with visitors from all over the globe flocking to experience the enchanting beauty

of Japan's iconic cherry blossoms or “sakura” There are countless spots nationwide to view

the blossoms so to make planning your perfect, petal-filled

trip a little easier here is a countdown of our top ten sakura

spots in Japan:

Number 10 Miyajima

A short ferry ride across the water from the city of Hiroshima is the island of Miyajima

famous for Itsukushima shrine the large floating gate

deer-inhabited hills and charming shopping streets

To the delight of visitors, each spring the island becomes beautifully decorated by cherry

blossoms making Miyajima even more picturesque than

normal and well worth a visit during sakura season

Number 9 Goryokaku Fort

This unique Western-style citadel in Hokkaido has hundreds of trees planted along its fortifications

and moat that provide a flurry of pink petals each springtime

Also don't miss the bird's eye view of this hanami haven

which can be enjoyed from the adjacent Goryokaku Tower

Number 8 Yoshinoyama

For centuries Yoshinoyama has been considered by many

to be the most spectacular hanami spot in all of Japan

With tens of thousands of cherry trees spread out across a range of elevations

sakura can usually be enjoyed in Yoshinoyama from early through mid April

with flowers higher up the mountain blooming later than those at the base

Number 7 Kakunodate

In springtime, the former samurai district in the town of Kakunodate

becomes beautifully decorated by weeping cherry trees

On top of this, the hundreds of sakura which line the riverbank

are an ideal place to have a picnic All in all Kakunodate provides visitors with

a downright pleasant cherry blossom atmosphere that echoes of centuries past

Number 6 Himeji Castle

With its grand white exterior, Himeji is widely considered

to be Japan's most spectacular castles Also designated as a world heritage site

this national treasure can be photographed with a beautiful sakura frame around early

April

Number 5 The Fuji Five Lakes region

Due to its higher elevation, the cherry blossoms in the area just north of Mt. Fuji

called the Fuji Five Lakes region usually bloom in mid to later April

which is a few weeks later than nearby Tokyo or Yokohama

In the Fuji Five Lakes region, two of the most breathtaking places

to view the mountain and cherry blossoms together are from the Chureito Pagoda

and also from the the northern shores of Lake Kawaguchiko

Number 4 Osaka

The sheer number of cherry trees make Kansai's largest metropolis, Osaka

a stellar hanami destination which could easily be placed even higher

on this list depending on personal preference One of the city's primary hanami areas

is the riverside Kema Sakuranomiya Park that stretches for multiple kilometers and

connects to the equally cherry-tree-abundant Osaka Castle Park

Within the castle grounds, a particularly nice place for a picnic is Nishinomaru Park

in the castle's western citadel which has wide lawns

views of the castle tower and light up in the evening

Finally, the walking paths and wide lawns of the Expo 70 Commemorative Park

in northern Osaka boast an additional few thousand

trees for blossom chasers to enjoy and also have light-up events at night

Number 3 Kyoto

The ancient capital of japan is where cherry blossoms meet cultural heritage

with an array of the city's historical buildings and gardens

becoming awash with pink and white each spring A few specific spots to enjoy the sakura season

in Kyoto are the Philosopher's path

Maruyama Park which also has night illuminations and the hills of the Arashiyama district in

the west which has an abundance of trees near the Togetsukyo

Bridge in Nakanoshima Park

and along the main shopping street

Number 2 Tokyo

The nation's capital is home to more hanami spots than anywhere else

Boasting a large number of cherry trees in a plethora of its parks, gardens, city streets,

and riverbanks Tokyo has an ideal sakura spot to please everyone

In particular, a few of the more noteworthy spots are

The sidewalks and river scenes found in Chidorigafuchi which also have nightly illuminations

The extensive scenic gardens in family-friendly Shinjuku Gyoen

which by the way does not allow alcohol inside the park

Ueno Park both along the central walking path in the

upper section of the park which has more of a lively hanami atmosphere

and also in the lower section around Shinobazu Pond

And finally Number 1

Hirosaki Castle This amazing castle park in the northern prefecture

of Aomori feels like multiple outstanding hanami spots

all combined into one This Spring wonderland has everything a cherry

blossom fans could wish for In addition to the castle, which is surrounded

by numerous varieties of cherry trees there are food stands

a boating pond and the country's oldest and broadest Somei

Yoshino variety of cherry tree There is plenty of space to picnic amongst

the blossoms and the park is subject to pleasant petal

blizzards that leave the castle moat completely pink

towards the season's end making Hirosaki Castle Park the number one

cherry blossom location in the entire country in our opinion

So there you have it, our top ten cherry blossom spots in Japan

Hopefully this video helps you to plan your perfect petal-filled trip

More in-depth information on the cherry blossoms can be found in the dedicated section of our

website including this year's forecast lists of the best sakura spots

tree varieties and during sakura season daily cherry blossom

reports from around the country For more information or to watch another video

click the links on the screen below now or head to japan-guide.com

your comprehensive up-to-date travel guide first hand from Japan

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