Most Japanese people like cherry blossom.
We enjoy Ohanami (cherry blossom viewing) at the beginning of spring.
Cherry blossom in full-bloom is very beautiful.
When cherry blossoms fall, they flutter in the wind. The situation is also nice atmosphere.
・Mt. Yoshino, the world heritage national park, is good for Ohanami
Mt. Yoshino in Nara prefecture is one of the best places for cherry blossom viewing.
There are thirty thousands of cherry blossom trees. (They consist of about 200 different types.)
Cherry trees are divided into four blocks,下千本(Simo-senbon)(A), 中千本(Naka-senbon)(B), 上千本(Kami-senbon)(C) and 奥千本(Oku-senbon)(D) , from the foot to the top of Mt. Yoshino.
If you are a good walker, you don’t need to wait in a line and you can go up by foot (3). It takes 20minuts.
You can see three Zaou Gongen models (7m tall) for a limited time in 2012-2022. For example from April 1st to May 7th in 2017.
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We enjoy Ohanami (cherry blossom viewing) at the beginning of spring.
Cherry blossom in full-bloom is very beautiful.
・Mt. Yoshino, the world heritage national park, is good for Ohanami
There are thirty thousands of cherry blossom trees. (They consist of about 200 different types.)
Four blocks’ trees best viewing timing differ so we can enjoy flowers long time compare to the other viewing places in Japan.
・Which is better, bus or ropeway?
When you pass through the nearest railway station’s (吉野 Yoshino(E) : Kintetsu railway station) ticket gate, you’ll see a lot of people wait in two lines. (1) is for the bus and (2) is for the ropeway.
Ropeway arrive at (11). I don’t recommend ropeway because the capacity of it is only about 30 persons so you have to wait for a long time. Indeed, we had to wait one hour to ride.
・Which is better, bus or ropeway?
When you pass through the nearest railway station’s (吉野 Yoshino(E) : Kintetsu railway station) ticket gate, you’ll see a lot of people wait in two lines. (1) is for the bus and (2) is for the ropeway.
Ropeway arrive at (11). I don’t recommend ropeway because the capacity of it is only about 30 persons so you have to wait for a long time. Indeed, we had to wait one hour to ride.
The line for the bus is also long but the number of special bus is increased in Ohanami season. Bus arrive at (9).
If you are a good walker, you don’t need to wait in a line and you can go up by foot (3). It takes 20minuts.
・viewpoint
○吉水神社(Yoshimizu shrine)(4)
You can see 中千本(Naka-senbon)(B) and 上千本(Kami-senbon) (C)at a time from here.
Hideyoshi Toyotomi, historical warlord, held a banquet here and admired for the beauty of cherry blossoms.
○(5)There are short trail to go up from here. On the way to go up, you can see cherry blossoms on the slopes on the mountain.
○Take a bus from (6) and get off at (7)(20minuts). You can overlook a lot of cherry trees from (8). (8) is better but (12) is also obserbatory.
・金峯山寺(Kinpusenji-temple)
There are many temples. Especially 金峯山寺(Kinpusenji-temple)(10) is a symbol of Mt. Yoshino.
○吉水神社(Yoshimizu shrine)(4)
You can see 中千本(Naka-senbon)(B) and 上千本(Kami-senbon) (C)at a time from here.
Hideyoshi Toyotomi, historical warlord, held a banquet here and admired for the beauty of cherry blossoms.
○(5)There are short trail to go up from here. On the way to go up, you can see cherry blossoms on the slopes on the mountain.
There are many temples. Especially 金峯山寺(Kinpusenji-temple)(10) is a symbol of Mt. Yoshino.
蔵王堂(Zaoudo-hall) is a second biggest old wooden architecture in Japan.
Zaoudou-hall and 仁王門(a Deva gate) is designated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.
You can see three Zaou Gongen models (7m tall) for a limited time in 2012-2022. For example from April 1st to May 7th in 2017.
The date is changed every year. Admission fee to see the models is 1000yen. A part of the fee is used to repair a deva gate.
・shops and Japanese restaurants
There are many souvenir shops and Japanese restaurants from(9) to(11).
Very cute goods made from pottery are sold.
Kuzu (arrow root): You can buy various kuzu sweets and products.
Cherry blossom-Yokan: Yokan is a bar of sweet jellied bean paste. On the top of the Yokan there is a jelly and salted cherry blossoms are inside it.
Persimmon leaf sushi: It is a kind of pressed sushi and it is wrapped with persimmon leaves. Lightly pickled saba(mackerel) fish or salmon fish is on the top of the vinegard rice.
・Best route
If you are interested in both cherry blossom and shops and don’t want to go up on foot for a long time, I suggest this route.
(1)→bus→(9)→(5)→(9)→(11)→(3)
It depends on your time or interests or timing of your visit but you can add (8)(You should use bus from(6) to (7).) or (4)or (10).
・How to go there and the best time for blossom viewing
You can check this site in English.
Access: http://www.yoshinoyama-sakura.jp (click ‘English’)
Best time: http://www.town.yoshino.nara.jp/kanko-event/kanouki/kaika/ (click ‘g’ and select English for machine translation)
Best date is a little different every year.
Please visit Mt. Yoshino and Enjoy!
Click each post's・shops and Japanese restaurants
There are many souvenir shops and Japanese restaurants from(9) to(11).
Very cute goods made from pottery are sold.
Cherry blossom-Yokan: Yokan is a bar of sweet jellied bean paste. On the top of the Yokan there is a jelly and salted cherry blossoms are inside it.
If you are interested in both cherry blossom and shops and don’t want to go up on foot for a long time, I suggest this route.
(1)→bus→(9)→(5)→(9)→(11)→(3)
It depends on your time or interests or timing of your visit but you can add (8)(You should use bus from(6) to (7).) or (4)or (10).
・How to go there and the best time for blossom viewing
You can check this site in English.
Access: http://www.yoshinoyama-sakura.jp (click ‘English’)
Best time: http://www.town.yoshino.nara.jp/kanko-event/kanouki/kaika/ (click ‘g’ and select English for machine translation)
Best date is a little different every year.
Please visit Mt. Yoshino and Enjoy!
and share if you like it.Advertisement