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- Introducing both famous and hidden spots! Cherry blossom viewing spots in Yokohama and Kamakura
2016.01.26
Sightseeing Spot
SOTETSU FRESA INN
Introducing both famous and hidden spots! Cherry blossom viewing spots in Yokohama and Kamakura
There are many sightseeing spots in Yokohama and Kamakura that you should visit at least once. If you're traveling during the cherry blossom viewing season in spring, why not add places with beautiful cherry blossoms to your bucket list? Here, we'll introduce you to some of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Yokohama and Kamakura, as well as some of the more obscure ones (as of January 2016).
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First, let's take a look at some of the best places to see cherry blossoms when you go to Yokohama or Kamakura.
Sankeien
Sankeien is a 175,000 square meter Japanese garden created in 1906 by industrialist and tea master Sankei Hara. During the cherry blossom viewing season, about 300 cherry trees are in full bloom. The cherry blossom tunnel leading from the Honmoku area to the main gate, the cherry blossom branches stretching to the pond in the outer garden area, and the harmony of the cherry trees with the historical buildings placed in the garden are some of the highlights of the garden.
At night, the cherry blossoms are illuminated and you can see a different look from the daytime. Admission is 500 yen for adults (junior high school students and older) and 200 yen for children, and the park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, during the "Cherry Blossom Viewing Evening" held from late March to early April, visitors can enter the park until 8:30 p.m. To get there, take a 35-minute bus ride from Yokohama Station, get off at Honmoku Sankeien-mae, and walk about 5 minutes.
Mitsuike Park
The park is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Yokohama City, with three ponds that give the park its name. In mid-February, the Kanzakura cherry trees bloom, followed by the Okame, Someiyoshino, and Yokohama Hizakura cherry trees until mid-April, with about 1,600 cherry trees of 78 varieties blooming at different times.
It covers an area of about 300,000 square meters, which is equivalent to 6.4 Tokyo Domes. Admission to the park is free, and it is open 24 hours a day. To get there, take a 15-minute bus ride from Tsurumi Station or a 15-minute bus ride from Shin-Yokohama Station, get off at Mitsuike-koen-kitamon, and walk about 3 minutes.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kamakura, starting with the Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms in mid-February, followed by the Someiyoshino cherry blossoms in late March and the Yae-zakura cherry blossoms in late April.
In particular, the Someiyoshino cherry trees that bloom around the Genji Pond in the precincts of the temple are spectacular, blooming so profusely that they almost touch the surface of the pond. Dankazura, the approach to the national historic site, is also known as a tunnel lined with about 300 cherry trees, but it has been closed to traffic since 2014 until March 2016 when it was completely renovated.
Sankeien
Sankeien is a 175,000 square meter Japanese garden created in 1906 by industrialist and tea master Sankei Hara. During the cherry blossom viewing season, about 300 cherry trees are in full bloom. The cherry blossom tunnel leading from the Honmoku area to the main gate, the cherry blossom branches stretching to the pond in the outer garden area, and the harmony of the cherry trees with the historical buildings placed in the garden are some of the highlights of the garden.
At night, the cherry blossoms are illuminated and you can see a different look from the daytime. Admission is 500 yen for adults (junior high school students and older) and 200 yen for children, and the park is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, during the "Cherry Blossom Viewing Evening" held from late March to early April, visitors can enter the park until 8:30 p.m. To get there, take a 35-minute bus ride from Yokohama Station, get off at Honmoku Sankeien-mae, and walk about 5 minutes.
Mitsuike Park
The park is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Yokohama City, with three ponds that give the park its name. In mid-February, the Kanzakura cherry trees bloom, followed by the Okame, Someiyoshino, and Yokohama Hizakura cherry trees until mid-April, with about 1,600 cherry trees of 78 varieties blooming at different times.
It covers an area of about 300,000 square meters, which is equivalent to 6.4 Tokyo Domes. Admission to the park is free, and it is open 24 hours a day. To get there, take a 15-minute bus ride from Tsurumi Station or a 15-minute bus ride from Shin-Yokohama Station, get off at Mitsuike-koen-kitamon, and walk about 3 minutes.
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kamakura, starting with the Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms in mid-February, followed by the Someiyoshino cherry blossoms in late March and the Yae-zakura cherry blossoms in late April.
In particular, the Someiyoshino cherry trees that bloom around the Genji Pond in the precincts of the temple are spectacular, blooming so profusely that they almost touch the surface of the pond. Dankazura, the approach to the national historic site, is also known as a tunnel lined with about 300 cherry trees, but it has been closed to traffic since 2014 until March 2016 when it was completely renovated.
Rare Cherry blossom viewing spots in Yokohama and Kamakura
Next, let's take a look at the less crowded and more relaxing spots to enjoy the cherry blossoms.
Motomachi Park
The street from Minato-no-Mieru-Oka Park to the Foreign General Cemetery, Ellisman House, and Berrick Hall is an area where many people usually come for sightseeing in Yokohama and Yamate. If you walk around looking at the cherry trees, you will end up at Motomachi Park.
There are about 100 cherry trees in bloom surrounding Motomachi Park. As you enter the park, you can see the cherry blossoms mixed in with the evergreen trees.
Negishi Forest Park
Negishi Forest Park is one of the best cherry blossom spots in Kanagawa Prefecture, but it is not well known to people outside the prefecture. The cherry blossoms are planted around a vast lawn area, and in full bloom, the park looks like a pinky forest.
It is adjacent to the Negishi Horse Racing Memorial Park, which used to be the Horse Racing Track, but was transformed into a forest park. It takes 10 minutes by bus from Negishi Station. Get off at Asahidai bus stop.
Kenchoji Temple
Kenchoji Temple is one of the "Five Temples of Kamakura" and has the highest rank among the temples. During the cherry blossom viewing season, the best place to see the cherry trees is along with the approach from the main gate to the Sanmon gate. Someiyoshino cherry trees line both sides of the path, and the arch of cherry blossoms in front of the Sanmon gate, in particular, has been used as a great photo spot for posters.
The temple grounds are wide and a great location for a stroll, and you can appreciate the weeping cherry trees and other cherry blossoms outside the approach. It is located in the middle of Kamakura Station and Kita-Kamakura Station, and it takes about 20 minutes to walk from either station.
Both Yokohama and Kamakura have their own unique flavors and ways to enjoy the cherry blossoms.
If you are traveling nearby, why not stop by?
Recommended Hotels Around:
Motomachi Park
The street from Minato-no-Mieru-Oka Park to the Foreign General Cemetery, Ellisman House, and Berrick Hall is an area where many people usually come for sightseeing in Yokohama and Yamate. If you walk around looking at the cherry trees, you will end up at Motomachi Park.
There are about 100 cherry trees in bloom surrounding Motomachi Park. As you enter the park, you can see the cherry blossoms mixed in with the evergreen trees.
Negishi Forest Park
Negishi Forest Park is one of the best cherry blossom spots in Kanagawa Prefecture, but it is not well known to people outside the prefecture. The cherry blossoms are planted around a vast lawn area, and in full bloom, the park looks like a pinky forest.
It is adjacent to the Negishi Horse Racing Memorial Park, which used to be the Horse Racing Track, but was transformed into a forest park. It takes 10 minutes by bus from Negishi Station. Get off at Asahidai bus stop.
Kenchoji Temple
Kenchoji Temple is one of the "Five Temples of Kamakura" and has the highest rank among the temples. During the cherry blossom viewing season, the best place to see the cherry trees is along with the approach from the main gate to the Sanmon gate. Someiyoshino cherry trees line both sides of the path, and the arch of cherry blossoms in front of the Sanmon gate, in particular, has been used as a great photo spot for posters.
The temple grounds are wide and a great location for a stroll, and you can appreciate the weeping cherry trees and other cherry blossoms outside the approach. It is located in the middle of Kamakura Station and Kita-Kamakura Station, and it takes about 20 minutes to walk from either station.
Both Yokohama and Kamakura have their own unique flavors and ways to enjoy the cherry blossoms.
If you are traveling nearby, why not stop by?
Recommended Hotels Around:
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