There is something magical about cherry blossoms. It is probably the alluring scenery created by millions of tiny white or pink flowers or the spirit behind the tradition of hanami that has existed for centuries. Whatever it is, there are many reasons why it is a great idea to visit Japan around the season.
While Okayama Prefecture is best known for the Okayama Castle and Kōrakuen Garden, it also has a couple of great places to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of cherry blossoms!
Here is a list of places in Okayama Prefecture that you probably aren’t aware of.
- Asahigawa Sakura-Michi Walk (旭川さくらみち)
- Kibitsu Shrine (吉備津神社)
- Ryūsenji Temple (龍泉寺)
- Ukankei Nature Park (宇甘渓自然公園)
- Forest Park Takebe (たけべの森公園)
- Achi Shrine (阿智神社)
- Mt. Tanematsu Park (種松山公園西園地)
- Okayama Ikoi no Mura (岡山いこいの村)
- Miyama Park (みやま公園)
- Mt. Ōjigatake (王子ヶ岳)
- Daigo-Sakura (醍醐桜)
- Kōjiro Shikizakura (神代四季桜)
- Kuse’s Cherry Blossom Tunnel (久世のトンネル桜)
- Fumonji Temple (普門寺)
- Kayabe Shrine (茅部神社)
- Shinjō Village (新庄村)’s Gaisen Zakura Street (がいせん桜通り)
- Shizutani School (旧閑谷学校)
- Mt. Yudachiuke (夕立受山)
Asahigawa Sakura-Michi Walk (旭川さくらみち)
This particular place probably wouldn’t be considered an off-the-beaten-track spot. But in case you aren’t aware, we included it here due to its easy accessibility.
Found on the east side of the Kōrakuen Garden and close to the banks of the Asashigawa River, Asahigawa Sakura-Michi Walk tops the list of any cherry blossom destinations in the prefecture as far as cherry blossom goes.
The path is lined up with cherry trees stretching approximately a mile. To catch the peak of the cherry blossom, you should plan to visit between late March and early April.
For more information, please refer to our article on Okayama City.
Kibitsu Shrine (吉備津神社)
Aside from the legend of Momotarō, which formed the foundation of this shrine, Kibitsu is an incredible spot to visit if you want to enjoy cherry blossoms in a laid-back yet charming setting.
Situated just half a mile from the station, this shrine is a place to enjoy some folklore while appreciating the traditional architecture under picturesque scenery. The cherry blossom is at its best around mid-April.
For more information, please refer to our article on Okayama City.
Ukankei Nature Park (宇甘渓自然公園)
Nestled within a valley, Ukanei Nature Park is known for its spectacular seasonal sceneries.
You can enjoy the beauty that this park has to offer year-round. But it is most lively when the cherry trees come to life with color around early April. And if you want to catch some vibrant colors in autumn, come in November.
For more information, please refer to our article on Okayama City.
Forest Park Takebe (たけべの森公園)
Boasting approximately 15,000 cherry blossom trees of different varieties, Forest Park Takebe is by far one of the best places in the region to visit for the cherry blossom festival.
They have a miniature golf course, a car camping site, and a grass field, making the place perfect for families looking to enjoy their getaway right in the middle of the blossoming cherry trees.
The cherry blossom festivals in this park take place in early April.
For more information, please refer to our article on Okayama City.
Achi Shrine (阿智神社)
Perched on a hilltop overlooking Kurashiki City, this shrine oozes tranquillity and welcoming vibes. It is located just a short distance from Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter and is easily accessible through a series of stairs that wind through rich greenery.
In addition to the astounding views of the traditional townscape below and the beautiful traditional architecture, Achi Shrine’s lovely little garden comes to life with pink sakura flowers, usually from late March and early April.
For more information about Achi Shrine, please refer to our article on Kurashiki!
Mt. Tanematsu Park (種松山公園西園地)
Mt. Tanematsu Park is one of the most renowned destinations in Kurashiki for hanami (the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers), especially among locals and people who live in the neighboring cities.
This makes it a perfect option to experience cherry blossom in a less touristy spot in Japan.
At an altitude of 258 meters, this knob is colored with breathtaking scenery filled with varieties of flowers and cherry trees.
Apart from cherry blossoms, different flowers burgeon sequentially from late October to June.
Please refer to our article on Kurashiki City for more information!
Okayama Ikoi no Mura (岡山いこいの村)
Located in Setouchi City, an approximately 20-minute drive from JR Hinase Station (日生駅), Okayama Ikoi no Mura is an off-the-beaten-path locale where you can enjoy the cherry blossom season in style.
This guest house is on a hill and boasts an observatory deck that overlooks the striking Seto Inland sea.
From the bath pools, you can kick back and absorb the beauty of over 2,500 Yoshino cherry blossom trees.
For more information, please refer to our article on Setouchi City.
Miyama Park (みやま公園)
Miyama Park is a popular destination even outside of the cherry blossom season. The park has small alluring lakes, hiking trails, and tree-lined paths.
The park is also famed for its British Garden, where you can see roses in bloom around June.
Apart from cherry blossoms, different types of flowers burgeon sequentially from late October to June.
For more information, please refer to our Tamano City article.
Mt. Ōjigatake (王子ヶ岳)
Another location where you can enjoy both the spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea and cherry blossom is Mt. Ōjigatake. But please be prepared to do some light hiking.
Mt. Ōjigatake is a mountain with various oddly shaped rocks on the border between the two cities – Tamano (玉野) and Kurashiki (倉敷) in Okayama Prefecture.
The view of the Seto Inland Sea along the hiking trail and from the summit makes the mountain popular among locals. This is especially the case when a thousand or so cherry blossoms color one part of the mountain with its light pink petals from mid-March to early April (*´ω｀).
For more information, please refer to our Mt. Ōjigatake article!
Daigo-Sakura (醍醐桜)
Living for over 1,000 years, the 18-meter-tall cherry tree covers an area of about 20 meters. Daigo Sakura is believed to be the most giant tree in the entire Okayama Prefecture.
It is named after a Japanese Emperor, Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇), who admired its beauty in the 13th century while he was on his way to Oki Island.
With virtually no other trees of Daigo Sakura’s stature in the vicinity, its flowers steal the show when they come into full bloom from early to mid-April every year.
For more information about Daigo-Sakura, please refer to our article on Maniwa City.
Kōjiro Shikizakura (神代四季桜)
Kōjiro Shikizakura’s cherry blossom has to be one of the most attractive natural phenomena. Shikizakura is a type of cherry tree producing beguiling, blooming scenery in spring and autumn!
So, if you are torn between marveling at the vibrant autumn colors and the gorgeous pink cherry bloom, going to Kōjiro Shikizakura is a sure bet.
For more information, please refer to our article on Maniwa City.
Kuse’s Cherry Blossom Tunnel (久世のトンネル桜)
This 1.5-mile walking course is probably one of the most photographed tourist attractions in Okayama Prefecture.
The branches of the trees on either side of the road stretch overhead and create a stunning tunnel of flowers.
You can walk under this colorful natural tunnel and enjoy its faint fragrance during the cherry bloom season. In the late season, the road will be covered by flowers that have dropped from the trees.
For more information, please refer to our article on Maniwa City.
Fumonji Temple (普門寺)
Another temple where you can adore cherry blossoms and the fall color at the same time is Fumoji Temple.
The temple known as the temple of flowers also has a couple of Shikizakura trees that bloom twice a year.
This small temple buried deep in the mountain has flowers decorating the precinct from April to November. As a minor destination, it is where you can enjoy the gorgeous natural scenery with minimum disturbance from strangers.
For more information, please refer to our article on Maniwa City.
Kayabe Shrine (茅部神社)
Kayabe Shrine is a place to go for history, tradition, and of course, repose. The tranquility of this place is unrivaled.
In addition to the majestic torii gate that marks the entrance of the shrine, the tree-lined half a mile leading to this place of worship is one of the most popular cherry blossom attractions in Okayama Prefecture.
Between early and mid-April, when the cherry flowers are in full bloom, the trees planted on both sides of the road create a beautiful tunnel.
For more information, please refer to our article on Hiruzen Highlands.
Shinjō Village (新庄村)’s Gaisen Zakura Street (がいせん桜通り)
Another popular but not crowded cherry blossom destination is in Shinjō Village. Over 130 cherry trees in this street were planted to commemorate the Russo-Japanese War.
Today, over a century later, the cherry trees are not only a reminder of the mighty men of war in the country, but they also attract hundreds of tourists who flock to the street to adore the beauty of their flowers.
For more information, please refer to our Shinjō Village article.
Shizutani School (旧閑谷学校)
In the eastern part of Okayama Prefecture, Shituzani was established in the 16th century by Lord Mitsumasa Ikeda. It is one of the oldest existing public schools in the world.
The well-maintained pottery roof tiles and carved stones are a view to behold as they draw you back to the past centuries. Further to the school’s long history, a beautiful cherry blossom grove blooms beautifully, usually in early April.
The plum blossom and maple grove surrounding the area also offer the school a fascinating backdrop, particularly in autumn and spring.
For more information, please refer to our Bizen City article.
Mt. Yudachiuke (夕立受山)
Mt. Yudachiuke in southeast Okayama is another excellent destination for cherry blooming, especially if you enjoy hiking.
The trails are of easy to moderate difficulty, so getting to the summit of this mountain won’t be hard if you are in reasonable shape. If that isn’t the case, you can always drive.
At the top, you will be rewarded with incredible views of the Seto Inland Sea. Along the way, parts of the trails are covered by beautiful cherry trees.
If you plan to catch the fantastic cherry blossom scenery, be sure to visit the mountain between late March and early April.
For more information, please refer to our Bizen City article.
The Best Places in Okayama for Flower Hunting
Cherry blossom isn’t the only type of flower that blooms in Okayama. If you plan to visit Okayama at other times of the year, remember to check out our article on the Best Places in Okayama for Flower Hunting!
The Fall Foilage Destinations in Okayama Prefecture that You Probably Don’t Know
Another perfect season to visit Japan is autumn. The season is longer than cherry blossom, so you are guaranteed some spectacular vivid scenery even if you didn’t spend much time planning.
To find out the awesome places to visit in October and November, please refer to our article on Okayama’s Hidden Fall Foilage Destinations!
Discover the Best Shrines and Temples to Visit in Okayama
So you are planning a trip to Okayama Prefecture and are curious about which shrines and temples should be on your list to visit?
For ideas, refer to our article on Best Shrines and Temples to Visit in Okayama!
