The 7 Best Places to see Cherry Blossoms in and around Hiroshima
- Published on : 06/03/2026
- by : Joshua
- Youtube
Sakura, Onomichi
@Mstyslav ChernovUnframeunframe.com on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
A gem of western Japan, Hiroshima is a must-visit for history, culture, cuisine, and scenery. Despite being a city, its urban centers are never too far from beautiful nature, making it also an ideal place to take in the springtime splendor of hanami, or cherry blossom viewing. Here are seven locations within Hiroshima City and its surroundings that are great for seeing sakura!
Hiroshima City
1. Hiroshima Castle Park
Built in 1589, Hiroshima Castle is located in the heart of the city. Like the rest of the city, it was destroyed by bombing in 1945 and then rebuilt. The 450 cherry trees scattered throughout the castle grounds offer plenty of opportunities for picnics with family or friends! Don't forget to take a detour to see the sakura flowers near the keep.
Hiroshima Castle
@Christiano Sinisterra on Pexels
2. Shukkei-en Garden
In Japanese, “Shukkei-en” can be translated as “garden of miniature landscapes,” which pretty much sums up its composition. Miniature landscapes represent valleys, mountains, and forests.
The garden was built in 1620, just after the completion of Hiroshima Castle. 200 Yoshino cherry trees, mountain cherry trees, and weeping cherry trees bloom in this miniature garden.
3. Along the Motoyasu River (Memorial Park)
Near the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, on the banks of the Motoyasu River, grow 300 cherry trees.
The walk between the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Boulevard is a very popular spot for hanami; come early in the morning to be sure of getting a place! Cruises are available to admire the sakura from the river.
Sakura by the A-Bomb Dome
@Oren Rozen on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
4. Hijiyama Park
The park's 1,300 cherry trees dot the hillsides, creating patches of pink that blend into the Hiroshima landscape. A favorite spot among locals, you can enjoy yozakura, nighttime cherry blossoms, until 11 p.m. every night.
There is also an observatory, a contemporary art museum, and a library specializing in manga.
Travel to and from Hiroshima with these rail passes and train tickets!
Near Hiroshima
5. Mount Misen (Miyajima)
Rising to a height of 535 meters, Mount Misen, located on Miyajima, is sacred. From here, you will have a breathtaking view of the 2,000 cherry trees that grow on the island.
Of course, this island is famous for Itsushima Shrine, which is a very worthy attraction; however, the greater island has many pockets of beautiful nature and structures. It is around a 30-minute walk to the summit of the mountain.
6. Senkoji Park (Onomichi City)
Senkoji Park in Onomichi is one of the region’s most picturesque places to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring. Hundreds of sakura trees bloom along the park’s winding paths and around Senkoji Temple, creating a canopy of soft pink petals above the hillside.
From the park’s scenic viewpoints and observation areas, visitors can admire the blossoms while taking in sweeping views of Onomichi’s historic townscape, the Onomichi Channel, and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, making it a particularly memorable spot for hanami.
Onomichi, Hiroshima
@Mstyslav Chernov/Unframe/unframe.com on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
7. Kagamiya Park (Higashi-Hiroshima City)
Kagamiyama
@OS6 on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Located in the neighboring city of Higashi-Hiroshima (literally meaning “Eastern Hiroshima”), Kagamiya Park is at the base of the Kagamiya Castle ruins and hosts around 500 cherry trees that erupt into soothing shades of pink in spring.
From Hiroshima Station, it takes a little under one hour to get to the park, consisting of going to Saijo Station on the San-yo Line and then transferring to a bus out to the park.
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