Sakura Tunnel – Cherry Tree Road
| The Good | The Not-So Good |
| Doing Cherry Blossom Viewing 110% | Quite inaccessible |
| Combine with other activities | Maybe crowded (locals) |
Main photo from here (Wikipedia). Image is actually from Hirosaki Castle Park and not the Sakura tunnel – “When Japan” can’t find an image of the cherry tree road that is free to use. Please check out the rest of the article for actual images from the area.
The longest cherry tree lined road in the world?
The longest in the world? Japan has a special place in its culture and identity for cherry blossom viewing so certainly this is the longest in Japan (otherwise it would be disputed by other contenders). However, don’t think this is a legacy from the feudal days of samurai Japan; the planting began in 1985 and took 10 years of regular yearly planting to reach the current 6,500 trees.
Peak blossoming is towards the end of April and the beginning of May (much later than Tokyo due to the colder climate). The area is generally busiest at this time according to local tourist association reports (although there is another peak in August as those further south try to escape the summer heat). However, relatively speaking there will be less crowds here than during cherry blossom viewing season in Tokyo.
Access to the cherry blossom road
Access is by car or bus from Hirosaki. There are several hot spring villages that are served by a single bus route from Hirosaki Station. Google Maps will not help you here as none of the bus information seems to be listed.
In short, take this bus (it will have 枯木平 on the front) from Hirosaki Bus Terminal or Hirosaki Station, directly to the slopes of Mount Iwaki and get off at one of two main hot spring villages here and here (they are at either end of the cherry tree road area). The timetable is here however helpfully it only shows the current season’s timetable (of writing only the winter timetable is shown). Therefore “When Japan” cannot tell you when the buses come outside of winter. Assume once an hour and plan to head out morning and back late afternoon (or stay overnight at a hot spring).
Planning without getting lost in timetables
If you are seriously planning a trip then it might be an idea to give “When Japan” a call via the links on the sidebar. That way, we can give you specific advise and come up with a concrete plan of action.
Board from stop 3 at Hirosaki Station, which can be found exactly here. Here is a blog with pictures of what the bus terminal looks like so you can find your way to stop 3. Alternatively you can get the bus from Hirosaki Station from stop 6.
In and around the cherry blossom road
Below is a map of the area, taken from here but with English translations. The local tourist association recommends walking routes between A, B and C on the map below, depending on your stamina. You can get a bus between the two hot spring areas (Mount Iwaki Shrine is next to Hyakuzawa Hot Springs, between point A and B). The little yellow pole icons along the road are the bus stops. It is the same bus you used to get here.
The squiggly road is the 69-hairpin turn toll road up to station 8 on Mount Iwaki. From there you can take a chair lift closer to the summit (and then a 40 minute hike to the very top). Don’t do this on the same day; you won’t have time.
Note there are not a lot of cherry blossom trees between A and B. You will need to move from B towards C to actually experience what you came for.
Planning a 3 day trip
As you are going to Aomori anyway it seems like a perfect chance to pack in as much as possible around the Hirosaki and Iwaki Mountain area. The order and time you visit certain places will depend on your own priorities. Timing should be based around staying at the various hot springs and getting to Hirosaki on day one and then leaving on the last day.
Visit Hirosaki Castle
Day 1: AM – half day
Stay at the Lamp Hot Spring
Day 1: PM – From 1PM
Overnight
Day 2: Leave AM
Head to Mount Iwaki via the Skyline road
Day 2: One day
Stay in a local Hot Spring near Iwaki Mountain
Day 2: Overnight
Visit Mount Iwaki Shrine
Day 3: AM – Half day
Walk the cherry tree road
Day 3: PM – Half day
Head back to Hirosaki
Day 3: Evening
Alternative order would be The Shrine and Cherry Tree walk on Day 2, stay at a hot spring at the base of the Skyline road and then go up Mount Iwaki on Day 3.
Mount Iwaki Shrine photo source here (Flickr – Yari Hotaka)
Cherry Tree Road photos source here (Flickr – T.Kiya)
Things to consider: –
- Coming from Aomori: Hirosaki is a 40 minute train ride from Aomori (coming from the north). Pretty simple. You can go back there easily on your last day also.
- Going to Akita: However, from the south it is a 3 hour train ride from Akita to Hirosaki, with a very limited number of trains, so timing has to be considered on your first or last day. If you miss a rapid train you will be adding an hour to your journey.
- Staying at the Lamp Hot Spring will require you leaving before 1pm to get the shuttle bus to the hot spring. It won’t give you much time that day to see anything else in Hirosaki unless you start very early. But coming back in the morning will allow you to move on with plenty of time.
- Going to the summit of Mount Iwaki via the Skyline road will take a day even if you set out early from Hirosaki. Plan to go that, then stay at a hot spring nearby. Don’t try to do anything else that day.
- The cherry tree road is a long walk. There are bus stops along the way if you get tired. Plan to start at one end and finish at the other end before late afternoon. Probably the safest route is towards Mount Iwaki Shrine as there will be more transport options and people to help should you get in trouble.
Things to do nearby
Relevant Links
https://gurutabi.gnavi.co.jp/a/a_2387/
http://www.iwakisan.com/blog/category/sakura/
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