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Aizuwakamatsu’s “Akabe” Loop Bus Will Take You to 3 Must-Visit Historical Spots for Cherry Blossoms in Mid-April
In Aizuwakamatsu City, cherry blossoms come be in full bloom mid to late in April. Since the last winter was a bit warmer than usual, it is said that the best timing for full blooms of cherry blossoms lasts until April 16th from 9th. For providing visitors to the city a smoother transportation service, “Akabe” loop bus is available, with which you can visit all our three recommended must-visit spots where you can enjoy cherry blossoms together with historical sites.
Cherry blossoms orchestrating “Tsurugajo Castle”, the only castle with red roof tiles in Japan
The landmark of Aizuwakamatsu City is “Tsurugajo Castle” (鶴ヶ城), the only castle having red tile roofs on top, located in ‘Tsurugajo Park’ (鶴ヶ城公園). When the spring comes, the vast garden designated as a national historic site, is colored by 1,000 cherry trees such as Somei-yoshino (ソメイヨシノ), Yaezakura (ヤエザクラ), and Kohiganzakura (コヒガンザクラ). The castle having cherry blossoms around it is literally photogenic so that the site is named one of the 100 Best Cherry Blossoms Sites. By climbing up to the observatory installed inside the castle building, a breathtaking view of the city stretching in Aizu Basin together with cherry blossoms will welcome you. Bides, if you get to visit the site between April 3rd to May 9th, you will also enjoy lit-up castle together with cherry blossoms since ‘Tsurugajo Castle Cherry Blossom Festival’ (鶴ヶ城さくらまつり) is being held. Do not miss the reflection on the lit-up castle on the surface of moat water.
| Period | ＜Opening Hours of Tsurugajo Castle＞8:30AM – 5:00PM ＜Tsurugajo Castle Cherry Blossom Festival＞April 3rd, 2021 – May 9th, 20201 ＜Liting-up＞Sunset – 9:30PM（8:30PM once cherry blossoms have been fallen） |
| Address | 1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Access | A 31-minute ride on Akabe loop bus from Aizuwakamatsu Station to Tsurugajo Iriguchi (鶴ヶ城入口) Bus stop and a 5-minute walk from Tsurugajo Iriguchi (鶴ヶ城入口) Bus stop |
| URL | https://www.tsurugajo.com/language/eng/ |
“Oyakuen Gaeden”, a medicinal herb garden loved by feudal lords by generation, where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in several kinds
“Oyakuen Gardern” (御薬園) had been loved by successive Aizu feudal lords (会津藩主) as a villa garden since 600 years ago and also is famous as a location site where a TV series ‘Yae no Sakura’ (八重の桜) focusing on Niijima Yae, a female warrier of late Edo era. In spring, Kohiganzakura (コヒガンザクラ), Somei-yoshino (ソメイヨシノ), Usuzumizakura (ウスズミザクラ) and Satozakura (サトザクラ) cherry trees bloom one after another. Those trees surrounding ‘Shinji no Ike’ pond (心字の池) creates a graceful scenery. In addition to the scenery which is designated as a national scenic spot, why don’t you try a cup of unique herb tea at the ‘Ochayagoten’ tea house (御茶屋御殿) ?
| Opening Hours | 8:30AM – 5:00PM |
| Address | 8-1 Hananaru-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture |
| アクセス | A 22-minute ride on Akabe loop bus from Aizuwakamatsu Station to Aizuwakamatsu Shoko Kaigisho Mae (会津若松商工会議所前) Bus stop and a 5-minute walk from Aizuwakamatsu Shoko Kaigisho Mae (会津若松商工会議所前) Bus stop |
| URL | https://aizuwakamatsu.mylocal.jp/en/trip/spot-list/-/spotdetail/spotinfo/1000000066/3999496 |
“Ishibezakura Cherry Tree”, a 650 year old cherry tree stands solely with dignity
Ishibe Jibudayu (石部治部大輔), a chief vassal (重臣) to an Aizu feudal lord in 1600s, is said to have planted “Ishibezakura Cherry Tree” (石部桜), a cherry tree as a city’s natural monument and a prefecture’s greenery cultural property of Fukushima prefecture. It is an Edohiganzakura (エドヒガンザクラ) tree originally planted in Ishibe’s garden and came to be famous as it was featured in the opening scene of ‘Yae no Sakura’. The estimated age of the tree is over 650 and its height is around 11 meters. Ishibezakura with branches stretching over 20 meters colored by pink blossoms standing in dignity is one-of-a-kind.
| Opening Hours | 24 hours |
| Address | Yahata Isobe, Itsuki-machi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Access | A 5-minute ride on Akabe loop bus from Aizuwakamatsu Station to Iimoriyama (飯盛山) Bus stop and a 15-minute walk from Iimoriyama (飯盛山) Bus stop |
| URL | https://www.aizukanko.com/spot/628 |
Base of this trip
Aizuwakamatsu Washington Hotel
3-min walk from Aizuwakamatsu station
