Hiking to see the autumn leaves is popular in Japan, but hiking to see cherry blossoms in spring is equally popular. Here are 17 cherry blossom hikes from Tokyo all over the country where you can enjoy hiking while being surrounded by the beautiful cherry blossoms. 

Cherry blossoms have been attracting the hearts of Japanese people since ancient times and have the ephemeral nature of being scattered in a short period of about two weeks. The cherry blossoms you see in the city are good, but the cherry blossoms that are in full bloom in the mountains where you can feel the great outdoors give you a different feeling. Compared to the autumn leaves, you can see cherry blossoms in the lower mountains, so even beginners can enjoy the hiking. 

One of the best ways to explore Tokyo is to visit the local areas and immerse yourself in the local culture. If you want to explore local areas, we have created scavenger hunt adventures personalised to your interests, filled with fun facts, clues and puzzles. If you’re curious, you can check out the games here! Check out the Flip Japan Games here!

Find out more about Spring in Japan here: What to do in Spring, Where to go in spring, Wisteria in Japan, Spring Date ideas, What to do eat in spring, Where to see cherry blossom in Tokyo and Cherry blossom festivals.

[Kanto area] 10 cherry blossoms hiking trails 

First of all, let’s have a look at the famous cherry blossom spots in the mountains around the Kanto area All of these are relatively easy to access because they are all located close to the city centre.

1. 高尾山 Mount. Takao (Okutama)

Located in Hachioji, Tokyo, Mount. Takao is a mountain with an altitude of 599m, and it is a mountain that is visited by one of the most climbers in the world. Cable cars and lifts connect to the middle of the mountain. The most major mountain trail is paved 90% and can be climbed even just with sneakers. 

You can see beautiful cherry blossoms around Kiyotaki Station and JR Takao Yamaguchi Station at the foot of the mountain, and near Icchodaira on the way from the summit to Mount. Jinba. Mount. Takao is visited by thousands of hikers every spring, so if you can, come on weekdays to avoid the crowd.

Best time to see: Early April

2. 大山 Mount. Oyama (Tanzawa)

Mount. Oyama, located in the Tanzawa Mountains, is known as a popular mountain for families and beginners because you can get to the middle of the mountain at an altitude of 1,252m by cable car. 

Mount. Oyama is know for its beautiful autumn leaves, but in the spring, the Oyama cherry blossoms that can be seen at the foot of the mountain are also very famous. We recommend the Oyama Sakura Hiking Course, which takes about an hour to go around. Along the course, you will come across four 400-year-old large sakura trees. 

Best time to see: Early April

3. 六国見山 Koboyama Park (Hadano)

Koboyama Park is a prefectural natural park and is located southeast of Mount Tanzawa. In spring, more than 2000 cherry blossoms such as Yoshino cherry trees and wild cherry blossoms bloom in the park, and the road connecting Mt. Gongen and Mt. Kobo becomes a corridor of cherry blossoms. It was elected as one of the “100 Famous Flower Spots in Kanagawa”. Flowers like hydrangeas and lilies also blossom here and the cherry blossom trees are lit up at night, bringing a different atmosphere to the area. 

Best time to see: Late March-Early April

4. 妙義山 Mount Myogi (Gunma)

Mount Myogi, famous for its strange rock formations, has a huge 47-hectare park, “Sakura no Sato,” with 5,000 cherry trees of 45 species planted at the southern foot of the mountain. Cherry blossoms with different flowering times bloom in sequence, so you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing for a relatively long period from mid-April to early May! 

There are sidewalks and resting areas in the park, so you can spend a relaxing time hiking or having a picnic.

Best time to see: Mid-April to early May

5. 筑波山 Mount Tsukuba (Ibaraki)

At an altitude of 877m, Mount Tsukuba is a mountain that is easy to climb by cable car or ropeway, making it a great and relaxing spot for people of all ages. The Yoshino cherry tree is in full bloom from the end of March to the beginning of April every year. You can also see the early blooming Kawazu cherry blossoms and Yae Sakura! 

Weeping cherry blossoms can be seen around the cable car Miyawaki Station, and cherry blossoms can be seen everywhere at the nearby Tsukubasan Omidou and Tsukubasan Shrines. It is also recommended to look at Mt. Tsukuba and the cherry blossoms from Hojo Oike at a distance, taking in the whole breathtaking view in one glance.

Best time to see: Late March-Early April

6. 太平山 Mount Ohira (Tochigi)

Mount Ohira is a small mountain with an altitude of 341m in the southern part of Tochigi prefecture. It is a mountain with abundant colours throughout the four seasons such as hydrangea and autumn leaves. In spring, it is beautifully coloured with cherry blossoms and it is selected as one of the 100 famous spots for Japanese cherry blossoms. 

Thousands of cherry blossom trees are planted on both sides of the sightseeing road on the north side leading to the mountaintop, making it a popular spot as a tunnel for cherry blossoms. There is also the 350-year-old weeping cherry tree at the foot of Taisanji Temple. It is lit up at night, and you can see a unique sight that’s special to this place.

Best time to see: Early April to mid-April

7. 武甲山 Mount Buko (Chichibu)

Mount Buko is 1,304 meters tall in Chichibu City and Yokoze City, Saitama Prefecture. It is one of the 200 famous mountains in Japan and it is characterised by a pyramid-shaped mountain, where you can see the limestone mining traces from a distance. 

From mid-April to May, more than 400,000 moss phlox of 9 species are in full bloom at the foot of Hitsujiyama Park. Only one side of the mountain is coloured in pink and it is a stunning sight. During the season, you can also enjoy different events held in the special market of Chichibu Road and in the city.

Best time to see: Mid-April to early May

8. 宝登山 Hodosan (Chichibu)

Hodosan is 497 meters tall in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture. It is known as “Sakura, Ume and Hodosan,” which is one of the eight famous views of Nagatoro. The area is a famous place to enjoy various cherry blossoms, and the season starts around the end of March in Nagatoro. 

Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms bloom along the Arakawa River from Nagatoro Station, with more than 500 double cherry blossoms of about 30 species at the foot of the mountain. The cherry blossom trees along the approach to the mountain climbing shrine are selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”. Light up also takes place during the season at night here.

Best time to see: Late March-Early April

9. 棒ノ嶺 Bonooreyama (Oku Musashi)

Bonooreyama is a mountain with an altitude of 969 meters, located on the border between Okutama Town and Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture. Hiking up to the mountaintop provides a stunning view, with cherry blossoms in full bloom around you. 

It’s a great place to enjoy a picnic while enjoying the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and the cherry blossoms.

Best time to see: Mid-April to late April

[Tokai Hokuriku] Two mountains where you can enjoy cherry blossoms

Next, here are some of the famous places in the area that is a little further from the Kanto area! We have Mount Hanami in Fukushima and Mount Amagi in Izu.

10. 花見山 Hanamiyama (Fukushima)

Hanamiyama is a famous flower spot in Watari, Fukushima. In spring, different kinds of cherry blossoms such as Tokai-zakura, Higanzakura and Yoshino cherry tree, as well as flowering trees such as plum blossoms and Japanese allspice bloom all at once.

Hanamiyama started when flowering and tree-producing farmers took time to clear and plant thickets. It was opened to the public in 1959 and has become a major cherry blossom viewing spot that many people visit since then. 

Best time to see: Early April to late April

11. 天城山 Mount Amagi (Izu)

Mt. Amagi is a mountain range consisting of 1,000-meter mountains such as Mt. Mansaburo, Mt. Manjiro, and Mt. Tokasa, and is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan. Mount Amagi is covered with virgin forests such as beech and rhododendron. It is characterised by its particularly beautiful season of fresh green and autumn leaves. 

In spring, you can see Mount Mamezakura and Japanese andromeda in full bloom on the mountain trail, along with cherry blossoms at the top of Mt. Mansaburo.

Best time to see: Early April to early May

[Chubu] 3 mountains where you can enjoy cherry blossoms

Here are three famous cherry blossom spots in the Shinshu area. 

12. 光城山Mount Hikarujo (Azumino)

Mt. Hikarujo is a mountain with an altitude of 911.7 metres and it’s located in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture. 1500 to 2000 Yoshino cherry trees are planted along the mountain trail. From the top of the mountain, you can see Azumino, and behind it, you can see the magnificent mountains of the Northern Alps, including Mount Jonen and Mount Yari. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in late April, the area is lit up at night and you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at night. 

Best time to see: Mid-April to late April

13. 岩殿山 Mount Iwatono (Otsuki)

Located in Otsuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Mount Iwatono is 634m high, the same height as the Sky Tree, and the mountain is characterised by its exposed rock surface. Mount Iwatono is a famous low mountain that has been selected as one of the 100 famous mountains of Yamanashi and the 12 views of Shurei Tomitake. At Maruyama Park at the southern foot of the mountain, more than 300 cherry trees are in full bloom and you can enjoy the Yoshino cherry tree from the end of March and the Yae Sakura from the end of April. You can see Mt. Fuji from Maruyama Park and you can enjoy the beauty of Sakura and Mt. Fuji together.

Best time to see: Late March-Early April

14. 弘法山古墳 Koboyama Tomb (Matsumoto)

Koboyama Tomb is the oldest tumulus in eastern Japan located in the southeastern part of Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. This tomb is said to have been built at the end of the 3rd century. In spring, on the summit of Mt. Kobo at an altitude of 650 meters, thousands of cherry blossoms such as Oyamazakura and Kohiganzakura turn pink. It is so popular that it is crowded with many cherry blossom viewing visitors, and the “Koboyama Kobo Sakura Festival” is held from early to late April. It is lit up at night and you can enjoy the scenery at night.

Best time to see: Early April to mid-April

[Western Japan] 3 mountains where you can enjoy cherry blossoms

Introducing famous places in the western Japan area west of Kansai! Because it is warm, the flowering time is relatively early. 

15. 高御位山 Mount Takamikura (Hyogo)

Mount Takamikura, which is located on the border between Kakogawa City and Takasago City in Hyogo Prefecture and has an altitude of about 304 meters. The area is also known as “Harima Fuji” and it is a popular spot for people to visit at the first sunrise of the year. 

From the top, you can see the Harima Plain and the Seto Inland Sea, and at the foot of the mountain is Kashima Ogidaira Nature Park, where 2000 cherry blossoms bloom in the spring. There is an observatory and a hiking course in the park, along with Kashima Shrine next to it. 

Best time to see: Late March-Early April

16. 野呂山 Mount Noro (Hiroshima)

Mount Noro is a general term for a plateau area with an altitude of around 800m that extends between Mt. Noro and Mt. Koboji in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. There are lots of things and activities to do in the area. In spring, 1500 cherry blossom trees planted on the Sazanami Skyline leading to Mt. Noro are in full bloom, and you can enjoy it together with the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.

Best time to see: Early April

17. 市房山 Mount Ichifusa (Kumamoto)

Mount Ichifusa is located on the prefectural border between Kumamoto and Miyazaki. It is a beautiful mountain with an altitude of 1,720.8 meters and has been loved by people as a mountain of worship in Kumamoto for a long time. 

At the Ichifusa Shrine at the foot of the Kumamoto side, “Odake visit” is held every year on March 15th of the lunar calendar. In the village further west of Ichifusa Shrine, there is Ichifusa Dam Lake, which is surrounded by 10,000 cherry trees over 14km around the dam, and has become a famous place for cherry blossoms. Events such as the Yuyama Onsen Sakura Festival is held in the middle of March. 

Best time to see: Mid-March to early April

—

Here in this blog post, we introduced the famous cherry blossom hiking spots and mountains that even beginners can easily climb. There are many hiking trails where you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing and these 17 are some of the best and most popular hikes. Why don’t you enjoy this year’s cherry blossom viewing combined with hiking? Some of these places offer must more than hiking, so if you have the time, make sure to check out what there is to do in the area. 

Find out more about Spring in Japan here: What to do in Spring, Where to go in spring, Wisteria in Japan, Spring Date ideas, What to do eat in spring, Where to see cherry blossom in Tokyo and Cherry blossom festivals.

Stay tuned for more information about Japan travel, Japanese culture, moving to Japan, living in Japan, Japanese language and more.