Tohoku Cherry Blossoms Adventure in JAPAN 2025

Chasing Cherry Blossoms in Tohoku — Fukushima, Yamagata & Akita
Tohoku, Japan · Spring
東北 桜めぐり

Chasing Cherry Blossoms
Across Tohoku

🌸 Fukushima 🌸 Yamagata 🌸 Akita

5 days · 5 JR EAST Pass · Weeping trees, castle ruins & samurai houses in full bloom

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Before You Go · Essential Pass

JR EAST Pass (Tohoku Area)

Planning a multi-prefecture cherry blossom trip in Tohoku? Start at the JR East Travel Service Center in Shibuya and pick up the JR EAST Pass (Tohoku Area) — an unlimited shinkansen ticket valid for 5 consecutive days. Available only to tourists and foreign residents in Japan, it's the most cost-effective way to cover Fukushima, Yamagata and Akita by train.

📌 Check covered areas → jreast.co.jp

JR EAST Pass Tohoku

JR EAST Pass (Tohoku Area) — 5 days unlimited shinkansen · Available at major JR East Travel Service Centers

🌸 🌸 🌸
Day 1 · Apr 18

Departure from Tokyo — Arriving in Koriyama

After work, my husband and I headed to Tokyo Station to board the evening shinkansen north. We chose Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture as our base for the entire trip — centrally located with excellent shinkansen access to all three prefectures.

We stayed for 5 days and 4 nights at Hotel Livemax Fukushima-Koriyama-Ekimae, a compact but comfortable hotel just a short walk from the station. The rooms are small, but since we were out exploring from early morning until evening every day, it was more than enough. I booked through Agoda.

Day 2 · Apr 19

Nicchu Weeping Cherry Trees & Tsurugajo Castle

We started early. Our first stop was the famous Nicchusen Weeping Cherry Blossom Path in Kitakata — over 1,000 weeping cherry trees lining both sides of a 3km walking path. One of Fukushima's most iconic spring sights.

🚃 Koriyama → Aizu Wakamatsu 6:52 AM → 8:08 AM
🚃 Aizu Wakamatsu → Kitakata Station 8:14 AM → 8:30 AM
📍 5 min walk · 2 Oshikiri Higashi, Kitakata City, Fukushima
▶ Watch: Nicchu Weeping on YouTube
Nicchu Weeping Cherry Blossom Path, Kitakata

Over 1,000 weeping cherry trees along the Nicchusen Path · Kitakata, Fukushima · Photo by @genobear

After the morning walk, we made our way to Tsurugajo Castle — a beautifully restored castle in Aizu Wakamatsu surrounded by cherry blossoms, viewable from morning until evening.

🚃 Kitakata → Aizu Wakamatsu 1:10 PM → 1:36 PM
🚌 Bus from Aizu Wakamatsu Station → Tsurugajosannomaruguchi Tickets at bus stop outside station
Tsurugajo Castle cherry blossoms Tsurugajo Castle grounds Tsurugajo Castle evening

Tsurugajo Castle · Aizu Wakamatsu, Fukushima · Cherry blossoms in full bloom · Photo by @genobear

⚠ Tip: Getting back to the station at night can be tricky — taxis are hard to book via app in this area after dark. Check the evening bus schedule in advance before you go.
Day 3 · Apr 20

Yamagata Castle Ruins & Kuratsu River Illumination

We took an early shinkansen to Yamagata and walked 15 minutes to the stunning Yamagata Castle Ruins (Kajo Park). We arrived at the perfect moment — the cherry blossoms were in full bloom and a gentle petal snowstorm was drifting through the air. One of the most magical cherry blossom experiences of the whole trip.

🚄 Koriyama → Yamagata Station 7:30 AM → 8:59 AM
📍 15 min walk · 1 Kajomachi, Yamagata, 990-0826
Yamagata Castle Ruins cherry blossoms Cherry blossom snow storm at Yamagata Castle

Yamagata Castle Ruins (Kajo Park) during cherry blossom snowstorm · Photo by @genobear

After lunch near the station, we continued to Kuratsu River in Tendo — a quieter gem tucked inside a residential neighborhood, known for its beautiful weeping cherry trees framed by mountain views. Night illuminations are available here too.

🚃 Yamagata → Tendo Station 2:44 PM → 2:55 PM
📍 10 min walk from Tendo Station · Kuratsu River
Kuratsu River weeping cherry trees Kuratsu River evening Kuratsu River mountain view Kuratsu River night illumination

Kuratsu River, Tendo · Weeping cherry trees with mountain backdrop & night illuminations · Photo by @genobear

🚃 Tendo → Koriyama Station (after dinner) 8:30 PM → 10:09 PM
Day 4 · Apr 21

Eboshiyama Park — Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossoms

My husband had work on this day, so I solo traveled to Eboshiyama Park in Akayu, Yamagata — one of Japan's designated 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots. From Akayu Station, it's about a 30-minute walk, or a short taxi ride if you prefer. I chose to walk slowly and enjoy the surroundings.

I can honestly say this was one of the most beautiful cherry blossom spots I've ever visited — and the crowd was surprisingly light. Peaceful, expansive, and utterly beautiful.

Eboshiyama Park cherry blossoms Eboshiyama Park wide view Eboshiyama Park blossoms Eboshiyama Park path

Eboshiyama Park · Akayu, Yamagata · One of Japan's 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots · Photo by @genobear

▶ Watch: Walking Eboshiyama Park on YouTube

The park also has night illuminations, so I brought my husband back in the evening after his work finished. The torii gate — the largest stone torii gate in Japan — is a highlight not to be missed.

Eboshiyama Park night illumination Largest stone torii gate Japan

Night illumination & the largest stone torii gate in Japan · Eboshiyama Park · Photo by @genobear

Day 5 · Apr 22

Kakunodate, Akita — Weeping Trees Along the Samurai Houses

For my final solo day, I traveled all the way to Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture — famous for its beautifully preserved samurai district lined with magnificent weeping cherry trees. I took the first available train from Koriyama and walked 15–20 minutes from the station to the samurai houses.

Kakunodate samurai houses weeping cherry Kakunodate cherry blossoms samurai street Kakunodate weeping trees Kakunodate samurai houses

Weeping cherry trees lining the samurai houses · Kakunodate, Akita · Photo by @genobear

Kakunodate cherry blossom canopy Kakunodate cherry blossoms close Kakunodate cherry blossom walk

More views of Kakunodate's iconic samurai district in full bloom · Photo by @genobear

💡 Tip: Kakunodate gets quite crowded during peak bloom. If possible, consider staying in the area overnight so you can walk the samurai district early in the morning before the crowds arrive — it's a completely different experience.

This was my last day of the trip. Since I was traveling solo, I headed back to Tokyo after lunch, ending the journey on a quiet, happy note.

🌸

Final Thoughts

This trip reminded me just how much Tohoku has to offer in spring. What struck me most was how many weeping cherry trees this region has — they create a completely different, more graceful atmosphere than the standard Somei Yoshino variety you see in Tokyo parks.

Five days, three prefectures, countless petals — and memories that will last long after the blossoms have fallen. Next year, maybe Nagano or Niigata? 🌸

Thank you for reading — I hope this inspires you to chase your own Tohoku spring. Till next time! 👋

@genobear · genogoesplaces · Yani Bear in Japan
Tohoku Cherry Blossom Journey · Fukushima · Yamagata · Akita · April 2025
Location: Tohoku Region, Japan

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