In bloom: Hotels for Seeing Japan’s Cherry Blossoms

“Painstakingly painted, lauded in poetry, and even sprinkled on lattes: cherry blossoms are a Big Deal in Japan. Even high-tech cities like Tokyo go all out to celebrate them. The pretty blooms – known as sakura – sweep up through the Japanese archipelago from March to May, with anticipation building months in advance. Join in the fun by booking a spring stay at one of these five hotels…

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Paparagi Oukoku, Okinawa
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As Japan waits expectantly for spring, the supermarkets stock sakura merchandise, and TVs broadcast the Cherry Blossom Forecast, anticipating the blooms prefecture by prefecture. The blossom sweeps up from the south, almost always starting in the subtropical islands of Okinawa, sometimes as early as January. Just 15 minutes from beach cottage Paparagi Oukoku you’ll find Nakijin castle ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its tunnel of cherry trees illuminated each night by lanterns.

If you want to see more hotels in Okinawa, visit our Okinawa hotels page.

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Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk, Fukuoka
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Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk is in the coastal city of Fukuoka where cherry blossom celebrations are a big deal. Nishi Park and Maizuru Park – the latter home to the ruins of Fukoka Castle – are top spots for hanami, the tradition of communal picnicking under the blooms (the name literally means ‘flower viewing’). It’s also worth hiring a bike and cycling around the expansive Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, a huge space dotted with lakes and playgrounds.

If you want to see more hotels in Fukuoka, visit our Fukuoka hotels page.

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Japanese Inn Yoshimizu, Kyoto
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Hanami season is one of the most popular times to visit the ancient city of Kyoto. Go to the high hills of Maruyama Park for a 24-hour hanami picnic with food stands and pop-up restaurants around a huge weeping cherry tree centrepiece. On the edge of the park, the simple, traditional Japanese Inn Yoshimizu is surrounded by nature, with a bamboo grove in the back and cherry blossoms at the front.

If you want to see more hotels in Kyoto, visit our Kyoto hotels page.

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Hotel Gajoen Tokyo
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Known for its towering skyscrapers and cutting-edge technology, Tokyo’s also very good at maximising nature in its parks and urban areas. A short hop from the neon glow of Shibuya, you’ll find Hotel Gajoen Tokyo and Nakameguro, a traditional, creative neighbourhood of tiny alleys and old-fashioned wooden buildings. Stroll along its tree-lined canal after dark, when cherry trees are lit up with lanterns and food stands come to life. If it’s hanami parks you’re looking for, visit the famous Ueno Park or the more sedate Shinjuku Gyoen.

If you want to see more hotels in Tokyo, visit our Tokyo hotels page.

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Sapporo Park Hotel, Sapporo
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To catch the last of the spring’s cherry blossom you need to head north to Hokkaido. Here you’ll find a cooler climate, snow-capped mountains and unique plants, including varieties of cherry blossom trees not found elsewhere in Japan. Join locals partying in Maruyama Park in Sapporo before heading to the peaceful Hokkaido Shrine. From the windows of the central Sapporo Park Hotel you can see Nakajima Park with its ornamental Japanese gardens, whose cherry varieties include the double-flowered cherry, Sargent’s cherry, and weeping cherry.

If you want to see more hotels on Sapporo, visit our Sapporo hotels page.”