[Shizuoka ]popular cherry blossom viewing spots in early spring

Sunpu Castle was the residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu from the Warring States Period to the Edo Period. Although the castle tower does not remain, the castle ruins are maintained as Sunpu Castle Park. About 500 cherry trees are planted in the park. The park is usually decorated with light red colors from late March to early April every year. The "Shizuoka Festival "is also held in conjunction with the cherry blossom viewing season.

Even within the 18-hectare park, the largest number of cherry trees can be seen in the southeastern area surrounding the Tatsumi Yagura, Honmaru moat, and the square in front of the Higashi Gomon gate. The cherry blossoms are mainly Someiyoshino, but there are also weeping cherry, Oshima cherry, Zindaiakebono, and other varieties, each with its own unique characteristics.

Shizuoka Sengen Shrine is located at the foot of Mt. Three head shrines, Kanbe Shrine, Asama Shrine, and Otoshi Miya Shrine, are built on the shrine grounds. All three shrines are worshipped by the Imperial Court as well as by successive generations of provincial governors and warlords, and are revered as the head shrines of Suruga Province, the general deity of Shizuoka, and the grand shrine of Suruga. In 1555, when Tokugawa Ieyasu turned 14 years old, he held a ceremony to celebrate his first ceremonial dress.

Someiyoshino cherry trees, yamazakura cherry trees, and other cherry trees are planted on the shrine grounds surrounding the shrine pavilion and the sacred pond, usually announcing the arrival of spring from late March to early April. The hiking course from the precincts of the temple to the top of Mt. The Hatsukaesai Festival "(Hatsukaesai Festival) "is usually held in early April, coinciding with the cherry blossom viewing season and lined with stalls in the precincts and along the approach to the shrine. The Chigomai (children's dance) "dedicated to the gods at the annual festival "is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset by the national government.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name Shizuoka Sengen Shrine
Address: 102-1 Miyagasaki-machi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Phone number 054-245-1820
Access from JR "Shizuoka Station "to "Take the Shizutetsu Just Line Bus "Abe Line or Miwa Otani Line and get off at "Akatorii Sengen Shrine Iriguchi "stop.

Nihon Taira is a hilly area straddling Suruga and Shimizu wards in Shizuoka City, named after the legend that Yamatotakeru no Mikoto (the God of War) looked around from here during his expedition to the east. "It is a scenic spot that has been selected as No. 1 in the 100 best sightseeing spots in Japan ( "). At the summit of the 300-meter-high mountain, the Nihondaira Yume Terrace opened in November 2018. Cherry trees are planted to wrap around the plaza surrounding the central digital tower and usually bloom from late March to early April.

From the terrace, a panoramic view of Miho Matsubara, Shimizu Port, the Izu Peninsula, and the Southern Alps spreads out below. During the cherry blossom season, you can look up at Mount Fuji over Suruga Bay beyond the light red blossoms.

The first floor of the Nihondaira Yume Terrace facility is an exhibition area "that introduces the history and culture of Nihondaira ", the second floor is a lounge space "where you can relax and enjoy the scenery ", and the third floor is an observation floor "" . Outside, there is an observation corridor with a circumference of approximately 200 meters, where visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the spectacular scenery.

Mishima Taisha is a shrine located in the center of Mishima City. Although the date of the shrine's founding is not known for certain, records of the shrine can be found in ancient books from the Nara and Heian periods. In the Engishiki, compiled in the mid-Heian period, the shrine was ranked as a Meijin Taisha (Great Shrine). Around 200 cherry trees are planted in the shrine grounds. Usually from late March to early April, the shrine's grounds are colored with the colors of early spring.

After passing under the Otorii gate that stands at the entrance to the shrine, cherry trees line both sides of the approach to the shrine. They warmly embrace visitors to the shrine with the colors of the season.

The Shinpike, with its calm surface on the west side of the approach to the temple, is covered with weeping cherry trees overhead. The surface of the pond is like a mirror reflecting the cherry blossoms symmetrically.

A tunnel of Mishima cherry blossoms will be created in the area on the north side of the approach connecting the main gate and the Shinmon Gate. This is probably to announce the arrival of spring to those who are on their way to the main shrine for worship.

Izuyama Shrine is located on Mt. The date of the shrine's founding is not known for certain, but according to shrine legend, it was built between the 5th and 4th centuries B.C., during the reign of Emperor Koaki. About 70 cherry trees grow on the shrine grounds, and their light red flowers usually bloom from late March to early April, decorating the shrine grounds.


The precincts of the shrine are planted with someiyoshino cherry trees, weeping cherry trees, Oshima cherry trees, and scarlet cherry trees. In particular, weeping cherry trees growing on both sides of the approach to the temple usually attract much attention in early spring for their blooming status. From the hill, which is approximately 170 meters above sea level, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Sagaminada Sea and the hot spring resort town of Atami over the cherry blossoms.

We have introduced five popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Shizuoka Prefecture: Sunpu Castle Park, Shizuoka Sengen Shrine, Nihondaira Yume Terrace, Mishima Taisha Shrine, and Izuyama Shrine. Each of these spots is full of its own unique charm. There may be many hidden things worth noting, such as events during the cherry blossom viewing period, views of the surrounding area, and historical background.