Every year in cherry blossom season, they hold the 'Shibata Sakura Festival' in Shibata town in Miyagi prefecture. Surprisingly, in this town you can see beautiful cherry trees EVERYWHERE, and in my opinion each place is good enough to be 'one of the best places' to appreciate cherry trees. However, two of the most prominent places for Sakura viewing in Shibata town would be the Funaoka Castle Park on the hilltop and the endless line of cherry trees which continues for as long as 8 km along Shiroishi River. This is called, '1000 cherry trees at a glance' and is one of the top 100 places noted for cherry blossom viewing in Japan.
- 1 min read
Shibata Sakura Festa - Riverbank
Great view of 1000 cherry trees along Shiroishi River
![Takako Sakamoto Takako Sakamoto](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/u/1358/240x240!/565e87d167ba810c868b66e3.jpg)
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![Funaoka Castle Park on the hill and statue of the Goddess of Peace. The hill itself has more than 1000 cherry trees](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69301/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69301.jpg)
Funaoka Castle Park on the hill and statue of the Goddess of Peace. The hill itself has more than 1000 cherry trees
![An endless line of 1000 cherry trees and the beautiful Shiroishi River](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69288/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69288.jpg)
An endless line of 1000 cherry trees and the beautiful Shiroishi River
![Whole cherry trees on the hill and the riverbank are mirrored on the water surface of the beautiful Shiroishi River](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69286/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69286.jpg)
Whole cherry trees on the hill and the riverbank are mirrored on the water surface of the beautiful Shiroishi River
![Reflection of cherry trees on the water surface of the Shiroishi River](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69285/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69285.jpg)
Reflection of cherry trees on the water surface of the Shiroishi River
![Cherry trees looking happy basking under the warm sunshine](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69287/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69287.jpg)
Cherry trees looking happy basking under the warm sunshine
![There was no one here on the riverside walk! ](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69289/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69289.jpg)
There was no one here on the riverside walk!
![Cherry trees, greenery, a clear beautiful river, a clear blue sky, the snow-capped Mt. Zao...and...am I the only one viewing all of this beauty?!](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69294/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69294.jpg)
Cherry trees, greenery, a clear beautiful river, a clear blue sky, the snow-capped Mt. Zao...and...am I the only one viewing all of this beauty?!
![Cherry trees in full bloom under the blue sky](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69295/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69295.jpg)
Cherry trees in full bloom under the blue sky
![Another view of cherry trees, the Shiroishi River, and Mt. Zao](https://a3.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69296/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69296.jpg)
Another view of cherry trees, the Shiroishi River, and Mt. Zao
![Map of '1000 cherry trees at a glance'. You can see how long the line continues. It's as long as 8 km!](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69298/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69298.jpg)
Map of '1000 cherry trees at a glance'. You can see how long the line continues. It's as long as 8 km!
![JR Funaoka station. It's a stone's throw away from the riverbank of the Shiroishi](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69299/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69299.jpg)
JR Funaoka station. It's a stone's throw away from the riverbank of the Shiroishi
![Tall cherry tree reaching out for the blue sky](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69297/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69297.jpg)
Tall cherry tree reaching out for the blue sky
![Green Shiroishi riverbank, 1000 cherry trees along it and the hill with another 1000 cherry trees....what a luxury!](https://a1.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/12267-69300/1000/miyagi-shibata-sakura-festa-riverbank-69300.jpg)
Green Shiroishi riverbank, 1000 cherry trees along it and the hill with another 1000 cherry trees....what a luxury!
Join the discussion
Kim Bergström
2 years ago
Stunning photos!
Thanks Kim-san\(^o^)/
Jerome Lee
9 years ago
Wow...I can't believe I haven't seen this until now. These are beautiful photos!
Thanks Jerome. Yes, I can guarantee you that this place is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. You should visit here when you have a chance next year!
Hi Nadhira, yes it was! Do visit there when you have a chance!
Nadhira Nisrina
10 years ago
Guess it's a perfect weather for hanami! :D
6 comments in total
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