Sakura cherry blossoms in full bloom until mid April! Cherry blossom day trips out of Tokyo（2/2）
The ideal time to see the cherry blossoms in Tokyo is late March. However, what about all of the people who can’t visit Japan during that short period of time? We’d like to recommend places in the north Kanto and Koshinetsu regions where the cherry blossoms start to bloom in April. We’ve carefully selected only convenient destinations accessible from Tokyo via JR or highway bus for day trips. In this second half of our feature, we’ll be looking at great nearby hot springs where you can enjoy the cherry blossoms.
Best time to see cherry blossoms most years: early to mid April
Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki is known as the town of cherry blossoms, with 14,000 trees throughout the town. Hitachi-shi Kamine Park is famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot even among this competition! This park was selected as one of Japan's top 100 cherry blossom viewing locations, for its location halfway up the hilly areas, where you can see both the Pacific Ocean and downtown Hitachi-shi. With Yoshino and Satozakura cherry trees among the 1,000 you'll find here, it's a world of pink when they're in bloom.
With its attached zoo and amusement park, Kamine Park is popular with local families.
If you stand on the observation deck up above, you can see the park filled with cherry blossoms, and the blue ocean in the distance.
The highlight is the Yoshino cherry trees in bloom throughout the whole park, accented with the early-blooming, locally discovered Hitachi Benikanzakura cherry trees or the rare green-blossomed Gyoiko cherry trees. Additionally, the four main Japanese cherry blossoms planted for the 2001 Cherry Blossom Summit are still maintained. Beyond just the sheer number of cherry blossom trees here, guests can also enjoy the incredible variety of different flowers on the different trees, making this the perfect destination for any cherry blossom lover.
The cherry blossoms are lit by lantern from sunset to 9:00 p.m.
From April 1st to 20th, the Hitachi Cherry Blossom Festival is held, and guests can enjoy the food stalls and the cherry blossom light-up. Enjoy the fantastic view of cherry blossoms at night, then head to a hot spring in town for a night bound to soothe both body and mind.
Hitachi-shi Kamine Park
5-2-22 Miyata-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki-ken. Tel: (0294) 22-5586. NOTE: Hitachi Cherry Blossom Festival is held from April 1st through 20th.
http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~kamine/
Access from Tokyo
• From Tokyo Station, take the JR Yamanote Line counter-clockwise to Ueno Station (approx. 7 minutes), then from Ueno Station, take the JR Super Hitachi express train to Hitachi Station (approx. 90 minutes).
• From the Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station, take a Hitachi Dentetsu highway bus bound for Hitachi/Takahagi Station, and get off at Hitachi-Eki-Chuo-Guchi stop (approx. 145 minutes). From Hitachi Station, take a Hitachi Dentetsu bus (from platform 2) bound for Juo Station/Ogitsu Station, and get off at Kamine Koen-Guchi bus stop (approx. 10 minutes), then walk approx. 3 minutes.
(Taxi from Hitachi Station takes approx. 10 minutes.
The hot springs are fed from more than 1,300 meters underground.
The hot springs at Unosaki, known as cormorant migration grounds, make an excellent day trip. The outdoor baths offer a beautiful view of the pine trees and beach along the Pacific coast. The large bathing area offers reclining baths, as well as bubble baths, whirlpool baths, and saunas -- so much is on offer that you'll think you can't possibly try it all. The on-site restaurant offers delicious, popular seafood cuisine.
Hitachi-shi Urara-no-Yu Juo
605 Ichi, Juo-cho, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki-ken. Tel: (0294) 39-1126. Open 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Closed the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, as well as December 31st and January 1st.
Admission: Adults ¥800. Children 3 years old through elementary age: ¥400 (Weekends and holidays: Adults ¥1,000. Children 3 years old through elementary age: ¥500).
Access from Hitachi Station
From Hitachi Station, take the JR Joban Line to Juo Station (approx. 10 minutes). From Juo Station, take a Shina Kanko bus bound for Unosaki Onsen and get off at Unosaki Onsen bus stop (approx. 10 minutes). Approx. 1-minute walk from bus stop.
Best time to see cherry blossoms most years: mid to late April.
The rocket-shaped Cosmo Tower. The Usuda area of Saku is home to East Asia's leading dish antenna, leading to Usuda being known as the "town of stars."
Inariyama Park, located about 5 minutes' walk from Usuda Station on the JR Koumi Line, is famous for its cherry blossoms and azaleas. In spring, its 40 or so Yoshino cherry blossoms bloom, bringing in many visitors eager to see them. The most popular sightseeing point is the Symbol Tower (or Cosmo Tower), rising some 35 meters above the center of the park. The view is excellent, stretching out to Mount Asama and Yatsugatake. When the cherry blossoms are in bloom, look down and see the park turned into a lush, pink carpet of blossoms. To the east, you can also see cherry blossoms along the banks of the Chikuma River.
Inside the park, you'll find a giant roller slide and a nice large lawn area, as well as Inari shrines, all of them surrounded by cherry blossoms! Take a walk around the park, camera in hand, and see which one is your favorite.
From the cherry blossom tunnel to the observation platform, the park is full of great cherry blossom viewing points!
Inariyama Park
Shiroyama Katsuma/Shiroyama Usuda, Saku-shi, Nagano-ken. Tel: (0267) 82-3111 (Saku Tourism Association, Usuda Branch)
Access from Tokyo
From Tokyo Station, take the JR Nagano Shinkansen to Sakudaira Station (approx. 75 minutes). From Sakudaira Station, take the JR Koumi Line to Usuda Station (approx. 25 minutes). Park is approx. 5 minutes' walk from Usuda Station.
The hot spring is great for joint pain or oversensitivity to cold.
The outdoor baths offer an outstanding view of Mount Asama and the peaceful country surroundings for a wide-open feel! Enjoy the feel of being under the two-meter-tall waterfall-style hot spring. After your bath, relax in a massage chair in the lounge before your trip home.
Asashina Onsen Honoka-no-Yu
1071-1 Ko, Saku-shi, Nagano-ken. Tel: (0267) 58-0033. Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
(last entry 9:30 p.m.). Closed Tuesdays (except for holidays). Admission: Adults ¥400. Children 4 years old through elementary age ¥250.
http://www.shinkou-saku.or.jp/honoka/
Access from Usuda Station
From Usuda Station, take the JR Koumi Line to Sakudaira Station (approx. 25 minutes). From Sakudaira Station, take the Saku city bus's Nakasato Line (only runs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). Bus ride approx. 25 minutes.
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