◆ Murayama area ◆

🌸 Yamagata City

・Kajo Park

Kajo Park is a park developed on the site of the former Yamagata Castle.

The current castle is said to be based on the one built by the 11th lord, Mogami Yoshiaki (1546-1614).

In addition to the Somei Isoshino cherry trees that bloom around the moat, there are about 20 other types of cherry trees in the park, allowing you to enjoy the cherry blossoms for a long time.

The scenery from the train window on the JR Ou Main Line is also beautiful and offers a different hanami (flower viewing) experience.

The area is also lit up at night, allowing you to enjoy the fantastical cherry blossoms reflected on the moat.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 6
[Illumination]
Period : From the beginning of blooming to the beginning of falling
Hours : Inside the park: 18:00~21:30, along the moat: 18:00~22:00
Section : Approximately 200 trees are lit up around the moat of Kajo Park
Access : About 5 minutes on foot from Yamagata Station

・Mamigasaki riverside cherry blossom line

An arch of 83 cherry blossom trees continues along the 830m stretch from downstream of Atago Bridge on the Mamigasaki Riverbank to near Atago Kindergarten.

During the day, we recommend driving through the cherry blossom arch, and at night taking a stroll while looking at the illuminated cherry blossoms.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 8
[Illumination]
Period : April 10 (Thu.) to April 21 (Mon.), 2025
Hours : 18:30~21:00
Section : Approximately 830m from downstream of Atago Bridge to the vicinity of Atago Nursery School
Food stalls : During the illumination period (next to the Yamagata Mamigasaki Pool JABA)
Event : April 12 (Sat.) and April 13 (Sun.)

・Oyama Cherry Blossoms in West Zao

Because the cherry blossoms in Nishi-Zao are at a high altitude, they bloom the latest within Yamagata City, and can usually be seen even as early as Golden Week.

This Oyama cherry tree is said to have been growing wild since the Heian period.

The poet Saigyo (1118~1190), who loved cherry blossoms, also visited here and is said to have left behind the famous poem:

.”

[Blooming forecast date] Late April
Access About 30 minutes by car from Yamagata Kaminoyama IC

🌸 Kaminoyama City

・Tsukioka Park (Kaminoyama Castle)

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

From the castle tower, you can enjoy the view of the Zao mountain range and the rows of houses in the city that still retain the atmosphere of a hot spring town.

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

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 7
Access About 10 minutes by car from Yamagata Kaminoyama IC

🌸 Tendo City

・Kuratsu River Shidare-Sakura

Weeping cherry trees bloom in full glory along the 1.4km stretch of the Kuratsu River, which runs south of the Tendo City government office.

During the cherry blossom season, the area is lit up over a distance of about 750 meters, allowing visitors to enjoy the quaint weeping cherry trees illuminated by the lights.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 9
[Illumination]
Period : April 5 (Sat.) to May 6 (Tue.)
Hours : 18:30~22:00
Section : Kuratsu River (From “Oshobashi” in front of Tendo City Government Office to “Hishabashi” in front of Hot Spring Park)
Access Approx. 8 minutes by car from Tendo IC

🌸 Nakayama Town

・Odaruma-no-sakura

This Edo Higan cherry tree is approximately 750 years old and has been designated a prefectural natural monument.

Within Odaruma Sakura Park you can also enjoy other varieties such as Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms, weeping cherry blossoms, and double cherry blossoms.

[Blooming forecast date]
Odaruma-no-sakura : TBA
Edohigan : TBA
Somei-Yoshino : Around April 9 (Wed.)
Double cherry blossoms : TBA
shidare-sakura : TBA
[Illumination]
Period : April 10 (Thu.) to 20 (Sun.)
Hours: 18:00~21:00
Access Approx. 16 minutes by car from Yamagata JCT

◆ Okitama area ◆

🌸 Nagai City

・Kubo Sakura in Isazawa

This is an Edo higan cherry tree designated as a national natural monument.

It is a giant tree that is 13 meters tall, and during the Edo period, its branches spread out over four tan (approx. 4 tan) of land, so it was also called Yontan Sakura (4 tan cherry blossoms).

The tree is said to be about 1,200 years old, and work to restore it is currently underway.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 10
Access Approx. 18 minutes by car from Nanyo Takahata IC

🌸 Sights of Nanyo City

・Eboshiyama Park

This is one of the largest clusters of Edo higan cherry trees in Japan, and is known as “Eboshiyama Senbonzakura” (Eboshiyama Thousand Cherry Trees) because of the approximately 1,000 cherry trees of 25 different species that are in full bloom here.

You can also see second-generation trees of famous cherry trees from all over Japan, and the place has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots.

The panoramic view from Akayu Onsen town is breathtaking.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 9
[Illumination]
Period : April 4 (Fri.) to May 6 (Tue.)
Hours : 18:00~22:00
(Saturdays and Sundays: 18:00~24:00)
Access About 5 minutes by car from JR Akayu Station

🌸 Shirataka Town

・Cherry blossoms at Kamanokoshi Rural Park

Unfortunately, the oldest tree has died, but the deep crimson cherry tree you can see behind it is called “Katsuya Sakura” and is the second generation of “Kamanokoshi Sakura.”

At this time of year, the contrast with the remaining snow on the mountains is also quite picturesque.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 11
Access About 50 minutes by car from Yamagata City via National Route 348

🌸 Yonezawa City

・Matsugasaki Park (site of Yonezawa Castle)

Approximately 200 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees bloom along the moat, and the cherry blossoms reflected on the water’s surface are also very picturesque.

At night, it is lit up, allowing you to enjoy an even more beautiful view.

This is a must-see spot for history lovers.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 10
Access About 10 minutes by car from Yonezawa Chuo IC

◆ Shonai region ◆

🌸 Sakata City

・Hiyoriyama Park

It is located on a hilltop with a panoramic view of Sakata Port, and the sunset over the Sea of Japan is truly romantic.

It is home to Japan’s oldest wooden hexagonal lighthouse, and gives you a taste of the port town of Sakata.

There are about 400 cherry trees and it is famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 4
[Illumination]
Period : April 4 (Fri.) to 15 (Tue.)
Hours : 18:30~21:00
Access : Approximately 17 minutes by car from Sakata Chuo IC

🌸 Tsuruoka City

・Tsuruoka Park

This park was developed on the former site of Tsurugaoka Castle, the residence of the Sakai clan, lords of the Shonai domain.

The garden, which is home to approximately 730 cherry trees, including Somei-Yoshino, Yaezakura, and Weeping Cherry, has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots.

Another highlight is the cherry blossoms at night, reflected in the lanterns that are set up to coincide with the blooming of the trees.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 4
Access About 10 minutes by car from Tsuruoka IC

◆ Mogami area ◆

🌸 Shinjo City

・Mogami Park (Shinjo Castle site)

The site of Shinjo Castle, where the Tozawa clan ruled for 243 years.

The cherry blossoms that surround the moat are magnificent, with approximately 300 Somei-Yoshino and weeping cherry trees in full bloom, and the area is bustling with visitors from inside and outside the city during the Spring Festival.

[Blooming forecast date] Around April 14
Access About 10 minutes by car from Shinjo IC on the Tohoku Chuo Expressway