Hello everyone, today, I'd like to offer 20 must-not-miss great locations for enjoying Sakura flowers, covering six northest prefectures of Japan (Tohoku region), ranging from Fukushima, up to Miyagi, Yamagata, Iwate, Akita, and Aomori. This review will also include the information of when the Sakura is fully blossoming as well as how to get there. You guys can certainly use this as a guide to plan for a Tohuku Sakura visit in the next year.

This year (2017), the northern Sakura has a normal bloom time, not slow as the Kansai, Kanto, and Kyushu region. I went to see Sakura during the last Songkran holiday by going up north (Tohoku) between 14-29 April 2017.

The 20 great destinations covering 6 prefectures in Tohoku region are as follow:

Miyagi Prefecture
1. Shiroishi Hitomesenbon Sakura (白石川堤一目千本桜)
2. Funaoka Joushi Kouen(船岡城址公園)
3. Mikamine Kouen(三神峯公園)
4. Shiroishijo(白石城)

Fukushima Prefecture
5 Hanamiyama (花見山公園)
6 Kaiseizan Kouen (開成山公園)
7 Kasumigajou Kouen (霞ヶ城公園)
8 Natsui Senbonsakura(夏井千本桜)
9 Weeping Cherry On The Nicchu Line(日中線記念自転車歩行者道)
10 Miyagawa Senbonsakura (宮川千本桜)
11 Tsurugajo Kouen (鶴ヶ城公園)
12 Fujitagawa Fureaisakura (藤田川ふれあい桜)
13 Dake Onsen (岳温泉)
14 Miharu no Takizakura (三春の滝桜)

Yamagata Prefecture
15 Kajou Kouen (霞城公園)

Iwate Prefecture
16 Kitakami Tenshouchi (北上展勝地)
17 Tohoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線)
18 Hiraizumi Sakura Tunnel (平泉桜トンネル)

Akita Prefecture
19 Kakunodate (角館のシダレザクラ)

Aomori Prefecture
20 Hirosaki Kouen(弘前公園)

1 Shiroishi Hitomesenbon Sakura (白石川堤一目千本桜), Miyagi Prefecture

Shiroishi is one of the most popular Sakura appreciation destinations of Tohoku region in Miyagi Prefecture. This location is also one of the top 100 most beautiful Sakura spots of Japan (I got to enjoy this view along the Shiroishi river on 16 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Hitomesenbon Sakura
Start to bloom on 9 April 2017
Full bloom on 15 April 2017
Start to fall on 18 April 2017

Transportation
From Fukushima Station, take the JR Tohoku Line to get off at Ogawara Station. After that, a 3 minutes walk will take you to Shiroishi River.

2 Funaoka Joushi Kouen(船岡城址公園), Miyagi Prefecture

This is a very famous Sakura appreciation location on a hill in Shibata town, Miyagi Prefecture. It is ranked as one of the top 100 most beautiful Sakura spots of Japan (I got to enjoy Funaoka Joushi Kouen on 15 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Funaoka Joushi Kouen
Start to bloom on 7 April 2017
Full bloom on 15 April 2017
Start to fall on 18 April 2017

Transportation
From Fukushima Station, take the JR Tohoku Line to get off at Funaoka Station. After that, it'd take about 15 minutes walk to reach Funaoka Joushi Kouen. We could also take a taxi from the Funaoka Station.

3 Mikamine Park (三神峯公園), Miyagi Prefecture

I got to enjoy Sakura at Mikamine Park on 16 April 2017.

Sakura blooming information at Mikamine Park
Start to bloom on 11 April 2017
Full bloom on 14 April 2017
Start to fall on 17 April 2017

Transportation
From Sendai Station, take the Subway Nanboku Line to get off at Nagamachi-Minami Station which is about 10 minutes ride. After that, we could either walk about 30 minutes or take a taxi.

4 Shiroishijo (白石城) or also known as Masuoka Kouen (益岡公園), Miyagi Prefecture

I got to enjoy Sakura at Shiroishijo on 14 April 2017.

Sakura blooming information at Shiroishijo
Start to bloom on 11 April 2017
Full bloom on 14 April 2017
Start to fall on 18 April 2017

Transportation
From Fukushima Station, take the JR Tohoku Line to get off at Shiroishi Station which takes about 35 minutes. After that, walk about 10 minutes to Shiroishijo.

5 Hanamiyama Park (花見山公園), Fukushima Prefecture

I got to enjoy the Hanamiyama Park on 17 April 2017. We can actually appreciate the flower view the entire April as they offer different type of flowers. But for Someiyoshino Sakura, the blooming time is as below.

Sakura blooming information at Hanamiyama Park (only Someiyoshino species)
Start to bloom on 12 April 2017
Full bloom on 17 April 2017
Start to fall on 20 April 2017

Transportation
From Fukushima Station, take the East Exit and out to take the bus no. 6 (each year the bus no. could be different, please ask the driver to confirm again before taking it). During the Sakura season, there's a direct special bus to Hanamiyama Garden. The first bus on the way to the garden is 9 a.m. and the last bus is 3.30 p.m. For the way back to the subway, the first bus is 10 a.m. and the last one is 4.30 p.m. This ride takes about 15 minutes. A single bus ride is 250 JPY and 130 JPY for children.

6 Kaiseizan Park (開成山公園), Fukushima Prefecture

This is a large garden at the heart of Koriyama town, Fukushima Prefecture. If is full of more than 1,300 trees of Someiyoshino Sakura of which aged more than 100 years since Meji era (I got to enjoy the Kaiseizan Park on 18 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Kaiseizan Park
Start to bloom on 11 April 2017
Full bloom on 16 Aprl 2017
Start to fall on 19 April 2017

Transportation
From Koriyama Station, take the bus at number 8 bus stop (each year the bus no. could be different, please ask the driver to confirm again before taking it). From Koriyama bus stop, it takes about 10 minutes to reach Shiyakusho-mae bus stop. Then, we need to walk about 2 minutes. The bus fare is 230 JPY.

7 Kasumigajou Kouen (霞ヶ城公園), Fukushima Prefecture

Kasumigajou Castle or also known as Nihommatsu Jouato (二本松城跡) of Nihommatsu District is the only castle in Fukushima Prefecture that has no castle left. However, this garden is full of more than 2,500 Sakura trees to welcome tourists in Spring (I went for Kasumigajou Kouen on 18 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Kasumigajou Kouen

Start to bloom on 14 April 2017
Full bloom on 17 April 2017
Start to fall on 21 April 2017

Transportation
From Koriyama Station, get off at Nihommatsu Station. After that, take the bus in front of Nihommatsu and get off at Kasukigajo Kouen Stop. The bus fare is 260 JPY (you can ask for timetables and more information from Tourist Information Center inside Nihommatsu Station).

8 Natsui Senbonsakura(夏井千本桜), Fukushima Prefecture

This place offers more than 1,000 Sakura trees standing along Natsuigawa River for more than 5 km long in Ono town, Fukushima Prefecture (I got to enjoy the Sakura at Natsui Senbonsakura on 27 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Natsui Senbonsakura

Start to bloom on 20 April 2017
Full bloom on 24 April 2017
Start to fall on 28 April 2017

Transportation
From the JR Koriyama, take the JR banetsu east line to get off at Natsui Station. Then, we need to walk on foot for about 10 minutes to reach Natsui River which is about 400 meters away from the station (Since there're limited train running between Koriyama - Natsui, so please check the timetables carefully before traveling).

9 Weeping Cherry On The Nicchu Line(日中線記念自転車歩行者道), Fukushima Prefecture

Nicchu Line offers more than 1,000 trees of sweetened pink Weeping Sakura standing along more than 3 km long cycling route in Kitakata town, Fukushima Prefecture (I enjoyed this line on 28 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Nicchu line
Start to bloom on 20 April 2017
Full bloom on 25 April 2017
Start to fall on 28 April 2017

Transportation
From the JR Koriyama, take the JR Banetsu West Line to get off at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station to change the line and then continue further for about 27 minutes and get off at Kitakata Station. Then, a 300 meters walk from the station will take you to the entrance of cycling route of Nicchu Line. On the way back, we could take the bus from Nicchu Line and get off at Kitakata stop (you could ask for more information, get the map along with the timetables from Tourist Information Center inside Kitakata Station).

10 Miyagawa Senbonsakura (宮川千本桜), Fukushima Prefecture

Sakura near the river here is the only famous recreation in Aizu region, Fukushima Prefecture. Both sides of Miyagawa River are filled with more than 1,000 Sakura trees. On a fine day, you could see a terraced mountains as backdrop, making the atmosphere along this river is very romantic (I got to enjoy the Sakura at Miyagawa Senbonsakura on 22 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Miyagawa Senbonsakura
Start to bloom on 17 April 2017
Full bloom on 22 April 2017
Start to fall on 25 April 2017

Transportation
From Koriyama Station, take the JR Ban-etsu-West Line to get off at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station. After that, take the JR Tadami Line from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and get off at Aizutakada Station. Then, it is about 20 minutes walk towards Miyagawa River (due to limited train running between Aizu-Wakamatsu and Aizutakada, please carefully check the timetables before travelling).

11 Tsurugajo Park (鶴ヶ城公園), Fukushima Prefecture

Tsurugajo or the Crane Castle houses more than 1,000 Sakura trees which are beautifully blossoming in the mid of April (I went for the Sakura at Tsurugajo Park on 23 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Tsurugajo Park

Start to bloom on 16 April 2017
Full bloom on 21 April 2017
Start to fall on 26 April 2017

Transportation
From the front of the JR Aizu-wakamatsu, take the Aizu Loop Bus and get off at Tsurugajo Kitaguchi Stop which would take about 20 minutes (you could ask for more information, get the map along with the timetables from Tourist Information Center inside Aizu-wakamatsu Station).

12 Fujitagawa Fureaisakura (藤田川ふれあい桜), Fukushima Prefecture

With more than 3 km long of Sakura beautifully blossoming along the Fujitagawa River, this place is so romantic (I appreciated the Sakura at Fujitagawa Fureaisakura on 20 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Fujitagawa Fureaisakura
Start to bloom on 9 April 2017
Full bloom on 15 April 2017
Start to fall on 19 April 2017

Transportation
From the JR Koriyama, take the JR Ban-etsu-West Line for Aizu-Wakamatsu and get off at Kikuta Station. After that, there's about 400 meters walk towards Sakura appreciation destination.

13 Dake Onsen (岳温泉), Fukushima Prefecture

Here is the famous Onsen village of Nihommatsu town, Fukushima Prefecture. There're more than 20 accommodations offering Onsen service. The atmosphere is very shady when Sakura is blossoming. A tunnel of more than 200 Sakura trees starting from the Onsen entrance to Kagami ga ike pool greatly attracts the tourists to come here (I visited Dake Onsen on 29 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Dake Onsen
Start to bloom on 21 April 2017
Full bloom on 26 April 2017
Start to fall on 29 April 2017

Transportation
From Koriyama, take the JR Tohoku Line to get off at Nihommatsu Station. After that, take the bus (terminal destination is Dake Onsen) from the front of Nihommatsu Station and get off at the last stop which would take about 30 minutes. The bus fare is 500 JPY (you could ask for more information and the timetables from Tourist Information Center inside Nihommatsu Station).

14 Miharu no Takizakura (三春の滝桜), Fukushima Prefecture

It is honored as one of the three of Sakura Big 3 in Japan. This Sakura tree is in Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture. It is one of the rare Sakura species aged more than 1,000 years (I visited Miharu no Takizakura on 23 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Miharu no Takizakura
Start to bloom on 15 April 2017
Full bloom on 18 April 2017
Start to fall on 24 April 2017

Transportation
From Koriyama Station, take the JR Ban-etsu-East Line to get off at JR Miharu Station. After that, take about 20-30 minutes bus ride. The bus fare is 200 JPY for each ride. During the Sakura season, the bus will run more frequently and straight to Miharu no Takizakura. For this, it will take 25 minutes and the round trip bus ride including the entrance fee is 1,000 JPY.

15 Kajo Park (霞城公園), Yamagata Prefecture

This gigantic garden of Yamagata Prefecture is ranked as one of the top 100 most beautiful Sakura spots in Japan. In addition of more than 1,500 blossoming Sakura trees inside the garden, the side of this garden is also popular for having the view of Shinkansen along side with Sakura.

This photo was the Tsubasa (つばさ) Shinkansen running between Fukushima and Shinjo (I visited the Kajo Park on 19 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Kajo Park
Start to bloom on 13 April 2017
Full bloom on 18 April 2017
Start to fall on 21 April 2017

Transportation
From Fukushima Sation, take the Tsubasa Shinkansen to get off at Yamagata Station. After that, walk on foot about 10 minutes to Kajo Kouen.

16 Kitakami Tenshouchi (北上展勝地), Iwate Prefecture

Sakura is blossoming at Kitakami Tenshouchi (this photo was taken from the viewpoint from the back of Rest House). Kitakami Tenshouchi is ranked as one of the top 100 most beautiful spots for appreciating Sakura in japan (I visited Kitakami Tenshouchi on 24 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Kitakami Tenshouchi
Start to bloom on 17 April 2017
Full bloom on 24 April 2017
Start to fall on 27 April 2017

Transportation
From Morioka Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to get off at Kitakami Station. After that, walk to the pier and take the boat to cross to the Kitakami Tenshouchi Garden.

17 Tohoku Shinkansen (東北新幹線), Iwate Prefecture

If you guys have visited Tohoku region, you must have seen the train heads kissing each other like this. The red train is Komachi which attached to the green train of Hayabusa. The two train lines are tied together, leaving Tokyo at the same time. Once reaching Morioka Station, the Komachi train (the red one) would split and turn left towards Akita Prefecture while the Hayabusa train (green) would run straight north towards Aomori Prefecture. Therefore, when taking the Tohoku Shinkansen, in addition to carefully look for the platform, you must look at the train number too. If you take on the wrong train, you wouldn't find the seat, or worse, you could be visiting Akita in stead of Aomori as planned.

This photo was taken on 24 April 2017 at Kitakami Tenshouchi. At this viewpoint, you would see the Shinkansen running in and out of the JR Kitakami Station.

18 Hiraizumi Sakura Tunnel (平泉桜トンネル), Iwate Prefecture

This famous Sakura tunnel of Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture on the Highway no. 300 is 1.5 km long. It is located between Hiraizumi Station and Chusonji Temple. When the Spring approaches and the Sakura is blossoming, it's like we are driving in a Sakura tunnel (I visited this Sakura tunnel on 21 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Hiraizumi Sakura Tunnel
Start to bloom on 15 April 2017
Full bloom on 20 April 2017
Start to fall on 26 April 2017

Transportation
From Morioka Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to get off at Kitakami Station. From Kitakami Station, take the JR Tohoku Line and get off at Hiraizumi Station. Then, there's about 10 minutes walk to Hiraizumi Sakura Tunnel (you could ask for travel information from Tourist Information Center inside Hiraizumi Station).

19 Kakunodate (角館のシダレザクラ), Akita Prefecture

I appreciated the Sakura at the Samurai village on 26 April 2017.

Weeping Sakura at this Samurai village (Buke yashiki = 武家屋敷) is ranked as one of the top 100 most beautiful Sakura spots in Japan. Although it's been raining the whole days, this short road at this village is filled with tourists who just keep on coming.

Sakura blooming information at Samurai Village

Start to bloom on 20 April 2017
Full bloom on 24 April 2017
Start to fall on 27 April 2017

Transportation
From Morioka Station, take the Akita Shinkansen and get off at Kakunodate Station. Then, we could walk about 10 minutes to this village or take a taxi (you could ask for travel information from Tourist Information Center inside Kakunodate Station).

20 Hirosaki Park (弘前公園), Aomori Prefecture

It is the only castle in Tohoku region built during Edo era. It is one of the 3 most beautiful castles in Japan. Inside is very spacious, it is filled with gardening area and canals along the castle. The garden where the castle is situated is very famous when all Sakura is blossoming (more than 2,600 trees). It is also compatibly beautiful in Fall when Momiji leaves are changing their color (I visited the Hirosaki Park on 25 April 2017).

Sakura blooming information at Hirosaki Park

Start to bloom on 19 April 2017
Full bloom on 25 April 2017
Start to fall on 28 April 2017

Transportation
From Shin-Aomori Station, take the JR Ou Line to get off at Hirosaki Station. Then, take the Hirosaki Sightseeing 100 Yen Bus and get off at the front of the garden at Shiyakushomae stop (you could ask for travel information from Tourist Information Center inside Hirosaki Station).

Bonus

21 Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki Prefecture

On 22 April 2017, Tohoku region saw a rain everywhere so I had to adjust my plan and visited blue flowers, Nemophila (baby blue eyes) at Ibaraki Prefecture instead (22 April 2017 is the day that the official website announces as the first day of the full bloom of blue flowers).

How to get to Hitachi Seaside Park
From Ueno Station, take the JR Joban Line to get off at Katsuta Station. After that, take a special bus to the front of Hitachi Seaside Park which would take around 30 minutes. The round trip bus ticket including the park's entrance fee is 1,200 JPY.