Kakunodate Weeping Cherry Blossoms in Akita Prefecture

Visiting Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture, one might be struck by the illusion of stepping back in time. The streets, still perfectly preserving the samurai residences of the past, are adorned with the weeping cherry blossoms of Kakunodate, which bloom from the black walls and paint the town in a beautiful shade of pink. It is recommended to dress in a kimono, take a rickshaw ride to enjoy the cherry blossoms, and fully immerse oneself in the charming atmosphere of Kakunodate as the rickshaw gently sways. Moreover, the Hinokinaigawa embankment near the samurai residences is a famous spot for viewing Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms. The joy of flower viewing is to eat a Hanami bento under the fully bloomed cherry trees. Address: Kakunodate Town, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture Transportation: Take the Akita Shinkansen from Sendai Station and get off at 'JR Kakunodate Station', then it's a 20-minute walk.

The Samurai Residence Street in Akita exudes an antique charm in Kakunodate with weeping cherry trees.

The quaint Samurai Residence Street, known as the 'Little Kyoto of Michinoku', has been developing as a castle town since 400 years ago and still retains the Edo-period small town atmosphere to this day. This area, brimming with an old-world charm, is divided into Uchimachi and Sotomachi. Sotomachi is a shopping street where you can buy local specialties and souvenirs, while Uchimachi is a well-preserved samurai residential area. During the cherry blossom season, the normally tranquil Samurai Residence Street attracts thousands of tourists daily. The reason is the over 400 weeping cherry trees that line the streets, which, when in full bloom, resemble waterfalls cascading down. The scenery, combined with the black fences characteristic of samurai homes, seems to transport visitors back to the Edo period. It is said that the first three weeping cherry tree saplings on Samurai Residence Street were part of the dowry brought from Kyoto in 1656 by the wife of the then-lord Satake Yoshiaki. Today, nearly half of the cherry trees in the area are over 300 years old, with 162 of them designated as national natural monuments. The old cherry trees and ancient houses make the entire streetscape seem as if it has been frozen in time, back in the Edo period, which is no wonder it consistently ranks in the top ten cherry blossom viewing spots year after year. Samurai Residence Street (Bukeyashiki-dori) Address: From Omotemachi to Higashikatsuraku-cho, Kakunodate, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture

🌺 Flower tree at Kakunodate 🇯🇵

#cherryblossom2024 🤗🏵Amidst the magic of our vacation, I embarked on an exhilarating expedition to the vibrant city of Japan. With the arrival of spring, the surroundings underwent a remarkable transformation, turning into a paradise. As we wandered through the renowned Kakunodate, we were immersed in the beauty of its luxurious landscapes. The breathtaking vistas that unfolded before our eyes at every corner left an indelible mark, creating memories that will be cherished forever. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Kakunodate, a samurai village that has preserved its traditional architecture and way of life for centuries. Wander through the well-preserved streets lined with historic samurai residences, and visit the Kakunodate Samurai House Museum to learn more about the lives of these noble warriors. Alternatively, take a leisurely stroll along the Hinokinai riverbank, where you can witness the stunning sight of thousands of sakura trees in full bloom. The gentle flow of the river, combined with the delicate pink petals of the cherry blossoms, creates a scene straight out of a postcard. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture the beauty of this National Place of Scenic Beauty. Whether you choose to explore the samurai village of Kakunodate or bask in the beauty of the Hinokinai riverbank, you are sure to be captivated by the natural and cultural wonders that await you in this enchanting region of Japan. Take your time to savor the tranquility and beauty of these unique destinations, and create memories that will last a lifetime. The extravagant and captivating sanctuary has made an everlasting impression in the innermost recesses of my mind. The sheer delight of revisiting and relishing every single moment in this unparalleled haven is truly unmatched.🏵🤗✨️🌸#mytravelhacks #historicallandmarks #localguides #familytrip #trip

Kakunodate Weeping Sakura

#cherryblossom2024 Weeping cherries are not sad During the spring festival, on the embankment of the Hinokinai River, you can admire the blooming light pink flowers of sidare sakura, a weeping cherry. Recommended Take a walk along the river in the evening under beautifully illuminated trees Buy snacks and souvenirs in tents on the shore To chat with the locals, who also came out to admire the sakura How to get Kakunodate can be reached by train and bus from Akita and the surrounding areas. It is a 15-minute walk from Kakunodate Station to the Hinokinai River. It is interesting It is said that cherries were planted here around 1656 Sidare sakura grows up to 15 meters high and 20 meters wide An ancient tunnel of flowers More than 400 cherries with hanging branches form a tunnel about two kilometers long. It is an ideal place for a walk along the riverbank. If you walk five minutes from the embankment deep into the city, you will get to the samurai quarter. Old traditional houses surrounded by cherry blossoms are the quintessence of Japanese aesthetics. When to arrive The festival runs from April 20 to May 5. More than 1.2 million tourists visit it every year.

Kakunodate | The hometown of Japanese samurai is also a famous place for cherry blossom and maple viewing.

Kakunodate, located in Akita Prefecture in the northeast of Japan, is known as "Mutsu's Little Kyoto". This is the hometown of samurai with a long history in Japan, and the samurai mansion with black wall panels in the Edo period is still maintained. Although after more than 380 years The baptism of time, but the street architecture here really hasn't changed much. 🌈Recommendation reason: Today, many place names of Kyoto can still be seen in this small town. Kakunodate, surrounded by mountains on three sides, gradually developed into a village inhabited by samurai due to its excellent terrain for building a castle town during the Edo period ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate. The status of the samurai in the Edo period was very high, and most of the samurai living in Kakunodate were middle and upper-level samurai. The houses are naturally not humble, and they are all elegant. ✨Kakunodate is a beautiful place with pink cherry blossoms in spring, green bamboo in summer, red leaves in autumn, and white snow in winter. Especially when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom every year, it is the most beautiful time here. ✨More than 400 weeping cherry trees were planted along the Samurai Mansion Avenue. Presumably coming here in spring, the landscape is more spectacular than autumn! ✨The black board walls and the maple leaves that are about to climb out of the wall make this hometown of samurai in late autumn seem to have returned to the Edo period. ♥️How to shop: ✨Kakunokan is not big, you can finish shopping in half a day. Get out of Kakunodate Station and go straight along the avenue, then follow the signs for ten minutes to the most famous samurai house. ✨Famous attractions include Ishiguro House, Aoyagi House, Nishinomiya House, etc. 🚇Transportation: How to get there: Take the Akita Shinkansen directly from Tokyo and get off at Kakunodate Station, about a three-hour drive.

I came to the corner hall in the middle of Akita Prefecture, as if I had passed back to the Edo era. The towns that began construction in 1620 have Nakamachi (Wujia Mansion) and Outer Town (Businessmen Street), and have remained intact for nearly four hundred years. It is also known as "the small Kyoto of the Austrian Olympics". In fact, there are more than 30 small Kyotos in Japan. Perhaps the visitors are scattered around the five o'clock, and the shops outside are also closed, especially clean. The Wujiaguan Guanqing Liujia is also the historical village of Jiaoguan. There are main houses, arsenals, local pavilions and appliance halls in the courtyard. All the buildings and exhibits are used by the Qingliu family. The main entrance (Pharmacist Gate) was built in 1860, and the thatched roofed house was still the actual residence of the Qingliu family until 1985. Address: Kanamachi, Sakaecho, Sakae-shi, Akita Prefecture

Our lunch was selected at the West Palace, a restaurant converted from a family of more than 300 years old. Today, all the warriors are listed as national key monuments, and the West Palace is one of them. Originally, the food produced by the store with high value of the face did not expect too much. I randomly ordered the parents and children. I didnt imagine the taste was unexpected. Ota sauce later told me that the original chicken was also Akita's specialties, Akita rice and chicken are well-known ingredients in the country, which is limited by the autumn and winter seasons. From the spacious yard outside the door, I cant think of a restaurant hidden inside. The restaurant was built from the original house. The use of large windows and windows makes the interior lighting very good. It is complemented by old-age kerosene lamps and old pianos. European retro style, very elegant. The restaurant also has an indoor part. Basically, the western style is more intense. There are also hand-made coffee filters that have been preserved for hundreds of years. The tableware used is also a very sophisticated ceramic. It is simple to eat. Just a meal, there is already a full sense of ritual.

Festival Festival is one of the most important festivals in the Kakunodate. It is held on September 7-9 every year. It has a history of 350 years. It is a god-honoring ceremony jointly held by the Shenming Society and the Pharmacist Hall in the Kakuno area. It is also the United Nations. One of the intangible cultural heritages of 33 Mountains, Donkeys and Houses recorded by UNESCO. Every year, the whole city pays great attention to it, and children as young as possible will participate. Its not hard to see the photos. All the men are pushing the float called Trolling the Mountain. The girl is dressed in a large dress above the float, and the inside of the float is hidden in the vocal music. The band, when the ritual ceremony is going on, the girl will dance with the music on the float. When the teams that are dragging the mountains meet each other, in order to compete for the right of priority, the arrogant performance will make the mountains collide with each other. This process is called mountain collision. The whole scene is rough and magnificent. !