Of the myriad destinations for sakura viewing, there are some that may not initially hit your radar like cemeteries. And yet, they manage to provide a unique cherry blossom experience. This guide covers several cemeteries in Japan which are known for having some beautiful displays of these seasonal blooms.
Aoyama Cemetery
Located a short walk from either the Nogizaka or Omotesando Tokyo Metro Stations, Aoyama Cemetery is a peaceful place to enjoy the best of sakura season. The grounds are home to over 200 cherry trees, and the cemetery is also the resting place of several prominent individuals including Hachiko, the loyal dog who is depicted in statue form outside Shibuya Station.
2 Chome-32-2 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062
Yanaka Cemetery
Another Tokyo cemetery filled with cherry blossoms is Yanaka Cemetery. There are over 150 trees to appreciate, and the cemetery is also known for its cat population. A visit to the Yanaka area is worthwhile even outside sakura season, as it's revered for its step-back-in-time charm.
7 Chome-5-24 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001
Fuji Cemetery
An entrant on the list of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots, Shizuoka's Fuji Cemetery has a phenomenal 8000 sakura trees to enjoy in several varieties. If you want to check the status of the blossoms before you visit, check out the live cameras on the cemetery's website.
888ｰ2 Omika, Oyama, Sunto District, Shizuoka 410-1308
Midorigaoka Cemetery
Kanagawa's sprawling Midorigaoka Cemetery has several hundred cherry trees across its grounds, including walkways lined with trees creating sakura canopies. It's not uncommon to see people laying down picnic blankets for hanami parties here right beside graves, which you can see in this JapanTravel photostory.
1241 Shimosakunobe, Takatsu Ward, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-0033
Toda Memorial Park Cemetery
Situated an hour by car from the central Sapporo area, the Toda Memorial Park Cemetery is home to around 8000 cherry trees which bloom around the May timeframe. During winter this area of Hokkaido is extremely cold, with temperatures dropping to around -18 Celsius, making the feat of so many healthy sakura trees even more impressive.
327 Morai, Atsuta-ku, Ishikari 061-3523 Hokkaido
