With springtime on the horizon, it’s time to start planning your annual Hanami activities if you live in Japan. Hanami means “flower viewing” and it’s a big occasion across the country around late March and early April. This is the period where the cherry trees (Sakura) blossom. Hanami has been taking place for centuries in Japan. People gather in outdoor spots to admire the beauty of the trees blooming, often having picnics, parties or even festivals to celebrate the occasion.
Hiroshima is no different and there are a number of fantastic Hanami spots across the city. The exact time of year to plan your Hanami can vary according to the seasonal climate but it’s usually around the end of March/start of April. You can use this weather map (in Japanese) to help you plan things.
Here is a selection of the best Hanami spots in Hiroshima.
Senkoji Park
Considered one of the best Hanami spots in Hiroshima, Senkoji Park sits at the top of Mt. Senkoji that overlooks the historic town of Onomachi in east Hiroshima. The park has around 1,500 cherry trees in total. You can admire them during the day with the Seto Inland Sea providing a backdrop or at night-time when the trees are lit with lanterns between 6:00 p.m. and midnight during Hanami season. The park is open 24 hours and free to enter. If you don’t fancy climbing to the summit, you can take a ropeway for a small fee. If you have time, you can also check out Senkoji temple located within the park.
Website: Senkoji Park (in Japanese)
Miyajima
Miyajima is a small island just off the coast of mainland Hiroshima. It’s very popular with tourists due to its mountains, trails, wildlife and ancient shrines. It also gets very busy around Hanami time. There are approximately 2,000 cherry trees dotted across the island, including many lining the path to the Itsukushima Shrine. This particular spot is particularly popular with Hanami picnickers, although tends to be quieter at night when the trees are lit with beautiful lanterns. There is guest accommodation if you fancy an overnight stay. Viewing the tree blossoming is free but you’ll need to pay around 260 yen each way for the ferry to reach the island.
Website: Miyajima (in Japanese)
Peace Memorial Park
Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city. Built after the Hiroshima bombing in 1945, it contains a memorial museum and an atomic bomb dome monument. The park also has a beautiful cherry blossom corridor featuring around 300 Somei Yoshino trees lining a riverside path. As the park is open 24/7 and is free, you can come day or night. The trees are illuminated at night for a few days during the Hanami period. It’s a popular spot for Hanami picnics but can get busy, so get there early if you want a good spot.
Address: 1-1-10 Nakajima-cho, Naka ward, Hiroshima 730-0811
Shukkeien Gardens
If you want your Hanami with an added twist of something different, head along to Shukkeien Gardens. Translating as “shrunken gardens”, this pretty outdoor space was originally built in the 17th century and then rebuilt after World War II. It features miniature replicas of mountains, valleys and forests. What is real-life size, though, are the 200 or so plum, peach and cherry blossom trees within the premises. There are also tea houses on the gardens that allow you to take your Hanami together with a traditional tea ceremony if you wish. Entry fee is 260 yen (600 yen for inclusion of the tea ceremony).
Address: 2-11 Kaminoboricho, Naka ward, Hiroshima 730-0014
Hiyajama Park
Hiyajama Park is a large forested hilltop park where you can enjoy breath-taking views of Hiroshima city and the Seto Inland Sea. It’s a popular park with art connoisseurs as it contains the Hiroshima Museum of Contemporary Art as well as installations throughout the park, such as Henry Moore’s Arch. The park has around 1,300 cherry trees that unsurprisingly makes it a bit of a Hanami hot-spot around early springtime. Many come for picnics or evening parties as the park remains open until 11:00 p.m.
Address: 3 Hiyajamakoen, Minami ward, Hiroshima 732-0815
Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
