Ways to enjoy cherry blossoms in Japan, and must-see sights in Gifu
In Japan, cherry blossoms brilliantly brighten up the spring season with their vibrantly beautiful colors. Since early times, Japanese people have held a deep affection for cherry blossoms, whether simply gazing and admiring them, composing poetry about them, holding banquets under them, or enjoying them while eating a picnic lunch. Blessed with an abundance of scenic beauty, Gifu Prefecture is home to many famous cherry blossom viewing spots. It boasts one of the three best cherry trees of Japan, a cherry tree that is estimated to be 1,100 years old, and rows of cherry trees that can be viewed from a castle that said to have been built in a single night by a famous warlord. Gifu’s spring scenery is sure to take your breath away.
Featured Spots
Enjoy the “wabi-sabi” aesthetics of Usuzumi-zakura, one of the three most celebrated Japanese cherry blossoms
Best time for viewing: Early April
The giant Neodani Usuzumi-zakura cherry tree, having a height of about 17 meters and a trunk circumference of about 9 meters, is one of Japan’s most famous Sakura trees. Said to be more than 1,500 years old, the name Usuzumi-zakura derives from the fact that the tree’s blossoms are light pink when they bud, glamorously white when they are in full bloom, and a pale grayish ink-like color by the time they fall and scatter. Although Usuzumi-zakura has faced the threat of extinction many times in the past, it has been nursed back to health each time, and every spring you can sense the tree’s strong vitality in its blossoms, which retain their beauty until the very end.
The surrounding area has been developed as Usuzumi Park, with spacious lawns ideal for relaxing and enjoying the blossoms. The park is also lit up during the cherry blossom season , so you can enjoy the magical sight of blossoms fluttering down amidst illuminated surroundings. Along with the Yamataka Jindai-zakura cherry tree in Yamanashi and the Miharu Takizakura cherry tree in Fukushima, this is one of Japan’s best cherry trees and is a nationally designated natural monument.
Ena Gorge -an artificial lake offering the best Sakura flower viewing spot in Ena City
Best time for viewing: Early April
Ena Gorge, with its varied and beautiful scenery, is a man-made lake that was formed about 100 years ago as a result of the damming of the Kiso River. It is known as a scenic spot where strangely shaped rocks and bizarre stones, such as the Lion Rock and Frog Rock, tower on both banks. Among these, the mushroom-shaped “Kasa Iwa” (Umbrella Rock), which has a height of about 4.5 meters and a diameter of several dozen centimeters at its narrowest point, is a unique rock formation that has been designated as a national natural monument. Ena Gorge shows a variety of different faces in every season, but it is especially popular with tourists during the cherry blossom season. A recommended spot is “Sazanami Hiroba”, where you can see around 200 Somei Yoshino cherry trees blossom in full glory. Also, when the trees are lit up after the sun goes down, you can enjoy the charm of spring with a quite different flavor from the daytime atmosphere. The autumn leaves, which dye the lake surface in various shades of red, orange and yellow, are also magnificent. The Ena Gorge Ohashi Bridge, which stands out in red against the surrounding trees, is also a highlight. Taking a pleasure boat ride amidst the colors of the four seasons is a moving experience and a great way to relax while taking in the spectacular scenery of the entire gorge.
Shinsakai Riverbank Hyakujuro Sakura, one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossoms Spots, is a spectacular corridor of Sakura flowers
Best time for viewing: Late March to early April
More than 1,000 Somei Yoshino cherry trees line both banks of Shinsakai River, which runs through Kakamigahara City, creating a magnificent 4-kilometer corridor of blossoms. This scenic beauty has been selected as one of the “Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossoms Spots” and one of the 33 best places to view cherry blossoms in the Hida-Mino region, and it attracts many visitors every year. 1,200 cherry tree saplings were donated and planted by the locally born kabuki actor Ichikawa Hyakujuro to commemorate the completion of the Sakaigawa flood control channel in 1930 and for the repose of the souls of the many workers who died during the construction work, so the cherry trees are known as the “Hyakujuro Sakura“. The branches of the cherry trees curving over the river surface create a light pink arch, enabling to see a panorama of Sakura blossoms. The cherry blossoms lit up at night are also beautiful, with the elegant manner in which the blossoms flutter down and float on the water like rafts. You will want to take a leisurely stroll along the river amid the spring breeze.
Other Japanese cherry blossom spots worth visiting
Gifu has many more cherry blossom spots that are worth seeing. Being such a long prefecture from north to south, Gifu has large climate variation depending on the area, making it possible to enjoy the cherry blossoms for a long time from late March to around May every year. Not only do the cherry blossoms look beautiful against the blue sky during the day, but the fantastic cherry blossoms emerging from the darkness at dusk, changing their expression with every passing moment are also recommended. Plan your Hanami trip while checking the best times to see the Sakura blossoms at each spot.
Garyu-zakura cherry tree
Best time for viewing: Mid-April to late April
The Garyu-zakura cherry tree, estimated to be 1,100 years old, is located in Ichinomiya-machi, Takayama City. It is an Edohigan cherry tree that is approximately 20 meters tall and has a trunk circumference of 7.3 meters. The name “Garyu” derives from the shape of its trunk, which looks like a reclining dragon, having taken root from a single large branch that became so heavy that it touched the ground. Over a millenia later, it still has a powerful appearance, taking on a dragonesque appearance when it blossoms in its full glory. This rare cherry tree has been designated as a national natural monument.
Sunomata Ichiya Castle
Best time for viewing: Late March to early April
Sunomata Ichiya Castle, which is said to have been built in a single night by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Warring States period, comes into view after you pass through a tunnel of cherry trees. In spring, some 800 Somei Yoshino cherry trees bloom over a stretch of approximately 3.7 kilometers along the banks of Sai River, which flows around the castle. The spring scenery viewed from the top floor at night has a unique appeal, and the nighttime cherry blossoms viewed against the backdrop of the illuminated castle tower are a sight to behold.
Nawashiro Cherry Blossoms
Best time for viewing: Early April to mid-April
The Nawashiro cherry blossoms are a pair of giant, roughly 400-year-old trees standing side by side. They are also known as the “Calendar Cherry Trees”. The name comes from the practice of local farmers who would wait for the beautiful cherry blossoms to bloom before preparing their rice nurseries (nawashiro). When the cherry blossoms are lit up, they take on an ethereal appearance that is reflected by the mirror-like surface of nearby paddy fields, and this is definitely worth a look.
