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Spring is almost here! 4 recommended cherry blossom viewing spots in Akita!

What do you think of when you see pale pink cherry blossoms?
"Graduation"? "Enrollment"?
Cherry blossoms and graduation are often sung together in graduation songs, but that's only in Tokyo. In snowy Akita, the seasonal word for graduation ceremonies is "remaining snow" rather than "cherry blossoms." The best
time to see cherry blossoms in Akita is mid to late April in the southern part of the prefecture. In the northern part, the best time to see them is late April to early May.
Akita is long from north to south, so one of its charms is that you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing over a long period of time while following the cherry blossom front.
Let's introduce some recommended cherry blossom viewing spots in Akita, starting from the south.

Snow and cherry blossoms collaborating at Seishi Park

Seishi Park in Kanaura, Nikaho City, is famous as the park where cherry blossoms bloom earliest in Akita Prefecture.
The rows of 1,000 cherry trees surrounding the lake with the snow-capped Mount Chokai in the background are a spectacular sight.
Furthermore, during the season, the atmosphere changes completely as the sun sets. The colorfully lit cherry blossoms reflect on the lake's surface, creating a fantastical space. It's as if you've wandered into another world, and the beauty of the scene makes you forget the passage of time.
The cherry trees in the park are said to have originated when they were planted by heroes who served in the Russo-Japanese War to celebrate their triumphant return. The
park gets very crowded with many visitors, but it's a cherry blossom spot that is well worth the wait.

Kakunodate Samurai Residences and the Legendary Weeping Cherry Blossoms

Known as the "Little Kyoto of Michinoku," Kakunodate in Daisen City flourished as a castle town.
Its greatest attractions are the samurai residences that remain from the early Edo period and the 162 300-year-old weeping cherry trees designated as natural monuments.
While there is no specific cherry blossom variety called "weeping cherry," these are a variant of the Edohiganzakura, whose branches, which normally point upward, drooped downward due to their weight. It's said that the origins of these cherry trees lie in the three cherry tree saplings brought from Kyoto by the wife of the second lord of the Satake domain when she got married. Over the course of 350 years, these trees have grown into the "Kakunodate weeping cherry trees" we know today.
There are costume rental shops along the samurai residence street, where you can dress up as a samurai or Ono no Komachi. Why not take a rickshaw ride around the area and
experience the 350-year history of the area?

Senshu Park, the heart of Akita

Located in the heart of Akita City, Senshu Park is a castle ruins park surrounded by a magnificent moat and stone walls. Approximately 800 110-year-old Somei-Yoshino cherry trees bloom throughout the grounds, making it one of Japan's "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots," as designated by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association.
Kubota Castle, built by the Satake clan, the first lord of the former Kubota domain, was destroyed in a fire in 1880, but the atmosphere of the time, including the main gate of the main citadel, remains. The vast park grounds in the Ninomaru area are a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing parties, with fierce battles for space and crowds of visitors enjoying sake and cherry blossoms.
Due to its central location, surrounding roads can be extremely congested during the cherry blossom season.
We recommend preparing accordingly.

Kimimachi-Hanaka, where the ever-changing history sleeps

Located in Futatsui-cho, Noshiro City, north of Akita City, Kimimachizaka Prefectural Natural Park is a majestic natural park bordering the
Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Site, adorned with 1,500 Somei-Yoshino and double-flowered cherry trees. Once a forbidding destination for travelers, the sheer cliffs and boulders of huge and oddly shaped rocks provided a formidable backdrop. During the Sengoku period, it served as a training ground for warrior monks, and during the Meiji era's Boshin War, the terrain served as a final line of defense. The
rugged terrain is a testament to its ruggedness. The sweeping views from the summit, featuring the meandering Yoneshiro River and the surrounding mountains, create a unique landscape beyond description.
Later, the park was named "Kimimachizaka" after Emperor Meiji, who was deeply moved by the scenery during his tour, and the Empress, who delivered a letter of concern to the emperor during his travels.
Since then, the park has transformed from its bloody past to become a popular dating spot, known as the birthplace of a love letter contest.
During the cherry blossom viewing season, the area is lit up at night, making it a recommended cherry blossom viewing spot for couples.

The four cherry blossom viewing spots introduced so far have been carefully selected from among the most famous in Akita.
There are many more wonderful cherry blossom viewing spots in Akita, and there are likely just as many stories and anecdotes associated with them.
Where there are cherry blossoms, there is history, and the long-lived cherry blossoms may be bystanders of the changing times.

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