5 spots which have late blooming cherry blossoms in Niigata, Nagano and Yamanashi. Only known by a few people!

Cherry blossoms start to bloom in the Koushin’etsu Area (甲信越地方) from the end of March. Various species of cherry blossoms start to fully bloom one after another. There are certain places where you can still enjoy viewing the cherry blossom which only bloom in Mid-May. There is also a Japanese proverb saying, "Nice flowers are blooming late", I believe you would enjoy these late-blooming cherry blossoms until the end of the cherry blossom season, right?

1. Takada Park

Cherry blossoms in Takada Park are among the best three of night viewing cherry blossoms in Japan. About 4,000 cherry blossom trees are blooming around the Takada Park area and reflecting the fantastic scenery on the water surface of the moat. The beauty of the shining 3,000 cherry blossoms is one of the most popular in Japan. Besides this, the “Sakura Road” which has the cherry blossoms lit up beautifully is also very famous for tourists. During the cherry blossom viewing period, there are many hawker stalls lined up on the roadside, symbolizing the spring of Echigo (越後).

Takada Park (高田公園)

• Best viewing period of cherry blossom: mid-April to the end of April
• Address: 44-1 Honjo-cho, Joetsu-shi, Niigata Prefecture

2. Muramatsu Park

Muramatsu Park is designated as one of the "Top Ranking 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots". It has about 3,000 cherry blossom trees of various species such as the main species of Somei Yoshino, Yoko, Yamazakura, and Shidare zakura. During the cherry blossom viewing period, there are many hawker stalls and shops lined up side by side, besides that, there are many events held at the park.

Muramatsu Park (村松公園)

• Best viewing period of cherry blossom: mid-April to the end of April
• Address: 2631-1, Atago, Gosen-shi, Niigata Prefecture. 

3. Komoro Joshi Kaikoen

Hundreds of old cherry blossom trees are fully blooming in the park, forming a harmonic feeling with the old pine trees. There are many types of cherry blossoms with different blooming periods planted in the park. Hence, visitors can enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms for a long period of time. Especially, the cherry blossoms species " Komoroyaebenishidare" which is only available in Komoro city(小諸市) are blooming and available for viewing until about the end of April.

Komoro Joshi Kaikoen (小諸城址 懐古園)

• Best viewing period of cherry blossom: mid-April to the end of April
• Address: 311 Komoro-shi, Nagano Prefecture

4. Obuse Town

Obuse town has many cherry blossom viewing spots. Among them, the embankment of "Riverside Park" which has a cherry blossom tunnel 4km in length, with 530 cherry blossom trees, and is one of the most famous spots. There is also the light-up during the cherry blossom viewing period. When it comes to the end of April, the canola flowers also start blooming, therefore you can enjoy seeing both yellow and pink flowers. Besides this, you can also enjoy viewing the apple and peach flowers in the surrounding area.

Obuse Town (小布施町)

• Best viewing period of cherry blossom: End of April to mid-May
  
• Address: Sannojima, Obuse-cho, Kamitakai-gun, Nagano Prefecture

5. Kawaguchiko

You can enjoy taking photos of the cherry blossoms with magnificent Mt. Fuji and the lakeside as the background from the northern coast of Kawaguchiko. Ubuyagasaki (産屋ヶ崎) is a recommended viewing spot where you can see the reflected Mt. Fuji on the lake's surface. Also, viewing the cherry blossom trees from the lakeshore is also an amazing activity at Kawaguchiko. Besides the light up during the period where the sakura trees are in full bloom, there are also some festivals such as Fujikawaguchiko Cherry Blossom Festival (富士・河口湖さくら祭り) which is held nearby the Amphi Hall of Kawaguchiko (河口湖円形ホール).