🌸 Discover the Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Nagano

Starting from 2025, join me on a personal journey through Nagano’s most beautiful sakura spots. Each year, I’ll explore new places, capturing the magic of cherry blossoms and sharing unforgettable moments. This page will grow with fresh discoveries, so come back every spring to find your next favorite blossom-viewing spot! 🌸

📝 Personal Note on Cherry Blossom Spots

I haven’t visited every cherry blossom spot in Nagano yet — but each one is on my list, and I’m excited to explore them year by year.

These places have caught my eye for their beauty, unique atmosphere, and the special way sakura blooms transform the landscape. While I can’t share personal stories about all of them just yet, I truly believe they’re worth experiencing.

Starting in 2025, I’ll be visiting these spots and adding new discoveries every year. I’ll update this page with my experiences and tips along the way. Until then, I hope you find inspiration here for your own cherry blossom adventures.

Here’s to a beautiful spring filled with unforgettable sakura moments!

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🌸 Discover the Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Nagano

🏯 Ueda Castle Park (上田城跡公園)

A person taking photos of a large cherry blossom tree with pink flowers in front of a traditional Japanese building with tiled roofs.
 

Ueda Castle Park is a stunning historic site where over 1,000 cherry trees bloom each spring, creating a breathtaking sea of pink around the ancient castle ruins. Visitors can enjoy vibrant sakura festivals and beautiful nighttime illuminations, making it a perfect spot for both day and evening strolls during early to mid-April.

📍 How to Get There

  • By Train: Take the JR Shinano Railway Line to Ueda Station. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the park.

  • By Car: Approximately 15 minutes from Ueda IC (Interchange) on the Joshinetsu Expressway. Parking is available nearby.

Cherry blossom trees over a river with a cloudy sky in the background.
Close-up of pink cherry blossoms on a tree in bloom, with people standing in the background in a park.
A man taking a selfie in front of blooming cherry blossom trees during daytime.
Cherry blossom trees blooming by a river with yellow daffodils and a flower bed, connected to a drip irrigation system, and illuminated by landscape lights.
Cherry blossom trees with pink and white flowers illuminated at night.

🌿 Iiyama Castle Park (飯山城跡公園)

A man standing on a gravel path surrounded by blooming cherry blossom trees under an overcast sky.
 

Nestled along peaceful riversides and walking trails, Iiyama Castle Park offers a quieter, more intimate cherry blossom experience. It’s an ideal destination for those who prefer nature walks away from the crowds, with sakura trees typically reaching full bloom in mid-April.

📍 How to Get There

  • By Train: Get off at Iiyama Station on the JR Iiyama Line. The park is a 10-minute walk from the station.

  • By Car: Around 10 minutes from Iiyama IC via National Route 117. Parking available.

Cherry blossom trees in a park during spring with some people in the background.
A man standing on a gravel path surrounded by blooming cherry blossom trees on a cloudy day.
Cherry blossom trees surrounding a traditional Japanese wooden gate in a park during spring.
Steep outdoor dirt staircase with concrete steps, metal pole, and wooden post, surrounded by dirt, rocks, and sparse greenery.
Cherry blossom trees in full bloom in a park with grass, rocks, and two people walking.

🛁 Shibu Onsen (渋温泉) – Yamanouchi Town

A sunset over a small town with a river running through it, buildings on either side, and mountains in the distance.
 

Nestled within Yamanouchi, Shibu Onsen is a charming and historic hot spring town known for its narrow stone-paved streets and traditional ryokan inns. During sakura season, the blend of steam from the onsen and the soft pink cherry blossoms creates a magical atmosphere unlike anywhere else. It's also just a short distance from the famous Jigokudani Monkey Park, making it a perfect stop for both relaxation and sightseeing.

📍 How to Get There

  • By Train: Take the Nagano Dentetsu Line to Yudanaka Station. From there, it’s about a 5-minute taxi ride or a 20-minute walk to Shibu Onsen.

  • By Car: Around 20 minutes from Yamanouchi IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway. Limited parking is available near the town entrance.

Cherry blossom trees in full bloom near a building and parking lot with cars, and a map sign in the foreground.
A river flowing over small waterfalls with buildings, cherry blossom trees, and mountains in the background during sunset.
A river flowing through a small town at sunset, with houses on a hill and cherry blossom trees along the riverbank.
Sunset over a river in a town with buildings, power lines, and flowering trees along the riverbank.

Shibu Onsen

Yamanouchi

🏞️ Garyu Park (臥龍公園)

Cherry blossom trees along a river walk in spring with people strolling under the flowers.
 

Garyu Park is celebrated for its picturesque lakeside views where cherry blossoms reflect beautifully on the water’s surface. The park is especially magical during its evening light-up events, making it a favorite spot for photographers and peaceful evening walks in mid-April.

📍 How to Get There

  • By Train: Take the Nagano Dentetsu Line to Suzaka Station. Garyu Park is around a 15-minute walk.

  • By Car: Approximately 10 minutes from Suzaka IC. Public parking available.

Cherry blossom trees along a river with a red bridge and mountains in the background.
People sightseeing by a lake with cherry blossoms and forested hills in the background during spring.
People standing on a bridge near a body of water, viewing cherry blossom trees with pink flowers in a park surrounded by hillside with green trees.
Cherry blossom trees line a calm river with pink and white flowers, a red bridge on the left, green hills in the background, and their reflections in the water.
A scenic pathway lined with cherry blossom trees in full bloom along a river, with people walking and enjoying the view.

🛕 Nyohōji Daihikan Kannon-dō (如法寺 大悲閣観音堂)

Cobblestone path lined with cherry blossom trees in full bloom, petals scattered on the ground, with a small group of people in the distance.
 

This serene temple area provides a peaceful and spiritual setting for cherry blossom viewing, away from the bustling crowds. When the sakura bloom in mid-April, the gentle pink hues perfectly complement the temple’s tranquil atmosphere, creating a unique and contemplative experience.(Search in Google using Kanji: 如法寺 大悲閣観音堂)

📍 How to Get There

  • By Train: Depending on the exact location, nearest station details can be provided (please specify the city or nearest station).

  • By Car: Usually accessible by local roads; parking info depends on the site’s specific area.

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A pond covered with numerous fallen cherry blossom petals, surrounded by greenery and rocks, with a small stone lantern in the background.
A landscape with multiple cherry blossom trees in full bloom, showcasing pink and white flowers, amidst green grass and overcast sky.
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A cobblestone pathway lined with blooming cherry blossom trees, with fallen petals scattered on the ground.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about our Sakura spots!