Kakunodate: Full Bloom

Today I visited Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture. The city is about midway between Akita and Morioka cities, and Kakunodate Station is a stop on the Akita Shinkansen. In spring, Kakunodate is a popular cherry blossom spot in Japan and the Tohoku Region, especially around the samurai district and along the riverside.

Today, I observed that the cherry trees in both the samurai district and along the riverside were all at their best viewing. Cloudy and mild weather is forecast for the next few days, and I expect the cherry blossoms to remain at their best through this coming weekend and into the first half of next week.

Elsewhere in the country, Hakodate and Sapporo reported the opening of their first blossoms today, 5 and 8 days respectively earlier compared to the average year. The best viewing in these cities is predicted to start from this coming weekend through to early next week.

Approximately 400 weeping cherry trees can be found in Kakunodate's samurai district, and I observed that they were all at full bloom today. I arrived in the morning when it was still drizzling a little, and the flowers did not look too impressive. However, the open blossoms started to shine when the sun came out, and it got easier to see the pink blossoms against the blue skies. Given the mild and cloudy weather forecast for the next few days, I expect the weeping cherry trees to remain at their best through till this coming weekend at the very least.

Until May 5, the cherry trees in the samurai district are illuminated from 17:30 till 22:00

My next spot is the Hinokinai Riverside, just a stone's throw from the samurai district. Approximately 400 mainstream Somei Yoshino cherry trees line a two kilometer section of the river banks, and visitors can walk through a sakura tunnel as well as picnic along the riverside. I observed the cherry trees along the riverside to be at full bloom, and expect the best viewing to continue through till this coming weekend at the very least.

Until May 5, there is a cherry blossom festival along the riverside. Food stalls are open from 10:00 till 22:00 selling festival food and local delicacies. The cherry trees at Hinokinai Riverside are also illuminated from 17:30 till 24:00 during the festival period.