The 9 Best Places to Cherry Blossoms in Tohoku
- Published on : 11/03/2026
- by : Joshua
- Youtube
Sakura in Tohoku
@Koichi Shibata on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
The northern portion of Tohoku may see less tourism compared to other parts of Japan, but its beautiful landscapes are the perfect backdrop for cherry blossoms during spring! See our favorite places throughout the region to do hanami!
When the cherry trees of Tokyo are about to blossom, it is then that the Tohoku region awakens; from Sendai to Aomori, the progression of "sakura" moves slowly from the beginning of April to mid-May. Here are the most famous spots for the admirers of these blissful pink flowers.
1. Hirosaki Castle Park (Aomori)
〒036-8356 Aomori, Hirosaki, Shimoshiroganecho, 1
2,600 cherry trees surround Hirosaki Castle, a small northern town where snow dominates in winter. Spring sounds like the awakening of these historic trees. In 1960, one of the trees is sick and it was feared that it would die. A gardener tries to prune it severely like the apple trees of the region.
Hirosaki Castle
@Nguyễn Thanh Tùng on Pexels
The successful operation marks the beginning of this very special way of pruning cherry trees like the famous apple trees of Aomori, which gives them more volume and beautiful large flowers. The reflection in the water of the moat of the castle is remarkable, and even more so when the petals have fallen on the water, forming like a large pink carpet.
2. Kakunodate (Akita)
Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, 014-0300, Japan
The city of Kakunodate was influenced by the culture of Kyoto, which is why, as in the former imperial capital, you can admire large cherry blossom trees with long, hanging branches (shidare zakura) in May.
The story goes that 3 trees were brought from Kyoto by the future wife of a samurai at her wedding to plant them in her garden and thus remember her hometown.
Along the Hinokinaigawa River, a long tunnel of Somei Yoshino cherry trees stretches over 2 kilometers. They were planted in 1934 to celebrate the birth of Emperor Emeritus Akihito.
At the beginning of May, under the branches of cherry trees with pink flowers, the banks of the river come alive to total wonder.
Kakunodate Sakura
@Mike Chen on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
3. Kitakami (Iwate)
(Kitakami Station) 1 Chome-1-2 Odori, Kitakami, Iwate 024-0061
In Kitakami, you will appreciate the beauty of a huge "tunnel" of cherry blossoms two kilometers long on the banks of the Kitakami River, with the waves swollen by the freshwater coming from the surrounding mountains, which are often still snow-capped in this season.
Since the 1920s, 10,000 cherry trees of 150 different varieties have constituted this incredible space of delight for the eyes and photography enthusiasts in the heart of Tenshôchi Park, where food stands await you to taste local specialties during the sakura matsuri, mid-April to early May.
The best thing about this festival is that the Koinobori festival is added to the cherry blossoms; the flying carp are mixed with the pink flowers, and the wind makes the fine fabric fish flutter with the whirling petals. The banks of the river become a magical feast for everyone.
Kitakami
@annintofu on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
4. Miharu Takizakura (Fukushima)
Sakurakubo-296, Taki, Miharu-machi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, 963-7714
After the long sakura tunnels, here is a single tree that can only be described as "one-of-a-kind" that has been posed for 1000 years in the village of Miharu. Venerated as a god who every year gratifies his devotees with cascades of rose-flowering branches. 13 meters high and 11 meters in circumference, this cherry tree imposes itself as an almost mythical-like presence within Japan.
Mihara Takizakura
@Ayu Oshimi on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
5. Hitome Sendon Zakura (Miyagi)
12 Funaoka, Shibata, Shibata District, Miyagi 989-1603
On the banks of the Shiroishi River, with the snow-covered Zao Mountains in the background, this is the setting for these 1,200 cherry blossom trees. Hitome (one view) Senbon Zakura (1000 cherry trees) is the spot in the region between Sendai and Fukushima, very easy to access from JR Funaoka Station. In 1923, a businessman from Miyagi offered young plants, which were installed along the river to become a beautiful place to take a stroll.
And that's not all because not far from the river, the Funaoka Joshi Park also displays its 1,000 cherry trees around the ruins of an old feudal castle. On the heights of the park, the panoramic view is breathtaking. You can get there easily by a cable car that climbs slowly in the middle of a forest of flowering trees. It would be a shame to deprive yourself of this breathtaking experience!
6. Mikamine Park (Miyagi)
1 Chome-16 Mikamine, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0826
Mikamine Park, also in Sendai, is a park located south of the heart of Sendai. A typical family park but with nearly 600 cherry trees of different varieties planted between large lawns where families can settle down to picnic peacefully for the hanami.
The view of the city center is also fantastic from this park and great for photos with the sakura.
7. Eboshiyama Kōen (Yamagata)
1415 Akayu, Nanyō, Yamagata 999-2211
On Mount Eboshi, Eboshiyama Park was laid out in the Meiji era (1868-1903) with rare varieties such as wild Edohigan in addition to a thousand cherry trees that dot the hill.
With bridges, stairs, winding paths, and passages under torii and small temples, this rather sporty walk will delight as much as it will heighten your senses. From the heights, you will have a beautiful view of the plain of Yonezawa.
And above all, don't forget to take advantage of the many historic onsens at the foot of this mountain to refresh as much as to recharge in total ecstasy!
Eboshiyama
@Fantasy Leigh on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
8. Nishi Park (Miyagi)
Sakuragaokakoen, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0823
Nishi Park is the oldest park in Sendai. It has also been known since the Meiji period (1868-1912) under the name of Sakuragaoka Park, literally "the hill of the cherry trees." Nearly a thousand cherry trees have been planted on the hill and offer a splendid view of trees extending their branches above the paths, creating a floral dome.
Yatai, small stands offering food, are set up in the park and allow visitors to picnic under the blossoms.
Nishi Koen, Sendai
@allegro Takahi on Wikimedia, CC BY 2.0
9. Iwakisan Sakurabayashi Park (Aomori)
Higashiiwakisan-3168 Hyakuzawa, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-1343
At the foot of Mount Iwaki in Aomori Prefecture, Iwakisan Sakurabayashi Park offers a beautiful late-season cherry blossom experience surrounded by mountain scenery. The park is home to around 1,000 Somei Yoshino cherry trees that bloom into a soft pink tunnel each spring, usually in early to mid-May.
Nearby, there’s a breathtaking 20-kilometer stretch of road lined with roughly 6,500 wild Oyama-zakura trees that is often called the “world’s longest cherry blossom-lined road."
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