Takami no Sato: The Hidden Cherry Blossom Spot Near Mt. Yoshino

If you find the cherry blossoms at Mt. Yoshino too touristy, check out the flowers at Takami no Sato (高見の郷) in Higashiyoshino Village instead. Although the spot doesn’t have 30,000 cherry trees, the 1,000 weeping cherry blossoms at an altitude of 650 meters will still enchant you!

Surprisingly, the spot beats Mt. Yoshino in terms of popularity amongst Japanese for cherry blossoms but remains unknown to most international visitors.

Like Mt. Yoshino, the cherry blossom forest here is artificial. Aiming for the effective use of mountains from the decline of forestry, many cherry saplings around the country were collected, planted, and raised here for more than 10 years before the forest was opened to the public in 2004.

How to Enjoy Takami no Sato

There are 2 receptions (受付) at Takami no Sato, one for those who prefer to hike up the hill and another for those who prefer to utilize Takami no Sato’s shuttle bus. The shuttle buses run between the car parks, the receptions, and Tenkū no Niwa (天空の庭) in Takami no Sato. While the closest car park is next to the reception for hikers, you can utilize the shuttle bus to get to the other reception.

If you plan to hike, it is 600 meters to Tenkū no Niwa. It should be a 20-minute hike. While the hike might sound daunting, you will be accompanied by cherry trees covered with gorgeous tiny flowers (*´ω｀).

Once you get to Tenkū no Niwa, enjoy the magnificent scenery and the food sold at the restaurant! You can utilize phrases in our Essential Japanese Travel Phrases for Vegetarians and Vegans article to order vegetarian dishes.

Once you are ready, hike further up Sennen no Oka (千年の丘) at an altitude of 700 meters. This will give you a complete view of Takami no Sato!

HERE is the map of Takami no Sato. Despite being in Japanese, it will give you a good idea of what to expect on the day.

Cherry Blossom Season at Takami no Sato

The cherry blossom season is usually from early to late April.
The weeping cherry trees can usually be enjoyed from around the 10th of April, reaching full bloom around the 20th.
But note in 2021, the trees reached full bloom around the 6th of April and began to scatter around the 11th.

The Best Time to Visit Takami no Sato

As Nara Prefecture‘s best cherry blossom spot, it is a no-brainer that it will be packed on weekends. If you can only visit on weekends, get there by 9 am. Even if you come on a weekday, the 5th car park (the 2nd furthest from Takami no Sato) might be full after lunchtime.

Takami no Sato’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information

Takami no Sato is open from 9 am to 5 pm in April when the cherry blossom is blooming.
- The last admission is at 4:30 pm.
- In 2024, Takami no Sato was open from the 30th of March to the 21st of April.
The admission fee is
- 1,500 yen for adults
- 500 yen for elementary school students and younger

To get to Takami no Sato by public transport, please get off at Kintetsu’s (近鉄) Kaibara Station (榛原駅). From there, take the shuttle buses connecting you to Takami no Sato.
- Note in 2023, the shuttle bus requires a reservation with Nara Kōtsū (奈良交通).
- A reservation can be made by calling +81-742-22-5110.
- From Kaibara Station (榛原駅), it is around a 40-minute drive, which will cost around 7,000 yen if you take a taxi. So consider renting a car if possible.

If you could only park in the car parks further away from reception, there will be free shuttle buses taking you to and from Takami no Sato. Also, if you aren’t experienced in driving, we would advise you not to drive there as the road leading to Tamani no Sato is narrow and has steep slopes.