Famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kansai area

In 2007, the national treasure Hikone Castle Hikone Castle celebrated its 400th anniversary. Overlooking Lake Biwa, it was the castle of Ii, the former lord of Hikone Domain with a fief of 350,000 koku.
The pride of this beautiful castle, whose inner and middle moats are still intact, is its cherry blossoms. The sight of 1,300 cherry trees of eight varieties, including Somei-Yoshino, blooming all at once is truly magnificent. The cherry blossoms reflected on the surface of the moat and the white walls of the towers are a magnificent sight in spring in Japan.

It is lit up at night, creating a mysterious world that is different from its daytime appearance.

About 800 Yoshino cherry trees, which are said to be over 80 years old, will create a tunnel of cherry blossoms for about 4 km to fill the Lake Biwa shore of Osakidera Temple and Bentenhama. Its beauty has been selected as one of the 100 best places to see cherry blossoms (Source: Japan Sakura no Kai), Lake Biwa The contrast between the best reef, the blue of the lake, and Takebu Island, which seems to float on Lake Biwa, is beautiful, and it is crowded with many cherry blossom viewers every year.
In the Kansai area, it is known as a "late blooming" cherry blossom spot.

There are over 100 national treasures and important cultural properties, as well as a famous garden. Approximately 1,300 cherry trees, mainly Somei-Yoshino, bloom within the temple grounds.

This temple is associated with Murasaki Shikibu and is home to the Genji Room, where she is said to have written The Tale of Genji.
Approximately 600 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino, weeping cherry, and wild cherry, bloom in full glory within the temple grounds.

Ayukawa is a quiet village at the foot of the Suzuka mountain range, surrounded by deep mountains that change color with the seasons. The clear water that springs from the deep valley gathers and becomes the pure flow of the Ugui River. More than 1,000 cherry trees bloom in full glory, including 200 Yoshino cherry trees on both sides of the river.

The famous "Mint Bureau Sakura Passage" is not open until the last minute. The Osaka Mint Bureau is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots not only in Osaka but also in the Kansai region. It was opened in 1871 (Meiji 4) as Japan's first coin mint, and was equipped with modern facilities. The passageway from the south gate near the Okawa River to the north gate is a magnificent row of cherry blossom trees stretching for about 560 meters, where you can enjoy about 130 varieties of cherry blossoms.

Yoshino The history of cherry trees on the mountain is deep. 1,300 years ago, when Kinpusenji Yamadera (Kinpusenji) was established on the Yoshino mountain, the image of Zao Gongen was carved on a mountain cherry tree, which came to be cherished as a "sacred tree.
Later, believers "donated" cherry tree seedlings, which made what is now Yoshino the mountain into a famous cherry blossom viewing spot with about 30,000 cherry trees.

Yoshino The mountain's cherry blossoms can be divided into four main areas.
Yoshino Yoshino The area around the shrine and the ropeway is called "Shimo-Senbon", the area near Nyoirin-ji Temple is called "Naka-Senbon", the area near Yoshinomikumari Shrine is called "Kami-Senbon", and the area around Saigyoan further back is called "Oku-Senbon". The blooming period is from lower to middle, upper to upper, and Okusenbon, with the bottom blooming first, then the middle, then the upper, and finally the Okusenbon.

This is a famous cherry blossom spot with 1,000 weeping cherry trees in full bloom. The weeping cherry trees that cover the entire mountainside, as seen from the "Millennium Hill" at an altitude of 700 meters and surrounded by timeless mountains, are truly a magnificent sight! The cherry blossom garden, which looks as if it is floating in the sky, is worthy of being called the "Garden in the Sky."

Legend has it that Goto Matabei, a Sengoku warlord who played an active role in the Summer Siege of Osaka, fled to this area and ended his life as a monk. The area where the weeping cherry tree remains is located on the site of the Goto family mansion, so it is affectionately known as "Matabei Sakura" by locals, and the contrast between the cherry tree and the peach blossoms behind it is vivid.

Wakayama Castle is said to have been built in 1585 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi under the orders of Todo Takatora and given to his younger brother Hidenaga. During the Edo period, it was also famous as the residence of the Kii Tokugawa family, one of the three main branches of the Tokugawa clan.
The dazzling 600 cherry trees, including 520 Yoshino cherry trees and 80 weeping cherry trees, stand out against the white castle tower for an exceptional beauty. A cherry blossom festival is held in the castle ruins park, and many people visit to see the cherry blossoms lit up at night.

Boasting 2050 years of history, Kumano is the former site of the Hongu Taisha shrine. Someiyoshino and weeping cherry trees are in full bloom, and the 34-meter-high Otorii (Grand Gate) is dyed in spring colors.

A famous temple with about 500 cherry trees blooming within its grounds. It is a famous cherry blossom spot that has been selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom spots (source: Japan Cherry Blossom Association, a public interest incorporated foundation). You can also see the spectacular view of Wakanoura over the cherry blossoms.

Founded by Kobo Daishi about 1,200 years ago, Koyasan is a sacred place of Esoteric Shingon Buddhism, one of Japan's leading Buddhist temples. Located at an altitude of about 800m, Mount Koya is in full bloom from mid- to late Apr.. Enjoy the unique cherry blossoms, such as the "Saigyo Sakura" that blooms at Danjo Garan.

Takeda Takeda Castle Ruins were built by Yamana Sozen, the feudal lord of Tajima, during the Kakitsu era (1441-1443). The castle fell to Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1580, and Akamatsu Hirohide, the last lord of the castle, is said to have developed the stonework that remains to this day. It is said to be one of the best intact stone wall remains in the country, and in the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom, a flower garden in the sky spreads out at an altitude of 353.7m.

The cherry blossom trees in Sannomaru Square and the weeping cherry trees in Nishinomaru Garden, with the World Heritage Site and National Treasure Himeji Castle in the background, are well worth seeing.
You can take your time and fully enjoy spring while admiring the approximately 1,000 beautiful and delicately blooming cherry trees.