera-mae (壷阪寺前) or a taxi. From Kintetsu Osaka Abenobashi Station, head for Yoshino and get off at Tsubosakayama.

Butsuryuji Temple: From Haibara Station on the Kintetsu Osaka Line, take the Nara Kotsu Bus bound for Soni Village Yakuba for 13 minutes, alight at Takai, and walk around 30 minutes.

Yoshino: Yoshinoyama (Mt. Yoshino) can be accessed by train via Yoshino Station (on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line). A direct train runs from Osaka-Abenobashi Station. If you don’t want to make the climb uphill into the district on foot, there are buses that depart regularly (only during the cherry blossom season) from Yoshino station to the Naka-senbon Grove (middle elevation) area of Yoshinoyama, and shuttles that depart regularly from Chikurin-in-mae Bus Station to Oku-senbon Grove (highest elevation).

Yamato Koriyama Castle: A 7-minute walk from Kintetsu-Koriyama Station or a 15-minute walk from JR Koriyama Station.

Osaka Mint: The mint is a 15 minute walk from Temmabashi Station on the metro Tanimachi Line and Keihan Main Line. From Osaka Station take a short stroll to Higashi Umeda Station and catch the Tanimachin Line from there.

Tenrikyo Church Headquarters in Tenri City: On the Kintetsu Line and then a 25 minute walk from Tenri Station.

Kawaji Cherry Blossoms: In the Horencho area of Nara City. 12 minutes walk northeast from Kintetsu Shin-Omiya Station, 14 minutes walk north from JR Nara Station, 16 minutes walk northwest from Kintetsu Nara Station.

Mt. Wakakusa: 20 minutes walk to the summit via paths from behind Todaiji Temple in Nara City.

Spring Cherry Blossoms Tour