Cherry Blossoms in Nagano: When and Where to Enjoy the 2025 Season
Cherry blossoms play an important role in Japanese culture and for the brief time they are in bloom each spring, capture the imagination of the public. Known as ‘sakura’, the fragile beauty and fleeting nature of the blossoms is seen to reflect that of life itself – something to be cherished and delighted in with family and friends. Due to its altitude and cooler climate, Nagano’s sakura season is later than Osaka, Tokyo, or other coastal cities in the lower half of Japan. Thanks to this, even if you’ve missed the blossoms elsewhere a short trip to Nagano will give you a chance to see them for yourself.
— What Makes Cherry Blossoms Special?
— The Best Spots to See Cherry Blossoms in Nagano
— Spring Activities in Nagano: Monkeys, Skiing, and More!
— Tours and Charters to See the Blossoms
The timing of the bloom varies between years, placing huge importance on the blossom forecast to time visits and events for peak bloom or ‘mankai’. As the blossoms come to full bloom, ‘hanami’ (flower viewing) becomes a national past-time with couples, workmates, friends and families gathering in parks and venues around Japan to eat, drink chat and just take in the fleeting beauty of the fabled blossoms of Japan.
WHAT MAKES CHERRY BLOSSOMS SPECIAL?
Although Cherry Blossoms can be found in countries outside of Japan, there is nowhere else where such a high cultural importance is placed on these five-petaled flowers. Overseas, the cherry blossom, or ‘Sakura’, usually ranks alongside even Mt. Fuji, samurai, and sushi as one of Japan’s most recognizable symbols. But how did things come to be this way?
Ancient Japan had a lively culture of poetry and appreciation for natural beauty, and taking inspiration from the outdoors. It is no surprise then that a plant as strikingly beautiful as the cherry blossom would be noticed and celebrated widely. From the earliest record of Japanese poetry, the Manyoshu (compiled around 759 AD), the cherry blossom receives much praise and is featured in many of the recorded poems. This would continue up until the modern day, with references in art and literature appearing nonstop throughout recorded history.
The importance of the cherry blossom is not limited to poetry – it even extended into mythology and religion! It is said in the oldest written collections of myths in Japan that Ninigi, the grandson of the Sun Goddess, was sent to Earth by the other gods to establish rule there and create a new country. Upon doing so, he meets a mountain god who has two daughters – Flower Princess and Rock Princess. Ninigi is offered the choice of one of these daughters as his wife, and the choice is seemingly easy; Rock Princess is nothing special to look at, while Flower Princess is extremely beautiful. Upon doing so however, he becomes cursed by Rock Princess. Had he chose her, his descendants would be immortal and unchanging as a solid rock, but by choosing Flower Princess as his wife his descendants will instead be short lived, much as the cherry blossom falls from the tree after only a brief amount of time. In this way, the people of Earth came to have a limited lifespan, unlike the immortal gods.
There is another special feature of the cherry blossom season that makes it so memorable – Hanami (literally flower-viewing) – wherein revelers pick a spot at a park, roll out a picnic blanket or sheet, invite some friends and family, and enjoy the flowers under the open sky for a day of food, drink, and (hopefully) good company. This tradition is also quite old, and has been enjoyed by the masses since at least the Edo Era (1600-1868). In that period of peace and economic growth, many parks full of cherry blossoms were established by local lords and even the shoguns themselves. Some of these areas are still around today, such as Joyama Park in Matsumoto City. Having a picnic under the blossoms isn’t just a fun day out – its a tradition.
PREDICTING THE 2025 SEASON
At the moment, it is too early to make any solid predictions for the 2025 cherry blossom season in Nagano. Depending on the year, the date of full bloom can vary by as much as two weeks, meaning it can be hard to make plans in advance if you only have a short time in Japan/Nagano. A glance at the above map shows Nagano to be in the April 10th zone for 2024, which was later than usual. Whether 2025 will follow this trend is yet to be seen, but the best thing to do is to make your plans based on the overall trends averaged year over year. As the season gets closer, we will update this section with the latest predictions – but for now, read on for the overall expectations.
As Japan is a rather long country north to south, and also contains cities and towns at many different elevations, the cherry blossoms do not all bloom at the same time nationwide. Come spring, they will start from the south, in places such as Fukuoka, Kagoshima, and Shikoku, around mid March. Heading north, the major cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto will usually get their yearly show a little later around the end of March. Continuing north, the cold regions of north Japan such as Hokkaido will not get a full bloom until late April or even early May.
So where does Nagano fit in? Although not in the far north, the elevation in most of Nagano Prefecture is quite high, and being far from the sea the weather gets and stays colder for longer. This means that you can expect peak bloom around a week or more after Tokyo, generally in the first or second week of April. Of course, even within Nagano the time at which you can see blossoms will vary a little based on the elevation, and at high elevations you can extend the viewing period by a week or even more.
If you missed the blossoms in Tokyo, coming out to Nagano Prefecture is a great way to find some still at their best. With easy access by bullet train, bus, or car, a quick trip can be simply arranged if nature’s plans didn’t match what you expected and you are left scrambling to come up with a replacement idea. Of course, Nagano has so much to offer beyond cherry blossoms that a trip here in spring may just become the highlight of your vacation, and should be considered in its own right as an addition to your itinerary.
THE BEST SPOTS TO SEE CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN NAGANO
As one of Japan’s largest prefectures, Nagano has numerous blossom-viewing spots to choose from. While we won’t be able to introduce every spot here, we will mention our top pics including both famous and little known areas. Keep reading below to see just how much Nagano has to offer!
INA, NAGANO / best: early-April
Takato Castle Park is home to over 1500 ‘kohigan’ blossom trees and often cited as one of Japan’s Top 3 blossom sites. The official festival is timed for ‘mankai’ (peak bloom), with festival dates announced early each year as the blossom forecast is released.
In full bloom, the canopy of white and pink floats about the expansive grounds of the park, which draws visitors from all over Japan. Evening is a particularly beautiful time to visit, as the trees are lit-up and the canopy of blossoms glows pink in the night.
Festival stalls selling food, snacks and drinks along with traditional games for children pop-up throughout the park, with traditional music performances combining to keep the many visitors entertained and well-fed throughout the day and into the night.
KOMORO, NAGANO / best: early-April
Another spot often cited as one of Japan’s best to enjoy the blossoms of spring, Komoro Castle Park is easy to reach from Tokyo using the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station, followed by the local Shinano Railway to Komoro Station. Much like Takato, Komoro Kaikoen is another park set on the ruins of a castle dating back to the 15th century.
Only the walls and gate remain, marking the entrance to the park and your immersion within the 500-odd blossom trees including the classic ‘yoshino’. ‘shidarezakura’, ‘higanzakura’ and local ‘Komoro yaebenishidare’ varieties. To celebrate the bloom, the park plays host to a spring festival with the usual array of vendors, families and groups of friends setting-up in the park to enjoy the beauty of the blossoms with plenty of food and drink.
UEDA, NAGANO / best: early-April
Ueda Castle Park is blessed with numerous blossom trees set within the picturesque grounds, sitting atop the foundations of the former castle. Though the castle is now gone, several reconstructed buildings sit among the splendid blossom trees, which along with numerous food stalls and vendors during peak bloom, makes Ueda one of the most popular blossom-viewing destination in Nagano.
In mid-April, the park plays host to the ‘Ueda Castle Sen-Bon Sakura Festival’ – another hugely popular festival which draws visitors from all over Japan. Translating as the ‘1000 Cherry Trees’ festival, you get a sense of just what to expect – countless spectacular trees in bloom spread across the broad grounds of the park.
As expected, plenty of vendors are on-hand to make sure you’re well-fed and drinks are in steady supply, with the canopy lit-up at night it is a truly magical atmosphere and easily enjoyed from Tokyo. The park is within 15-minutes walk of Ueda Station, a convenient stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
NAGANO CITY, NAGANO / early-April to mid-April
For visitors in Nagano City, Zenko-ji Temple is particularly beautiful in spring as the surrounding blossom trees, set against the backdrop of the famous temple, offer outstanding photo opportunities. Around 20-minutes walk from Nagano Station, the city’s famous Zenko-ji Temple/Joyama Park precinct is the best spot to see the blossoms in central Nagano City. The near-1400 year old temple complex has several spectacular trees which set against the beauty of the historic buildings and streetscape offer some truly beautiful photography.
While there, take the time to wander a little further north to Joyama Park. Popular with local families, the park is ringed by different types of blossom trees which form a delightful corridor to walk under. When in full bloom, Joyama Park is without doubt the best spot to enjoy cherry blossoms in Nagano City (pictured below).
Around 30-minutes by local bus from Nagano Station, Matsushiro Castle Park is the central focus of Nagano’s famous samurai town – Matsushiro – and blessed with some of the region’s most beautiful blossoms. While all original structures other than the foundation walls are now gone, several buildings including the park’s impressive gate have been thoughtfully restored with many mature cherry blossoms trees now populating the park.
Typically blooming in the first week of April, the Matsushiro Spring Cherry Blossom Festival takes place of the second Saturday of the month, with performances and events happening in the park with the usual array of food and drink vendors on-hand to ensure an enjoyable day-out.
Along with famous destinations, we highly recommend searching-out local sites which offer some of the best cherry blossom experiences. Located 30 minutes walk from Suzaka Station, Suzaka Garyu Park is a fantastic option for visitors wanting to enjoy a truly local hanami event.
Encircling a lake and lined with blossom trees, when in full bloom Suzaka Garyu is a stunning sight, popular with local families and friends. During peak bloom, food stalls and other vendors are popular with local residents, who stroll slowly around the lake savouring the sights, smells, and tastes of Japan in spring.
MATSUMOTO, NAGANO / best: early-April
As one of Central Japan’s most iconic landmarks, Matsumoto Castle is also a popular cherry blossom-viewing location. The sight of the castle – surrounded by pink blooms with the snow-capped peaks of the Northern Alps shining in the distance – has become representative of spring in the region.
As one of Japan’s few remaining castles and a registered National Treasure, the illumination of the castle and surrounding blossom trees imbues the precinct with a magical atmosphere – within under 15-minutes walk of Matsumoto Station.
The castle grounds play host to an annual blossom festival timed to coincide with peak bloom – the exact timing of this event therefore varies from year-to-year and is a little tricky to predict. As the weather warms and the bloom can be forecast with some level of certainty, the official beginning of the cherry blossom season will be announced and the festivals will begin three days later. The Night-time Cherry Blossom Viewing will run for eight days and Corridor of Lights will run for ten days.
Also located in Matsumoto, around 20-minutes drive from the station, Koboyama Koen is another public park known for its beautiful array of pink cherry trees. Unlike other parks included on this list, Koboyama sits on an ancient burial mound rather than castle ruins and as such, is a hugely important cultural and archaeological site dating from the 3rd century/the Kofun Period. One of the oldest known tombs in the region, visitors who want to learn more about the Kofun Period can also visit the nearby Nakayama Cultural History Museum.
On a clear day, sitting in the park surrounded by the cherry blossoms offers true relaxation and beautiful photography, with the snow-capped North Alps sitting in the background.
AZUMINO, NAGANO / best: early-April
Lying in the rural enclave of Azumino, Hikarujoyama is known for its 400 metre corridor of blossom trees that rise along the side of the small mountain. Known locally as the ‘Rising Dragon Sakura Trail’, you won’t find many non-locals here but visitors that do make the journey from Tokyo and beyond can enjoy some spectacular blossoms and warm reception from locals.
The trees reach full bloom progressively, from the lower reaches to the top, with the uppermost trees blooming later than those at Matsumoto Castle. The path is lit by hanging lanterns at night but there are no shops or stalls along the path, so be prepared before you go. Azumino is around 20 to 30-minutes further on from Matsumoto Station, accessible using the Oito Line.
IIYAMA, NAGANO / best: mid-April
Around 15-munites walk from Iiyama Station, Iiyama Joshi Park is another public park sitting on the foundations of a former castle, boasting some beautiful blossom trees and popular with local residents. A couple of a small reconstructed buildings provide a glimpse of what once stood there with the main focus well and truly on the many large blossom trees in the park.
While the park can’t boast the same popularity or profile as Takato or Ueda – discussed above – Iiyama Joshi is spectacular when in full bloom. A small festival takes place each spring with a handful of vendors setting-up in the park. The real attraction of Iiyama is however that it is notably quieter than other more famous blossom sites yet easily accessible from Tokyo using the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Iiyama Station and a great excuse to combine a morning or afternoon enjoying the blossoms before heading onto nearby Nozawa Onsen for a night or two of hot springs and relaxation.
SPRING ACTIVITIES IN NAGANO: MONKEYS, SKIING, AND MORE!
April is a spectacular time of year to visit Nagano Prefecture. As the days warm and the blossoms come into full bloom, Nagano emerges from its long, cold winter and families and friends gather to enjoy the flowers together.
Nagano’s higher elevation and surrounding alpine landscape offer visitors some unique experiences and activities, which can be enjoyed in combination with the blossoms:
Baby Monkeys
Spring is a quiet time of year at the Jigokudani Monkey Park. With the snow now melted, daily visitor numbers quickly drop away from those experienced in the winter peak season. But with the monkeys still visiting the park in big numbers, spring offers a very special reason to visit – baby monkeys!
Born from mid to late-April onward – and therefore roughly coinciding with the second half of Nagano’s blossom season – the baby monkeys will emerge in the park and begin their first awkward exploration of their world at this time.
With no barriers separating visitors from the monkeys, the park offers a truly unique opportunity to get close to the babies. Mothers keep a firm grip on their tiny rear legs to stop them escaping yet the new mums are relaxed enough to allow visitors to get a good look at their little ones – who stare back with large, glassy eyes of wonder.
Open every day, visiting the monkey park in spring is one of Japan’s best experiences.
Spring Skiing in Shiga Kogen
Located within easy reach of the Jigokudani Monkey Park, Shiga Kogen is Japan’s largest and highest ski resort. Being the highest resort in the land affords Shiga with Nagano’s longest ski season, which – in a good year – will stretch well into May.
With the blossoms in bloom below, Shiga Kogen offers Nagano’s best spring skiing and snowboarding. Consisting of 18 ski areas spread across Japan’s largest expanse of connected ski fields, the majority of the resort will be open in April, but very quiet.
Relatively unknown to international visitors who are yet to discover the outstanding spring skiing it offers, the spring snow of Shiga is legendary for locals. Ski runs remain full of snow but empty of people. On weekdays you are likely to have long ski runs all to yourself – a truly fantastic spring experience.
TOURS AND CHARTERS TO SEE THE BLOSSOMS
Cherry Blossoms can be very fickle – they do not bloom at the same time every year, nor at the same time in every region. Timing your trip can therefore be a little difficult without some insider knowledge about where the flowers are blooming for that specific day. Luckily, we are here to help – with group tours and charter services available to bring you to the blossoms.
1 Day Tour
| [Spring Only] 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys & Cherry Blossoms in Nagano | |
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| Period | April |
| Time | 09:35 – 17:30/18:30 |
| Meeting Place | Hotel Kokusai 21 Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Available only in Spring (of course!), this group tour combines a trip to the Snow Monkey Park with beautiful Cherry Blossoms, a great combo. Where you will go to see the blossoms is not set – instead, we use our local expertise to pick the best spot for each day that the tour runs and guarantee that you can see the best possible scenery. This is the safest and easiest way to enjoy a day out in nature without any hassle or stress.
If a guided tour is not what you are after, our private charter service may be more your style. With friendly, certifies drivers and clean vehicles, we will pick you up from your accommodation (or wherever you choose to be picked up from) and bring you to any great cherry blossom spot of your choice. If you need advice, just feel free to ask and we can put together an itinerary for you using our local knowledge and experience. Please click HERE for more information on pricing and availability.
