Cherry blossom information 2023 – Southern area of ​​the prefecture

• View the northern and central areas of the prefecture
• View the southern area of ​​the prefecture
• See the coastal area

“Weather News” Cherry Blossom Forecast (weathernews.jp)
“Tohoku Dream Cherry Blossom Road (Tohoku Dream Cherry Blossom Road Promotion Council)” (tohoku-sakurakaido.jp)

Recommended walking course to admire cherry blossoms
[Day 1]

Departure point: Ichinoseki Station (Ichinoseki City)

About 5 minutes by car

52nd Genbikei ( Ichinoseki City)

Genbikei , a nationally designated natural monument, is one of the prefecture’s most scenic spots. You can enjoy the dynamic mountain stream filled with snowmelt water and the approximately 2km long row of cherry blossom trees.
For those who prefer dango to flowers, we recommend the fun and delicious ` `Kakko Dango”, where dango are placed in a basket and flown on a rope. The owner’s skill is to ensure that the tea arrives without spilling. It has become a specialty of Genbikei.

[Usually best time to see] Late April

Approximately 25 minutes by car

World Heritage Hiraizumi (Hiraizumi Town)

A cultural heritage site in Hiraizumi that was registered as a World Heritage Site in June 2011.
The Hiraizumi Town Loop Bus RunRun is convenient for sightseeing around the area, but on sunny days we also recommend renting a bicycle and taking a stroll while feeling the breeze.
” Lara Iwate Hiraizumi Store “, located near the entrance to Chusonji Tsukimizaka, is a wonderful shop with a Japanese-style architecture that sells souvenirs from the prefecture. The 100% raw milk soft serve ice cream in one corner of the store is also known for its richness and deliciousness.

Approximately 30 minutes by car

Number 53 , Saigyo Sakura Forest (Hiraizumi Town)

Saigyo Sakura no Mori is a famous spot for cherry blossoms, and the monk Saigyo once wrote a poem about the beauty of Mt. Takuine’s cherry blossoms, saying, “The cherry blossoms of Mt. Takuine are the best to bloom besides Yoshino.” From the observation deck, you can see the entire cityscape of Hiraizumi, including Chusonji and Motsuji.

We also recommend Hiraizumi Prefectural Route 300 (formerly National Route 4), which runs along the national highway from JR Hiraizumi towards Chusonji.

[Usually best time to see] Mid-April to late April

Approximately 40 minutes by car

54th Mizusawa Park (Oshu City)

Mizusawa Park (No. 54) is a historic park with sports facilities, a seven-storied pagoda, and a haiku monument by Masaoka Shiki. There are approximately 500 cherry blossom trees in full bloom in the park, including old trees that are approximately 300 years old.

 

Oshu City has a vast historical theme park called ” Esashi Fujiwara no Sato ” and is known as a filming location for NHK Taiga dramas and other movies and TV dramas. Heian period buildings such as the government office of the Oshu Fujiwara clan are recreated, and about 300 cherry trees bloom in spring.
[Usually best time to see] Mid-April to late April

About 1 hour by car

No. 57 / Hanamaki Onsen (Hanamaki City)

Hanamaki Onsen, located in Hanamaki, Kenji Miyazawa’s hometown, has four unique inns and hotels. Nearby is a “ Rose Garden ” with rows of cherry blossom trees and a sundial flower bed designed by Kenji Miyazawa, and the “ Hanamaki Onsen Rose Festival ” is held from late May to early July every year.
Hanamaki Castle Ruins is about 10 minutes by car from Hanamaki Onsen to the city. The site of the main enclosure has been maintained as Toriyagasaki Park (extra edition number 17), and the area around the park is lined with cherry blossom trees.

[Usually best time to see] Late April to early May

[Day 2] About 30 minutes by car

Kenji Miyazawa Memorial Museum (Hanamaki City)

At the Kenji Miyazawa Memorial Museum, you can learn about Kenji Miyazawa’s activities in a variety of genres, including fairy tales, music, agriculture, and astronomy.
In addition to displaying Kenji’s favorite items, manuscripts, and other items related to Kenji, you can also experience Kenji’s world of Ihatov through videos, slides, and library materials.

“Marukan Building Daishokudo” in Hanamaki City retains a retro Showa atmosphere and offers everything from ramen to sushi to Western food.
Hanamaki style is to eat the hearty 10-tiered soft serve ice cream with disposable chopsticks.

Approximately 40 minutes by car (via expressway)

56th row of twill cherry blossom trees (Tono City)

This is a row of cherry blossom trees along the bicycle path between National Route 283 and Sarugaishi River in the Ayaori district of Tono City.
You can enjoy a drive while feeling the spring in Tono, looking at the rows of Yoshino cherry trees and double cherry blossom trees, the flow of the Sarugaishi River, and Mt. Rokkaku Ushiyama in the distance.
There are also cherry blossom viewing spots in the city, such as Fukusenji Temple and Nabekura Park , where you can enjoy spring in the countryside.

[Usually best time to see] Mid-April to early May

Approximately 10 minutes by car

Tono Story House (Tono City)

There is the Folk Tale Collection where you can learn about the world of Tono’s folk tales through cutouts and videos, as well as the Kunio Yanagida Exhibition, which relocates the Takazen Ryokan where Kunio Yanagita, the author of The Tales of Tono, stayed and the main house where he spent his later years. At “Muro” and “Tonoza” you can listen to storytellers tell Tono’s folk tales and experience the world of Tono’s folk tales.

Approximately 50 minutes by car

55th Kitakami Tenshochi (Kitakami City)

Kitakami Tenshochi (No. 55) is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Iwate Prefecture, and has been selected as one of the three major cherry blossom viewing spots in Michinoku. It is said that there are 10,000 cherry blossoms of about 150 different types in the park, and the tree-lined area where you can enjoy the cherry blossom tunnel is a particularly popular viewing spot.
If you visit Kitakami, you should try “Kitakami croquettes”. We offer croquettes made with local specialties such as Futako Satoimo and Kuroge Wagyu beef in uniquely arranged menus at our stores around the city.

[Usually best time to see] Mid-April to early May

Approximately 10 minutes by car

Final destination: Kitakami Station (Kitakami City)

View the northern and central areas of the prefecture View the coastal areas