Famous cherry blossom viewing spots in the Hokkaido area

Located at the southernmost tip of Hokkaido, the cherry blossoms of Matsumae are famous for being able to be enjoyed for a long time. The reason for this is the wide variety of cherry blossoms available.
Matsumae Park is home to approximately 10,000 cherry trees of about 250 different varieties, which bloom one after the other over the course of a month.

Shelter from the Rain (Amayadori)

When the branches grow majestically, they look like a wide open white umbrella.

Fugenzo (Fugen Elephant)

This variety was created during the Muromachi period, and its two stamens look like elephant's tusks.

Yoshino

A representative variety of single-petaled cherry blossoms found nationwide. The standard flowering tree for Hokkaido is located in front of Matsumae Castle.

Naden

A hybrid of Satozakura and Chojizakura. Its pale crimson color stands out beautifully, making it a representative variety of Matsumae.

Hakodate Goryokaku" is famous for the ruins of a star-shaped* castle that was also the scene of a war.
The largest Western-style castle in Japan built by the Tokugawa Shogunate is now a park and a place of relaxation for many people.

Many kinds of cherry trees are planted here, including Someiyoshino, Kanzan, Fugenzo, and Ukon.
Hakodate The cherry trees were originally planted by the Mainichi Newspaper to commemorate the publication of its 10,000th issue, and now there are 1,600 cherry trees in the park, which attract many tourists from outside of Hokkaido.

Japan's first convent was founded in 1898 by eight nuns sent from France.
Even today, the nuns live a self-sufficient life centered on prayer and work under strict discipline.
Within the garden, you will find holy statues and a museum, and during cherry blossom season, the white statue of Mary and the pink cherry blossoms create a beautiful contrast, beautifully decorating the monastery's Western-style architecture.

Hokuto City, home to Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station, the gateway to the Hokkaido Shinkansen, is also known as a famous cherry blossom spot. The so-called "single cherry tree" planted in the grounds of Houki-ji Temple is a weeping cherry tree estimated to be over 300 years old, and at about 12 meters tall, it is one of the tallest in Hokkaido. In addition, along the Ono River, about a five-minute walk from Houki-ji Temple, there is a row of Somei-yoshino cherry trees that stretch for about 300 meters, making for a magnificent row of cherry blossoms to enjoy. The trees are over 50 years old and are usually in full bloom in early May.

This is a famous cherry blossom spot with a beautiful tunnel of cherry trees. At the site of Matsumae clan's Hekiriji Jinya, about 580 cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino, are planted along an 800m stretch. The cherry trees lining the road are truly spectacular, forming a tunnel of cherry trees. They were planted to commemorate the victory in the Russo-Japanese War, and are now a famous cherry blossom spot representing southern Hokkaido.

Nijūkken Road is a road where over 2,000 cherry trees bloom in a straight line stretching for seven kilometers.
It is said that the road was originally constructed as a road for imperial family members to visit the Imperial Household Ministry's Imperial Ranch, which was once located here.
Starting in 1916 (Taisho 5), it took three years to transplant Siberian wild cherry trees and other species from the neighboring mountains.
At the time, the road was exactly twenty ken (approximately 36 m) wide on both sides, and so it came to be called the Nijukken Road.
Currently, the area is honored with honors such as being one of the "100 Best Roads in Japan" and "100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots" (Source: Japan Cherry Blossom Association, a public interest incorporated foundation), and was selected as a Hokkaido Heritage Site in 2004.
It is beloved by many as one of Japan's leading cherry blossom viewing spots, and every year from early to mid May. May. many visitors from all over the country flock here to catch a glimpse of the gorgeously blooming cherry blossom trees.
*The "100 Best Roads of Japan" are Japan's distinctive and excellent roads, established by the Ministry of Construction and the Road Day Executive Committee to commemorate the establishment of Road Day in 1986.

Adjacent to Maruyama Park, it is a famous spot where you can enjoy both plum and cherry blossoms in spring.

Nemuro is known as the final destination of the cherry blossom front. In 2018, the Chishima cherry tree, a specimen tree in Nemuro City, was registered as a "Hokkaido Heritage" as a treasure to be passed down to future generations. The Chishima cherry tree at Seiryuji Temple is still standing, having been brought from Kunashiri Island in 1869 (about 150 years ago).
Enjoy the arrival of spring in Nemuro, the easternmost town.