Aizu: Approaching Full Bloom
The cherry blossom front line has moved towards the north, and this week, we are checking out the cherry blossoms in cities at higher elevations like the Fuji Five Lakes area as well as in the Tohoku Region. Compared to the early sakura season just about two weeks ago, the pace has seemed to slow down a little while we wait for the blossoms to open further north. Joe visited the impressive Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima Prefecture yesterday and reported that it is at full bloom.
Today I headed to Tsuruga Castle (Tsurugajo) in Aizu Wakamatsu, also in Fukushima Prefecture. The castle maintains its unique red tiles which stand out compared to the other castles in Japan.
Tsuruga Castle
There are approximately 1000 cherry trees on the castle grounds and today I found the blossoms to be at a range from opening to almost at full bloom. Many of the flowers will require at least another two to three days before reaching their best viewing. Rain is forecast for this coming weekend but it should not affect the longevity of the viewing period too much and I expect the best viewing period to continue through into next week. From now till May 6, the castle grounds will be illuminated from sunset till 21:30.
Questions? Ask in our forum.
- 2024 Cherry Blossom Forecast
- Best timing to see the blossoms
- Best cherry blossom spots
- Best spots in Tokyo
- Best spots in Kyoto
- Best spots in Sapporo
- Best spots in Hakodate
- Best spots in Sendai
- Best spots in Fukushima
- Miharu Takizakura
- Best spots in Gunma
- Best spots in Yokohama
- Best spots in Kamakura
- Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival
- Best spots around Mount Fuji
- Best spots in Takayama
- Best spots in Matsumoto
- Takato Castle Park
- Best spots in Nagoya
- Best spots in Osaka
- Best spots in Nara
- Mount Yoshinoyama
- Best spots in Okayama
- Best spots in Tottori
- Best spots in Hiroshima
- Best spots in Takamatsu
- Best spots in Matsuyama
- Best spots in Fukuoka
- Best spots in Nagasaki
- Best spots in Kumamoto
- Best spots in Kagoshima
- How to enjoy hanami
- Cherry tree varieties
- Cherry blossom reports
- Spring 2024
- Spring 2023
- 04/09 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/04 - Kyoto
- 04/03 - Yoshino
- 04/02 - Osaka
- 04/01 - Kanazawa
- 03/31 - Kyoto
- 03/30 - Tokyo
- 03/27 - Tokyo
- 03/26 - Osaka
- 03/25 - Kyoto
- 03/22 - Tokyo
- 03/21 - Kyoto
- 03/19 - Tokyo
- 03/15 - Tokyo
- Spring 2020
- Spring 2019
- 05/01 - Sapporo
- 04/30 - Hakodate
- 04/29 - Hirosaki
- 04/26 - Kakunodate
- 04/25 - Hirosaki
- 04/23 - Hirosaki
- 04/22 - Kitakami
- 04/19 - Gunma
- 04/18 - Aizu
- 04/16 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/16 - Kyoto
- 04/15 - Tokyo
- 04/12 - Sendai
- 04/12 - Matsumoto
- 04/11 - Kyoto
- 04/10 - Fukushima
- 04/10 - Osaka
- 04/09 - Yoshino
- 04/09 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/09 - Tokyo
- 04/08 - Kyoto
- 04/06 - Tokyo
- 04/05 - Kyoto
- 04/05 - Kanazawa
- 04/04 - Usuzumizakura
- 04/04 - Yoshino
- 04/04 - Takamatsu
- 04/03 - Tokyo
- 04/03 - Matsuyama
- 04/03 - Okayama
- 04/03 - Himeji
- 04/02 - Kyoto
- 04/02 - Hiroshima
- 04/02 - Iwakuni
- 04/01 - Osaka
- 04/01 - Kamakura
- 04/01 - Fukuoka
- 03/31 - Tokyo
- 03/30 - Kyoto
- 03/29 - Nagoya
- 03/28 - Tokyo
- 03/28 - Kyoto
- 03/28 - Kumamoto
- 03/28 - Hiroshima
- 03/27 - Nagasaki
- 03/26 - Fukuoka
- 03/25 - Kyoto
- 03/25 - Tokyo
- 03/22 - Tokyo
- 03/12 - Tokyo
- Spring 2018
- 04/27 - Hakodate
- 04/26 - Hirosaki
- 04/25 - Kakunodate
- 04/20 - Hirosaki
- 04/19 - Kitakami
- 04/18 - Hiraizumi
- 04/12 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/11 - Shiroishi
- 04/10 - Aizu
- 04/10 - Sendai
- 04/09 - Takizakura
- 04/07 - Matsumoto
- 04/06 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/06 - Yoshino
- 04/05 - Fukushima
- 04/05 - Kyoto
- 04/05 - Takaoka
- 04/04 - Kanazawa
- 04/03 - Kyoto
- 04/02 - Yoshino
- 04/02 - Tokyo
- 04/01 - Kyoto
- 03/31 - Nagoya
- 03/30 - Kyoto
- 03/29 - Tokyo
- 03/29 - Osaka
- 03/28 - Hiroshima
- 03/27 - Kyoto
- 03/27 - Fukuoka
- 03/26 - Tokyo
- 03/26 - Kumamoto
- 03/26 - Minobu
- 03/25 - Kochi
- 03/24 - Osaka
- 03/23 - Kyoto
- 03/23 - Tokyo
- 03/19 - Tokyo
- Spring 2017
- 05/04 - Sapporo
- 05/03 - Hakodate
- 05/02 - Matsumae
- 04/28 - Hirosaki
- 04/27 - Morioka
- 04/26 - Kakunodate
- 04/25 - Hirosaki
- 04/24 - Aizu
- 04/24 - Kitakami
- 04/20 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/19 - Matsumoto
- 04/19 - Fukushima
- 04/18 - Kyoto
- 04/17 - Sendai
- 04/17 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/17 - Tokyo
- 04/16 - Akagi
- 04/14 - Tomioka
- 04/14 - Yoshino
- 04/13 - Kyoto
- 04/12 - Tokyo
- 04/12 - Hiroshima
- 04/11 - Himeji
- 04/10 - Tokyo
- 04/10 - Kyoto
- 04/10 - Yoshino
- 04/08 - Osaka
- 04/07 - Kyoto
- 04/06 - Tokyo
- 04/06 - Kamakura
- 04/06 - Iwakuni
- 04/05 - Nagoya
- 04/05 - Fukuoka
- 04/04 - Kyoto
- 04/04 - Kumamoto
- 04/03 - Tokyo
- 04/03 - Hiroshima
- 04/02 - Fukuoka
- 04/01 - Kyoto
- 03/31 - Tokyo
- 03/30 - Kyoto
- 03/29 - Tokyo
- 03/23 - Tokyo
- 03/23 - Kumamoto
- Spring 2016
- 05/02 - Sapporo
- 05/01 - Noboribetsu
- 04/30 - Matsumae
- 04/29 - Hakodate
- 04/28 - Hirosaki
- 04/22 - Kakunodate
- 04/21 - Hirosaki
- 04/19 - Kitakami
- 04/19 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/15 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/15 - Aizu
- 04/14 - Kyoto
- 04/13 - Hikone
- 04/12 - Tokyo
- 04/12 - Yoshino
- 04/11 - Sendai
- 04/11 - Kyoto
- 04/08 - Tokyo
- 04/08 - Kyoto
- 04/08 - Matsumoto
- 04/08 - Odawara
- 04/07 - Nara
- 04/06 - Kyoto
- 04/06 - Kanazawa
- 04/05 - Yoshino
- 04/05 - Fukushima
- 04/05 - Osaka
- 04/05 - Kamakura
- 04/04 - Kyoto
- 04/04 - Tokyo
- 04/01 - Tokyo
- 04/01 - Kyoto
- 04/01 - Okayama
- 03/31 - Hiroshima
- 03/31 - Himeji
- 03/31 - Onomichi
- 03/30 - Osaka
- 03/30 - Miyajima
- 03/30 - Iwakuni
- 03/29 - Tokyo
- 03/29 - Kyoto
- 03/29 - Kumamoto
- 03/28 - Nagoya
- 03/28 - Fukuoka
- 03/27 - Tokyo
- 03/25 - Kyoto
- 03/24 - Tokyo
- 03/22 - Fukuoka
- 03/20 - Tokyo
- Spring 2015
- 04/30 - Sapporo
- 04/29 - Hakodate
- 04/23 - Kakunodate
- 04/22 - Hirosaki
- 04/21 - Kitakami
- 04/16 - Sendai
- 04/16 - Fujigoko
- 04/15 - Kyoto
- 04/14 - Yoshino
- 04/13 - Takizakura
- 04/10 - Himeji
- 04/10 - Takada
- 04/09 - Tokyo
- 04/09 - Kyoto
- 04/08 - Fukushima
- 04/08 - Matsumoto
- 04/07 - Yoshino
- 04/06 - Tokyo
- 04/06 - Kyoto
- 04/05 - Okayama
- 04/04 - Hiroshima
- 04/03 - Kyoto
- 04/03 - Nagoya
- 04/02 - Tokyo
- 04/02 - Nara
- 04/01 - Osaka
- 04/01 - Kumagaya
- 03/31 - Kyoto
- 03/30 - Tokyo
- 03/27 - Fukuoka
- 03/26 - Kumamoto
- 03/25 - Tokyo
- Spring 2014
- 05/09 - Hakodate
- 05/08 - Matsumae
- 05/01 - Hirosaki
- 04/30 - Kakunodate
- 04/24 - Kitakami
- 04/23 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/23 - Morioka
- 04/22 - Aizu
- 04/19 - Matsushima
- 04/17 - Takato
- 04/16 - Sendai
- 04/16 - Matsumoto
- 04/15 - Fukushima
- 04/15 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/15 - Kyoto
- 04/14 - Yoshino
- 04/13 - Osaka
- 04/12 - Kanazawa
- 04/11 - Kyoto
- 04/10 - Yoshino
- 04/10 - Tokyo
- 04/09 - Gunma
- 04/09 - Hikone
- 04/08 - Kyoto
- 04/07 - Tokyo
- 04/06 - Kyoto
- 04/05 - Hiroshima
- 04/05 - Matsuyama
- 04/04 - Tokyo
- 04/04 - Kamakura
- 04/04 - Osaka
- 04/03 - Kyoto
- 04/03 - Fukuoka
- 04/03 - Uji
- 04/02 - Tokyo
- 04/02 - Nagoya
- 04/02 - Kumamoto
- 04/01 - Kyoto
- 03/31 - Tokyo
- 03/29 - Kyoto
- 03/28 - Kumamoto
- 03/27 - Fukuoka
- 03/26 - Tokyo
- 03/25 - Kyoto
- Spring 2013
- 05/09 - Hakodate
- 05/08 - Matsumae
- 05/02 - Hirosaki
- 05/01 - Kakunodate
- 04/30 - Kitakami
- 04/18 - Sendai
- 04/17 - Takayama
- 04/15 - Fukushima
- 04/12 - Matsumoto
- 04/11 - Kyoto
- 04/10 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/10 - Hakone
- 04/10 - Kanazawa
- 04/09 - Yoshino
- 04/08 - Kyoto
- 04/08 - Tokyo
- 04/05 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/04 - Kyoto
- 04/04 - Gunma
- 04/03 - Takamatsu
- 04/02 - Osaka
- 04/02 - Hiroshima
- 04/01 - Tokyo
- 04/01 - Kyoto
- 03/29 - Tokyo
- 03/28 - Gunma
- 03/28 - Kyoto
- 03/27 - Osaka
- 03/27 - Fukuoka
- 03/26 - Nagoya
- 03/26 - Kamakura
- 03/26 - Okayama
- 03/25 - Tokyo
- 03/24 - Kyoto
- 03/23 - Kagoshima
- 03/22 - Kumamoto
- 03/21 - Tokyo
- 03/21 - Fukuoka
- 03/20 - Kyoto
- 03/17 - Tokyo
- 03/12 - Tokyo
- 02/28 - Kawazu
- Spring 2012
- 05/09 - Sapporo
- 05/08 - Hakodate
- 05/07 - Hirosaki
- 04/30 - Hirosaki
- 04/29 - Kakunodate
- 04/28 - Takizakura
- 04/28 - Kitakami
- 04/28 - Aizu
- 04/28 - Hiraizumi
- 04/25 - Fuji Five Lakes
- 04/25 - Sendai
- 04/24 - Fukushima
- 04/18 - Tokyo
- 04/17 - Kyoto
- 04/16 - Yoshino
- 04/15 - Kanazawa
- 04/15 - Tottori
- 04/14 - Kyoto
- 04/14 - Osaka
- 04/14 - Himeji
- 04/13 - Tokyo
- 04/12 - Yokohama
- 04/12 - Kamakura
- 04/11 - Kyoto
- 04/10 - Hiroshima
- 04/09 - Tokyo
- 04/09 - Kyoto
- 04/07 - Osaka
- 04/06 - Tokyo
- 04/06 - Kyoto
- 04/06 - Nagoya
- 04/04 - Fukuoka
- 04/03 - Tokyo
- 04/03 - Kumamoto
- 04/02 - Kagoshima
- 04/01 - Kyoto
- 03/31 - Tokyo
- 03/22 - Tokyo
- 03/15 - Tokyo
- Spring 2011
- 05/09 - Sapporo
- 05/06 - Hakodate
- 05/02 - Kakunodate
- 05/01 - Hirosaki
- 04/29 - Kitakami
- 04/22 - Aizu
- 04/21 - Sendai
- 04/20 - Fujigoko
- 04/19 - Tokyo
- 04/16 - Kyoto
- 04/15 - Osaka
- 04/14 - Tokyo
- 04/14 - Kanazawa
- 04/13 - Yoshino
- 04/12 - Kyoto
- 04/12 - Okayama
- 04/11 - Tokyo
- 04/11 - Takamatsu
- 04/10 - Osaka
- 04/10 - Matsuyama
- 04/09 - Kyoto
- 04/08 - Tokyo
- 04/08 - Yoshino
- 04/07 - Hiroshima
- 04/07 - Iwakuni
- 04/07 - Nagoya
- 04/06 - Kyoto
- 04/05 - Tokyo
- 04/04 - Kyoto
- 04/03 - Fukuoka
- 04/02 - Tokyo
- 04/01 - Kyoto
- 04/01 - Kagoshima
- 03/31 - Kumamoto
- 03/31 - Fukuoka
- 03/30 - Tokyo
- 03/30 - Kochi
- 03/29 - Kyoto
- 03/28 - Himeji
- 03/27 - Tokyo
- Spring 2010
- 05/14 - Hakodate
- 05/13 - Matsumae
- 05/06 - Kakunodate
- 05/05 - Hirosaki
- 04/25 - Takizakura
- 04/14 - Fujigoko
- 04/10 - Kyoto
- 04/09 - Kanazawa
- 04/08 - Tokyo
- 04/08 - Osaka
- 04/07 - Kyoto
- 04/07 - Kamakura
- 04/06 - Yoshino
- 04/06 - Inuyama
- 04/05 - Tokyo
- 04/05 - Hikone
- 04/04 - Kyoto
- 04/04 - Himeji
- 04/03 - Nara
- 04/03 - Miyajima
- 04/02 - Kyoto
- 04/02 - Hiroshima
- 04/01 - Tokyo
- 03/30 - Nagoya
- 03/30 - Kyoto
- 03/30 - Tokyo
- 03/29 - Osaka
- 03/27 - Kyoto
- 03/26 - Tokyo
- 03/26 - Nara
- 03/26 - Himeji
- 03/26 - Nagoya
- 03/25 - Nagasaki
- 03/23 - Tokyo
- 03/23 - Kyoto
- 03/22 - Kumamoto
- 03/21 - Fukuoka
- Spring 2009
- 04/16 - Fuji Five Lakes Report
- 04/15 - Osaka Report
- 04/15 - Kyoto Report
- 04/14 - Himeji Report
- 04/14 - Kobe Report
- 04/13 - Nagano Report
- 04/13 - Kanazawa Report
- 04/12 - Kyoto Report
- 04/10 - Tokyo Report
- 04/09 - Nagoya Report
- 04/08 - Kamakura Report
- 04/08 - Yoshino Report
- 04/07 - Kyoto Report
- 04/06 - Tokyo Report
- 04/06 - Osaka Report
- 04/05 - Yoshino Report
- 04/04 - Kyoto Report
- 04/03 - Nara Report
- 04/03 - Yokohama Report
- 04/02 - Tokyo Report
- 04/02 - Kobe Report
- 04/01 - Kyoto Report
- 03/31 - Tokyo Report
- 03/31 - Himeji Report
- 03/30 - Nagoya Report
- 03/30 - Kyoto Report
- 03/29 - Tokyo Report
- 03/29 - Hiroshima Report
- 03/28 - Miyajima Report
- 03/27 - Kagoshima Report
- 03/26 - Tokyo Report
- 03/26 - Nagasaki Report
- 03/25 - Kyoto Report
- 03/25 - Kagoshima Report
- 03/24 - Kumamoto Report
- 03/23 - Fukuoka Report