Last Updated: Oct 31, 2023

Gorgeous Mt. Yoshino

Japan’s Best Spot for Cherry Blossoms

Donny Kimball
7 min readApr 3, 2018

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The cherry blossoms of Nara Prefecture’s Mt. Yoshino as seen through a temple window.

Ah springtime in Japan…

Few things can compare to this country’s beauty when its legendary cherry blossoms begin to flower. Only around for a brief period of time, this highly treasured part of spring has been much beloved throughout Japanese history. In fact, the cherry blossoms are so highly renowned that they have become akin to an iconic symbol of Japan. Should the timing workout, a chance to connect with friends while drinking outside under the trees is a quintessential Japanese experience.

When it comes to locations for viewing the cherry blossoms, you’re certainly spoiled for choice. In fact, it’s really hard to go wrong. Of course, there are perennial favorites like Chidori-ga-Fuchi near Tokyo’s Imperial Palace. Nevertheless, no matter where you visit expect to find magnificent cherry trees. That said, there is one spot in Japan that has stood head and shoulders since the dawn of time. Known as Mt. Yoshino, this hidden gem is by far Japan’s best kept secret when it comes to celebrating the cherry blossoms.

What makes Mt. Yoshino so special? Well, for starters, the mountain is blanketed in over 30,000 cherry trees mainly grafted from the Yamazakura variety (yes, there are indeed many different…

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Donny Kimball

I'm a travel writer and freelance digital marketer who blogs about the sides of Japan that you can't find in the mainstream media. https://donnykimball.com/