Best Spots for Cherry Blossom Viewing in Japan's Tohoku Region

Sakura overview: Viewing periods, varieties, and weather conditions

Below, you’ll find everything you need to know to make the most of your cherry blossom adventure in the Tohoku Region.

Viewing periods

The best time to view cherry blossoms in the Tohoku Region starts in mid-March around Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture, where the weather tends to be warmer. As the season progresses, the bloom gradually moves northward, reaching as late as mid-May in Oma in Aomori Prefecture—the northernmost town on Honshu.

Sakura varities

The cherry blossoms in the Tohoku Region are not limited to the country’s most renowned type, somei-yoshino. Here, you’ll find various varieties, including the early-blooming Kawazu-zakura, the weeping higan-zakura and shidare-zakura, and the double-flowered yae-zakura.

Weather conditions

The average temperature in April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, is a comfortable 15 degrees Celsius during the day. However, it can get colder in the north with possible snowfall. Boots or other winter shoes are not necessary unless there is a lot of snow, but it’s best to bring a jacket or coat.

Note the temperature fluctuations at night, when you plan on seeing the cherry blossoms in the evening hours. So make sure to dress warm when you go out in the evening and bring a thick jacket or coat, and a pair of gloves.

Travel across the Tohoku Region with the JR East Pass and enjoy unlimited rides for five days on all JR East lines and shinkansen in the area.

Miyagi Prefecture: Admire over a thousand cherry blossom trees along Shiroishi River

The Shiroishigawa-tsutsumi Hitome Senbonzakura, which refers to a thousand cherry trees along the Shiroishi River, is a popular cherry blossom spot in Miyagi Prefecture. Here, you can admire about 1,200 somei-yoshino cherry trees stretching eight kilometers along the river. Of the 1,200 cherry trees, 400 are nearly a century old, making for a magnificent sight.

Annually in early April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the Sakura Festival is held, with the flowers lit up at night and hanami yakatabune (pleasure boats for cherry blossom viewing) cruising on the river.

The contrast between the tunnel of blooming cherry blossoms and the snow-covered peaks of the Zao Mountain Range creates a stunning, one-of-a-kind scenery.

Shiroishigawa-tsutsumi Hitome Senbonzakura
Address: Shiraishishigawa-tsutsumi, Ogawara-machi and Shibata-machi, Shibata-gun, Miyagi Prefecture
Access: Short walk from Ogawara Station
Official website: http://japan.miyagi-kankou.or.jp.e.afh.hp.transer.com/theme/detail.php?id=9479

Fukushima Prefecture: Watch cherry blossoms and a steam locomotive in Kitakata

The Nitchu Line Memorial Bicycle and Pedestrian Road in Kitakata in Fukushima Prefecture was once a railroad line that connected Kitakata and Atsushiokano Village (modern-day Kitakata). Along this road, you can admire 1,000 weeping shidare-zakura trees over a distance of about three kilometers.

A steam locomotive is displayed mid-way, which has become a popular photo spot with the pink weeping cherry blossoms surrounding the black engine.

Since cars are not allowed on this road, it’s the perfect place to take a leisurely stroll while admiring the blooms. The road is close to Kitakata Station, so make sure to try the region’s famous Kitakata ramen with many restaurants scattered around the station.

Nitchu Line Memorial Bicycle and Pedestrian Road
Address: Kitakata-shi, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: 5-min walk from JR Kitakata Station
Official website: http://www.kitakata-kanko.jp/category/detail.php?id=104

Fukushima Prefecture: Visit one of the three largest cherry trees in Japan—Miharu Takizakura

The Miharu Takizakura in the town of Miharu in Fukushima Prefecture is a beni- shidare-zakura weeping cherry tree, considered one of the three greatest cherry trees in Japan. It’s over 1,000 years old and a designated National Natural Monument.

The cherry blossoms are beautifully lit up at night, creating a mysterious yet majestic atmosphere.

Miharu Takizakura
Address: Sakurakubo Taki, Miharu-machi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: 15-min shuttle bus ride from Miharu Station
Official website: http://miharukoma.com/experience/183

Iwate Prefecture: Visit the ancient ishiwari-zakura

The ishiwari-zakura cherry tree, located on the grounds of the Morioka District Court, is one of the most unusual cherry trees in Iwate Prefecture. Ishiwari-zakura translates to “the rock-splitting cherry tree,” being a 360-year-old Edo-higan cherry tree growing out of a large rock, with a trunk diameter of about 1.35 meters.

Note that you can only get a close-up view of the ishiwari-zakura during the opening hours of the Morioka District Court. After hours, however, you can still see it from the sidewalk. Keep in mind that the tree is not lit up at night, so make sure to visit before sunset.

Ishiwarizakura
Address: 9-1 Uchimaru, Morioka-shi, Iwate Prefecture
Access: 15-min walk from Morioka Station
Official website: https://visitiwate.com/article/4714

Iwate Prefecture: Explore cherry blossoms at Kitakami Tenshochi Park

Kitakami Tenshochi Park is one of the Michinoku Region’s top three sakura spots, located in Kitakami in Iwate Prefecture. Here, you can admire a variety of cherry blossoms, ranging from somei-yoshino blooming from mid-April to the late-blooming kasumi-zakura in early May.

During the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, the sakura are illuminated at night. In the daytime, you can enjoy them by taking a ride in a horse-drawn carriage along the rows of cherry trees.

Cherry blossoms at Kitakami Tenshochi
Address: Kitakami-shi, Iwate Prefecture
Access: 20-min walk from JR Kitakami Station
Official website: http://sakura.kitakami-kanko.jp/

Akita Prefecture: See shidare-zakura against the backdrop of samurai residences in Senboku

Bukeyashiki-dori Street in the Kakunodate district of Senboku in Akita Prefecture is a popular tourist destination to explore former samurai residences and the stunning shidare-zakura weeping cherry trees. Every year during the cherry blossom season, the area is beautifully lit up at night, making for stunning photo ops.

Shidarezakuraon Kakunodate Bukeyashiki-dori Street
Address: Kakunodate, Senboku-shi, Akita Prefecture
Access: 15-min walk from JR Kakunodate Station
Official website: https://stayakita.com/things-to-do/things-to-do-399

Aomori Prefecture: Enjoy cherry blossom viewing at Hirosaki Park

For mesmerizing panoramic views of the cherry blossoms, visit Hirosaki Park in Aomori Prefecture. The site is home to 2,600 cherry trees of 52 varieties, blooming all at once.

You’ll have the best views of the blooms around the moat, which is surrounding the park. At night, the sakura are reflected on the water’s surface, creating an extraordinary sight.

You can even admire the cherry blossoms from the water, by renting a rowboat on the west of the park’s moat.

Hirosaki Park
Address: 1 Shimoshirogane-cho, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori Prefecture
Access: 11-min bus ride from JR Hirosaki Station to Shiyakusho-mae bus stop; from there it’s a 4-min walk
Official website: https://www.hirosakipark.com/en/

Discover the Tohoku Region's best cherry blossom spots

After the cherry blossoms have faded in Tokyo and western parts of Japan, consider planning a trip to the Tohoku Region in Japan's north. The region boasts numerous picturesque cherry blossom spots, often with fewer visitors compared to the metropolitan areas.

Explore more of Japan by using one of the many different transportation passes.

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.

JR East Pass (Tohoku Area) 5 days

・Unlimited rides on all trains and shinkansen in the Kanto and Tohoku regions.
・Available for foreign residents and tourists with non-Japanese passports.