Today I visited Sakurayama Park in the mountains of Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture, for a rather unusual combination of autumn colors and cherry blossoms. Home to around 7000 winter flowering cherry trees, the park is one of only a few places in Japan where these two seasonal attractions can be enjoyed together in such large numbers.

Both the autumn colors and the cherry blossoms were at their peak today. The Japanese garden near the parking area was particularly colorful, with red and orange foliage surrounding its pond. Mist drifted across the hills, adding to the atmosphere as I explored the garden and the cherry tree covered slopes above it.

Red shrubs and maple leaves brighten a misty view across the pond
Carp gather at the edge of the pond beneath the autumn colors
Enjoying the garden despite a drizzle
Cherry trees line the path up the hillside

Visitors should be aware, however, that winter flowering cherry trees carry considerably fewer blossoms than their spring counterparts. Even at full bloom, their branches look rather sparse, and the effect is much more delicate than the clouds of flowers associated with spring. On the other hand, the flowers open over a longer, more spread-out period, so there should still be blossoms to enjoy for some time to come.

A closer look at the delicate winter cherry blossoms
Pale blossoms stand out against a backdrop of red autumn leaves
The cherry trees retain an airy appearance even at the height of their autumn bloom
Twisting branches frame more flowering cherry trees on the slope below

The autumn colors also appear to have some time left. While many trees were already beautifully colored, others still carried green leaves, providing a mixture of seasonal stages along the walking paths. Together with the prolonged cherry blossom season, this should leave a little more time to enjoy Sakurayama's unusual combination.

A mixture of cherry blossoms, autumn foliage and evergreen trees covers the hillside
Maple leaves frame a stairway through the park
Low clouds drift among the mountains surrounding Sakurayama
Some maple leaves are still making the transition from green to autumn colors

Sakurayama is in a rural area, and there is no public transport directly to the park. The easiest way to visit is by rental car, picked up around Shinmachi or Takasaki Station. Buses do reach nearby Onishi, but a taxi or a long uphill walk is still needed from there. Plan your transport ahead rather than expecting convenient connections on arrival.

One last view of the flowering cherry trees beneath the misty mountains
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