It’s that time of year again – the cherry blossoms are reaching their peak bloom here in Matsumoto! Japan has a deep connection to its sakura, or cherry blossom trees. The timing of the blossoms coincides with the school year, giving the flowers a feeling of new beginnings. Locals here often engage in hanami, or cherry blossom viewing parties. If you’d like to have a hanami of your own, we recommend heading to one of these places!

Matsumoto Castle

Of course, the most notable place on our list has to be Matsumoto Castle. Surrounding the moats are dozens of cherry blossom trees. There are a wide variety of cherry blossom trees planted here, such as the classic Somei-Yoshino, the Edo-Higan, and the weeping Shidare varieties. All of these bloom at slightly different times, effectively lengthening the amount of time when the flowers can be seen around the castle.  Matsumoto Castle is currently offering a night time cherry blossom illumination so you can enjoy the soft glow of the sakura contrasting against the dark night sky.

To get the most out of your visit to Matsumoto Castle, we recommend taking a guided tour.

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Susuki River

The Susuki River is one of the main tributaries to the Azusa River, the namesake for the limited express train connecting Matsumoto to Tokyo. Lining the banks of this river are more than 350 cherry blossom trees. On weekends during peak bloom, you’ll find dozens of local families here having barbecues and picnics. Between the cherry blossoms and the soothing sound of the flowing river, the public park nestled below the road makes a perfect place for cherry blossom viewing. Parking at the river fills up fast, so we recommend arriving by bicycle.

For a guided e-bike tour that includes the river plus a few extra cherry blossom viewing sites, you can book one here.

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Koboyama Tumulus

At the top of Mount Koboyama on the south side of Matsumoto City, you’ll find a series of oddly shaped mounds that don’t look quite natural. Research has discovered that these mounds are actually 3rd century kofun, or ancient burial mounds. Surrounding these kofun and covering the mountain side are Oyama and Somei-Yoshino cherry blossom trees. This place is well known not only for its abundance of flowers, but also for what follows. When the trees begin to transition from flower to leaf, the petals begin to drop, creating what appears to be a blizzard of flower petals raining down from the sky.

**Note: There is a modern-day cemetery at this site, so if you visit please be very mindful and respectful of the setting

More Cherry Blossom Viewing Sites

Find the Most Beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Matsumoto

Matsumoto at Her Most Beautiful: Cherry Blossoms & Snow-Capped Mountains