May 4, 2014 - 1 min read

The Last Blossoms of Kakunodate

A thousand cherry blossoms in Springtime

By Bonson Lam

Community writer

Even in Golden Week you can enjoy strolling here without the crowds that you will find in Kyoto.

During the Edo period, a number of cherry trees were planted here from Kyoto.

Beautiful mature Cherry blossom trees at Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture

Along the Hinokinai River, there are over a thousand trees that line the banks.

The cherry blossom is almost finished in May when Golden Week rolls in

A thousand cherry trees line the banks of the river next to Kakunodate

Cycling along the river is a great way to see Kakunodate

Cycling along the river is a great way to see the cherry blossoms.

There is another small stream where cherry blossom petals float on the water

Cycling along the river is a great way to see the cherry blossoms at Kakunodate

By the beginning of May, the last cherry blossoms of Kakunodate have bloomed and are being blown away by the spring breeze. Green shoots have come out from the trees, heralding that winter is truly over, even though you can still see snow on top of the mountains in the horizon. It is also Golden Week, a national holiday and peak tourism season in Japan. Along the Hinokinai River, there are over a thousand trees that line the banks, so you can see cherry blossoms for as far as the eyes can see. You can cycle or stroll under the “tunnel” of cherry blossoms, in the same way that many visitors stroll under the tunnel of Vermillion gates in Fushimi Shrine in Kyoto.

Cherry Blossom in Tohoku

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By Bonson Lam

Community writer

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Bonson Lam Photographer 10 years ago

This is the best time of the year to see cherry blossoms in Kakunodate. This ancient town has both samurai and merchant houses, giving a beautiful backdrop to the flowers.