Where to Spend your Cherry Blossom Festival

 

The season by which the famous sakura 桜 (Cherry Blossom) trees flower is one of the most jaw-dropping and beautiful times of the year. Many countries celebrate the blooming of these spectacular pieces of flora, but arguably none more than Asian regions that witness the gorgeous attraction within various festivals or hanami 花

Japan and Korea form central hubs by which Cherry Blossom festivals are celebrated through picnic-style gatherings; a tradition dating back over 1000 years. Catching the elusive Cherry Blossoms can often rely on luck and good timing as each year can see different periods of blooming throughout the spring that can often last no longer than two weeks. Such plight forms the major significance of the sakura within many forms of Japanese art depicting the concept of mono no aware, or a morose realisation that “nothing lasts forever”.

Despite this gloomy outlook, the concept moreover signifies a desire to enjoy the beauty and elegance of the world around. Therefore, it is important to know where to go if you are in Japan and Korea during this breathtaking period. So, here are the best places in Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul to visit during their respective Cherry Blossom festivals.

Tokyo

Being the world-famous destination to see sakura, people flock to Japan in their masses to get a glimpse. As mentioned previously, the exact time of bloom for the Cherry Blossoms is never known, but Tokyo typically experiences the spectacle from late March to early April, with the first week in April giving the best shot if you are on a time crunch. Here are a couple of the top picks to feast your eyes on the sensational sakura.

Ueno Park

Home to over 1,000 sakura trees, along with lakes, museums, shrines and a zoo, Ueno Park is one of the most popular spots in the city for hanami. The Cherry Blossoms in Ueno Park also tend to open a few days before the others in the city! Clearly, there is something special about this place. Additionally, for most of the blooming season, the Sakura will be illuminated for a brilliant view at night, setting it apart from all others.

• Hours of Operation – Being a public space, Ueno Park is open 24/7. However, during the period in which the trees are lit, illumination will be between 17:30-20:00
• Price – Free! However, the museums and the zoo within the park will have entrance fees.
• Location – Ueno Park, a short walk from Ueno StationUeno ParkHome to over 1,000 sakura trees, along with lakes, museums, shrines and a zoo, Ueno Park is one of the most popular spots in the city for hanami. The Cherry Blossoms in Ueno Park also tend to open a few days before the others in the city! Clearly, there is something special about this place. Additionally, for most of the blooming season, the Sakura will be illuminated for a brilliant view at night, setting it apart from all others.
  • Hours of Operation – Being a public space, Ueno Park is open 24/7. However, during the period in which the trees are lit, illumination will be between 17:30-20:00
  • Price – Free! However, the museums and the zoo within the park will have entrance fees.
  • Location – Ueno Park, a short walk from Ueno Station

Shinjuku Gyoen

For those with less flexible travel arrangements, Shinjuku Gyoen might be the place for you! The verdant lawns of this park contain over a thousand sakura that famously bloom in the early AND late seasons. The backdrop of the skyscrapers in the central Tokyo location of Shinjuku Gyoen create a dramatic image, contrasting natural and urban settings.

• Hours of Operation – 09:00–16:30
• Price – ¥200 ($2 USD)
• Location – Shinjuku Gyoen, a ten-minute walk from Shinjuku Station

Osaka

Like Tokyo, Osaka has a seemingly infinite number of hanami viewing locations across the city, each with their own atmospheres and characteristics. With a friendly and lively population, the gardens and parks of Osaka will provide enjoyable, bustling venues for tourists and locals alike! The sakura tends to bloom a few days later than those in Tokyo, with full bloom tending to occur in early April.

 

Kema Sakuranomiya Park

When it comes to magnificent Osaka hanami spots, visiting the Kema Sakuranomiya Park is a given. Featuring 5,000 Cherry Blossom trees lining the banks of the Okawa River over four kilometres, the park is famous for its endless rows of soft pink tunnelling sakura. During the peak of their bloom, the trees will be illuminated, at which time there will be a plethora of food stalls opening to try the abundance of local delicacies!

• Hours of Operation – 24 hours a day, night-time illumination during peak blooming period
• Price – Free!
• Location ­– Kema Sakuranomiya Park, next to Sakuranomiya Station

Osaka Castle

The surrounding grounds of Osaka Castle are a must-see regardless of your time of visit to Osaka; sakura season is purely a ‘Cherry’ on top of the cake. Boasting several thousand trees, early April is a magical time at this location in Osaka, with a magical assortment of sakura that are irradiated by hundreds of lanterns and lights at night. Nishinomaru Garden in the western citadel of the grounds is a particularly surreal spot for a picnic or hanami gathering

• Hours of Operation – 09:00-17:00 ~ additionally from 18:00-21:00 during peak bloom for illumination
• Price – ¥200 ($2 USD) (daytime), ¥350 ($3.50 USD)(daytime + evening illumination)
• Location­ – Osaka Castle, a short distance from Morinomiya Station

Seoul

Whilst thought when it comes to Cherry Blossoms is immediately drawn to the Land of the Rising Sun, South Korea is also a phenomenal spot to catch the colours of the season. In Korea, Cherry Blossoms can be called sakura, but it is more common for them to be referred to as beot-kkot 벗꽃. However, like Japan, it can never be certain exactly when the peak season is going to be, but usually, this occurs from early to mid-March.

Kyung Hee University

This world-renowned University provides an elegant backdrop to the splendour of Cherry Blossom season, often being dubbed as the most scenic place in Seoul to view the sakura. The Neo-Classical style of the buildings highlight the beauty of the majority of white trees and seeing the site is a necessity for architecture buffs and hanami participants alike.

• Hours of Operation – 24 hours a day, open to the public
• Price – Free!
• Location – Kyung Hee University, Hoegi Station -> Exit 1 -> Green Bus #1 for 3 stops (~10-15 mins)

Seokchon Lake

With a recently opened subway stop, this popular festival is now more easily accessible than ever! Easily one of the most picturesque location to view beot-kkot, Seokchon Lake is incredibly admired by budding photographers trying to get the perfect shot of the reflection of the trees on the water. Furthermore, the nearby Lotte World amusement park adds another element to the dramatic panorama with its array of castles and rollercoasters – thrill seekers can spend some time here as well!

• Hours of Operation – The grounds of the lake are open 24 hours a day – Lotte World is open 09:30-22:00
• Cost – Free!!
• Lotte World: Adult – 59,000 won (~$50 USD) / Child – 47,000 won (~$40 USD)
• Location – Seokchon Lake, a 5-minute walk from Jamsil Station