Staff’s recommendation! 5 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots Easily Accessible from Hotels
"Cherry blossom viewing is said to have started about 1200 years ago, during the Heian period. In recent years, as a special event to learn about Japanese culture while admiring cherry blossoms in full bloom, it has been drowing attention from foreign tourists. This time, we will show cherry blossom viewing spots easily accessible from hotels. All of these places are special places that we highly recommend. All 5 cherry blossom viewing spots can be accessed door to door within 30 minutes from hotels. The bonus segment ""Sankeien Garden"" takes approximately 60 minutes."
Outline
Cherry blossoms in full bloom envelop the road along the railway “The Horikawa-cho Line Cherry Blossom Trees” [5-minutes walk]
First, let’s take a look at “The Horikawa-cho Line Cherry Blossom Trees” loved by local people. There is one just near the North gate at JR Kawasaki station, and about a 5-minute walk from the hotel.
“the Horikawa-cho Line” is the name of the road. It runs parallel to the JR Line tracks from the station towards the Tamagawa River.
This is a picture of the Keihin Tohoku Line and the cherry blossom trees together. In addition to the Tokaido Line, if the timing is right, you might even be able to take a picture of the limited express train “Odoriko” and the cherry blossoms! Don’t miss it!
At night, street lights gently illuminate the cherry blossom trees. The sidewalks are wide and easy to walk, so we recommend strolling through lit-up cherry blossoms.
the Horikawa-cho Line
Address: Horikawa-cho, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Highly recommended by local people! Saiwai-ku proud cherry blossom viewing spot “Minamikawara Park” [15-minutes walk]
Minamikawara Park is a 15-minutes walk northwest of the hotel. This is a cherry blossom spot that Saiwai-ku can be proud of.
The size is approximately half the Tokyo Dome. The cherry blossom viewing area occupies half of the vast grounds. As this is a historic park established in 1950, it is characterized by its many long-aged cherry trees. The view of cherry blossoms in full bloom from a small hill is spectacular.
In addition to playground equipment, the park also has a jogging course and health equipment. There are plenty of activities for both children and adults to enjoy.
Minamikawara Park
Address: 74-2 Miyako-machi, Saiwai-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Website:https://www.city.kawasaki.jp/shisei/category/288-7-13-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.html
It’s actually close to Kawasaki! The cherry blossom spot that has been popular since the Edo period “Ueno Park” [30 minutes by JR Tokaido Line and walk]
“Ueno Park” is one of Japan’s best cherry blossom viewing spots. You may be surprised, but it takes within 30 minutes from Kawasaki!
It became known as a famous cherry blossom spot during the Genroku era (1688-1704). It is said that the first cherry blossom is planted by Tenkai Sojo, who founded Kan’eiji Temple, on the mountain in Ueno.
There are about 1,200 cherry blossoms of about 50 varieties in full bloom in the park. In addition to “Shinobazu no ike Bentendo”, pictured here, you can also enjoy cherry blossom viewing along with historical buildings such as “Kiyomizu Kannondo” and “Ueno Toshogu Shrine”.
The highlight is the cherry blossom trees along Chuoenji, known as “Sakura-dori”. The sight of cherry blossoms in full bloom covering the 400-meter road will take your breath away.
You can take a stroll through the cherry blossoms at night until 11:00 p.m. Please be careful that the park will be closed after that!
Ueno Park
Address: 3-chome, Ikenohata, Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Access from the hotel: Get off at “Ueno station” from “Kawasaki station” on the JR Tokaido Line. 1-minute walk from the Park gate.
Duration is approximately 30 minutes.
Fee: Free
Opening hours: between 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
Closed: Open all year round
Website:https://www.kensetsu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/jimusho/toubuk/ueno/index_top.html
Ranked in “Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossoms”! Waterside cherry blossoms “Mitsuike Park” [15 minutes by taxi]
As the name suggests, “Mitsuike Park” has three ponds. The “reservoir” that was once built for irrigation now serves as a complement to the beautiful forest area. The waterside cherry blossoms are so splendid that they have been selected as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossoms”.
Approximately 1,000 cherry blossom trees decorate the vast site, which is as big as about 6 Tokyo Domes. Starting with the winter cherry blossoms, which reach their peak in mid-February, approximately 70 varieties of cherry blossoms are in full bloom one after another. You can enjoy the spring scenery until mid April.
Inside the park is “Korea Garden” (entrance fee is free), which was created to commemorate the relationship between Kanagawa Prefecture and Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. There is so much to see.
Mitsuike Park
Address: 1-1, Mitsuike Park, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Fee: Free
Opening hours: Open all day
Closed: Open all year round
Website:https://www.kanagawa-park.or.jp/mitsuike/index.html
Departing from Yokohama station next door! You can enjoy the spectacular view of Minatomirai “Ohoka River Sakura Cruising” [25 minutes to the boarding point / 60 minutes boarding time]
The last thing we’d like to show you is “Ohoka River Sakura Cruising”, where you can view cherry blossoms from a different perspective from the ship.
The bording point on the 2nd floor of the shopping mall “Bay Quarter” is a 5-minutes walk from the Kita East gate of Yokohama station. This is a 60-minute round trip course that passes through the Minatomirai area and crosses to the downstream of Ohoka River, one of Yokohama’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots.
This time we boarded a cruise that departed at 6:00 p.m. (*Timetable varies depending on the season)
After about 10 minutes on board, the night view of Minatomirai will spread out as far as the eye can see. It’s more immerse than on the ground, and it’s powerful enough.
Once you enter Ohoka River, the scenery changes completely. Passing through 12 bridges, you will be captivated by the luscious illuminated cherry blossoms as you cross to the Kogane-cho area.
The “Ohoka River Promenade”, a riverside walkway, is lined with approximately 5 kilometers of cherry blossom trees, and there are approximately 700. You can only view the downstream on a cruise, but you’ll never forget the fantastic sight of the cherry blossoms reflected on the water surface.
Ohoka River Sakura Cruising・Sea-Bass boarding point
Address: 2nd floor, Yokohama Bay Quarter, Kinko-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number: 050-1790-7606 (THE PORT SERVICE CORPORATION)
Fee: Adults JPY4,000 / Children JPY2,500 (tax included)
Duration: between mid March and mid April every year
Departure time: between 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. (varies depending on the schedule)
Website:https://www.yokohama-cruising.jp/index.php
Bonus segment: Stretch your legs a little. Beautiful place with feast of ancient architecture, garden, and cherry blossoms “Sankeien Garden” [60 minutes by JR Keihin Tohoku Line and Yokohama Municipal Bus]
As you pass through the main gate, a scenic Japanese garden spreads out as far as the eye can see. “Sankeien Garden” was opened in 1906 by Sankei Hara, a business-person who made a fortune in silk reeling and raw silk trading. The vast site, which is as big as 4 Tokyo Domes, includes 17 historical buildings relocated from places such as Kyoto and Kamakura. It is also known as a cherry blossom viewing spot where approximately 250 cherry trees of 9 different types are in full bloom.
Every year from late March to early April, the park’s opening hours are extended until 9:00 p.m., and a “Hana-meguri” is held in which the park is lit up. In addition to the cherry blossoms, you can fully enjoy the bewitching beauty of “Three-Story Pagoda of the Former Tomyoji Temple” and “Buddhist Sanctum of the Former Tokeiji Temple” (pictured).
This is the spring limited menu “Harukoi Dango” (JPY350 including tax). A colorful rice dumpling topped with strawberry, nightingale, cherry, and plum bean paste. It is sold at “Sankeien cafe” from mid March to the end of April every year.
When you climb up to “Three-Story Pagoda of the Former Tomyoji Temple”, which is located on a hill, cherry blossom viewing takes on a different tasteful than usual. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the park and the city of Honmoku, which makes you feel very refreshed.
Furthermore, if you go to the observation deck “Shofukaku”, you can see Mt. Fuji on a clear day. A space full of nature that you won’t believe is in the middle of a city. The facility is worth a walk, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes when you go out!
Sankeien Garden
Address: 58-1, Honmoku Sannotani, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number: 045-621-0634 / 045-621-0635
Access from the hotel: Get off at “Negishi station” from “Kawasaki station” on the JR Keihin Tohoku Line. Get off at “Honmoku” by Yokohama Municipal Bus 58・101. 10-minutes walk.
Duration is approximately 60 minutes.
Fee: Adults (high school students or above) JPY900 / Children (elementary and junior high school students) JPY200
Opening hours: between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Entry until 4:30 p.m.)
Website:https://www.sankeien.or.jp
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