Yoshino: Full Bloom

The cherry blossoms on Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture are widely considered the most iconic and culturally significant in all of Japan, and today - following on from yesterday's report out of Kyoto - I dropped by to see how the season was progressing at three key spots along its slopes.

Here, one key difference from many of the sites we cover is the makeup of the cherry blossom trees themselves, which in addition to the Somei Yoshino type found almost everywhere include a large number of naturally occurring yamazakura. These can be told apart by the coppery leaves that form at the same time as their smaller petals, creating a somewhat more muted appearance overall.

While rain is predicted for tomorrow, the following few days look free and clear of heavy rain or strong winds, suggesting the best viewing period should last until around next Thursday. For those planning their visit later in the day, note that multiple areas will be illuminated daily from March 20 to April 19, starting at 16:30 and ending at 22:30.

My first stop of the day was at Shimo Senbon, which translates literally to "Lower 1000 trees" and refers to the bottom part of the mountainside leading up from Yoshino Station. Here, the blossoms were very much at full bloom, creating some beautiful scenes as I followed the pathway up into the town.

The Naka Senbon or "middle thousand trees" extends uphill roughly from the far end of the town, opening out into a hillside park area with spectacular views across to the opposite side of the valley, with many cherry blossom trees clustered along the hillside. Here the trees were again at full bloom, with many variations in the pink hue of the petals creating a lovely marbled effect.

My final stop was at the Kami Senbon or, as you may have guessed, the "upper thousand trees" - a generally quieter and more forested section with striking views back along the mountain ridge towards Kinpusenji Temple. Due to the difference in elevation, many of the yamazakura trees just below the Hanayagura Viewpoint appeared to be a day or two below the ones lower down the mountain, while the Somei Yoshino trees were already looking quite filled out and attractive.