Yamagata City

● Kajo Park

It is a park located in the ruins of Yamagata Castle.
The current castle walls are said to be the original ones built by its 11th lord, Mogami Yoshiaki (1546~1614).

In addition to the Someisoshino that blooms around the moat, there are about 20 types of cherry trees in the park, and you can enjoy the cherry blossoms for a long time.

The scenery from the train window of the JR Ou Line is also very beautiful and you can feel a different taste.

In addition, it is lit up at night, and you can enjoy the fantastic cherry blossoms reflected in the moat.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 7 (Thu.)
[Access] About 5 minutes by car ot 10 minutes on foot from Yamagata Station

●Mamigasaki riverside cherry blossom line

A section of 830m from the lower reaches of Mamigasaki Riverside Atago Bridge to the vicinity of Atago Kindergarten, followed by 83 cherry blossom arches.

It is also recommended to drive through the cherry blossom arch during the day and take a walk while watching the illuminated cherry blossoms at night.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 11 (Mon.)
[Access] About 3 minutes by car from Yamagata Zao IC

● Nishi Zao Oyama sakura cherry tree

Because the cherry trees of Nishi Zao are high above sea level, they are the slowest to bloom in Yamagata City and will be blooming around Golden Week some years.

The famous Oyama tree is said to have grown up since the Heian period. The poet Saigyo (1118~1190) made a haiku about it when he visited it.

[Blooming forecast] Around the end of April
[Access] About 30 minutes by car from Yamagata Kaminoyama IC

Kaminoyama City

● Tsukioka Park (Kaminoyama Castle)

There are many cherry blossom viewing spots in Kaminoyama City, but Tsukioka Park is also one of the city’s leading spots.

From the castle tower, you can enjoy a view of the traditional samurai houses and of the Zao mountain range and the hot spring area.

In addition to old Yoshino cherry trees and weeping cherry trees, there are also a small number of weeping cherry trees, and about 80 cherry trees are in full bloom beautifully.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 9 (Sat.)
[Access] About 10 minutes by car from Yamagata Kaminoyama IC

Tendo City

● Kuratsu river shidare-sakura

Weeping cherry trees bloom over 1.4 km on both banks of the Kuratsu River that flows to the south of Tendo City Hall.

Ideal as a walk course from Tendo Onsen, which is right next door. When the cherry trees are in full bloom you can the shidare-sakura weeping cherry trees that are illuminated for about 750 meters.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 10 (Sun.)
[Access] About 8 minutes by car from Tendo IC

Nakayama Town

● Odaruma-no-sakura

It is a 750-year-old Edo higan cherry tree that has been designated a Natural Monument of the prefecture.

You can also enjoy Yoshino, weeping, yaezakura cherry blossoms in the Odaruma-no-sakura Park.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 10 (Sun.)
[Access] About 16 minutes by car from Yamagata JCT

Nagai City

● Kubo Sakura in Isazawa

It is Edohigan cherry tree designated as a national natural monument.

It is a giant tree with a height of 13m, and it was also called Yotanzakura because the branches spread to four strips during the Edo period.

It is an old tree that is said to be about 1200 years old, and is currently undergoing tree vigor restoration work.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 15 (Fri.)
[Access] About 18 minutes by car from Nanyo-Takahata IC

Nanyo City

● Eboshiyama Park

It is one of the most famous Edo Higan lineup in Japan where about 1,000 cherry trees of about 25 species are in full bloom.

You can also see the country-wide famous Niseiki tree cherry blossoms, selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom spots in Japan.

The panoramic views from the Akayu Onsen district are spectacular.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 11 (Mon.)
[Access] About 5 minutes by car from JR Akayu station

Shirataka Town

● Cherry blossoms in Kamanokoshinoson Park

Two very old cherry trees beautiful during the blooming season

While the oldest tree has withered, the ones that blossom deep red that can be seen behind it are named “Katsuya-zakura”, the second-generation “Kamanokoshi cherry trees.”

During the cherry tree blooming season, the contrast with the remaining snow on the mountains is beautiful.

[Blooming forecast] Around Saturday, April 16
[Access] Approximately 50 minutes by car from Yamagata City via National Highway 348

Yonezawa City

● Matsugasaki Park (Yonezawa Castle Ruins)

Approximately 200 Yoshino cherry trees bloom along the moat, making it is one of the most famous cherry blossom spots in the Okitama region.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 13 (Wed.)
[Access] About 10 minutes by car from Yonezawa Chuo IC

Sakata City

● Hiwayama Park

From the park, you can overlook the city of Sakata, its port, the Sea of Japan, the Mogami river and the three mounts of Dewa.

Japan’s oldest wooden hexagonal lighthouse is located within this park from which you can feel the atmosphere of Sakata, a port town.

There are about 400 cherry trees blooming here.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 11 (Mon.)
[Access] About 17 minutes by car from Sakata Chuo IC

Tsuruoka City

● Tsuruoka Park

It is a park built in 1875 on the site of the former Tsuruga Castle. There are a moat, stone walls, and a hundred years old cedar.

It has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 best cherry blossom spots. There are about 730 cherry trees, including Yoshino cherry trees, double-flowered cherry trees and weeping cherry trees.

One of the highlights is the cherry blossoms lit up at night.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 11 (Mon.)
[Access] About 10 minutes by car from Tsuruoka IC

Shinjo City Famous Places

● Mogami Park (Shinjo Castle Ruins)

This is the park of the Shinjo castle ruins built in 1625 by Masamori Tozawa, the founder of the Shinjo clan.

The cherry blossoms that bloom around the moat are spectacular, and about 300 Yoshino cherry trees and weeping cherry trees are in full bloom, and many people from outside the city are crowded during the spring festival.

The “Kado-yaki Festival” is held every year at this time, and it is a tradition of Shinjo in the spring.
* Kado is a herring.

[Blooming forecast] Around April 17 (Sun.)
[Access] About 10 minutes by car from Shinjo IC on Tohoku Chuo Road