As you know, spring in Japan is cherry blossom season–the most idyllic, hopeful time of the year. The best place to see cherry blossoms on Mt. Akagi is the Tunnel of 1000 Cherry Blossoms in the southern foothills. Called Senbonzakura in Japanese, the “tunnel” refers to the 1000 cherry trees lining both sides of an almost mile-long country lane. When they bloom, they engulf the road in soft pink on both sides.
The surrounding park–Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori–is home to even more flowering cherry trees, boasting 37 different varieties from around the world. A festival is held when the Senbonzakura bloom in early to mid-April every year. Food stalls serve up classic Japanese street food, and the flowers are lit up at night for a different perspective.
Read on for everything you need to know to plan your visit, including festival dates, access, and park info.
April 1st - April 16th | Free to enter
The cherry blossoms will most likely bloom around these dates, however, they follow their own schedule. Try checking our social media for bloom forecasts and updates, or the live cam. The blooming season here in Akagi’s southern foothills is usually a week or two later than Tokyo, so it’s a great opportunity if you missed flower-viewing there.
Update March 28th The Tunnel of 1000 Blossoms is already starting to reach peak bloom, so if you want to see it, consider coming ASAP! Other varieties of cherry in the park bloom slightly later, so you'll be able to see them during the festival.
During the festival, there will be:
Note about this year’s festival: the yellow canola flowers (nanohana) that often bloom at the same time have been devoured by bugs this year, so there won’t be many of them. If we’re lucky, they’ll be back in full force next year!
Park map and other festival info (Japanese)
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/ybjhgK4xhDRYPJE9A
Note the name on Google Maps is Akagi South Senbonzakura, which is just another way to translate it.
Address: 2511-2 Naegashimamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-0241
From Tokyo, hop on a bullet train to Takasaki, then change to a local train to Maebashi Station. Follow Google Maps transit directions for details. This first step will take about 1.5 hours.
Once you’re at Maebashi, if it’s the weekend, you can take the shuttle bus that runs directly to the Senbonzakura cherry blossoms. It takes about 30 minutes.
Roundtrip fare is ￥1,500 for adults and ￥750 for children. The bus leaves from the south exit of the station, and you can buy your ticket onboard–be ready to pay in cash.
If you’re visiting on a weekday, you’ll have to catch a taxi. Taxi fare from Maebashi is about ￥6,500 one way, and the ride takes 30 minutes. Or, more adventurous and thrifty visitors can try taking the Jomo Electric Railway (Jomo Denkitetsudo) from nearby Chuomaebashi Station to Ogo Station (20 mins, ￥450), and then a taxi from there (15 mins, ￥3,500).
From Tokyo: 2 hours
Parking: plentiful |￥1000 for cars | open 8 am - 10 pm
We offer e-bike tours to Senbonzakura that start near Maebashi Station. They’re beginner friendly, and it’s a great way to take in several of Akagi’s cherry blossom spots in one go. See below for more info.
The Akagi Tunnel of 1000 Cherry Blossoms in the Southern Foothills (赤城南面千本桜 akagi nanmen senbonzakura) was born over half a century ago. In 1956, local residents banded together to plant 1000 cherry saplings to regreen a forest that had recently been stripped of its trees. They hoped to bring prosperity to the area as well, and as the trees grew tall, their efforts paid off. In 1990 Akagi Senbonzakura was recognized by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association as one of the top flower viewing spots in the country, and the park now draws tens of thousands of visitors every year.
The line of trees stretches over a kilometer, and the road is closed to vehicles during the festival, so pedestrians can drift through at their own pace.
Next to the cherry blossom tunnel, you can see 37 different varieties of blooming cherry trees from around the world at Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori Park (みやぎ千本桜の森). The International Cherry Blossom Area features species from five different countries: Taiwan, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Belgium.
A stroll through the Japanese Cherry Blossom Area will treat you to the many varieties native to Japan, including shidare zakura, or weeping cherry blossoms. There’s also a field of yellow canola flowers (nanohana) that bloom in beautiful contrast to the pink cherry blossoms. Fleeting in their own way, the tasty canola plants often get ruined by bugs before flower-viewing season–but in years when they don’t, it’s a real treat.
The tunnel of blossoms and park are free to enter 24/7. There are public bathrooms available.
Akagi Trip offers flower-viewing e-bike tours. The Senbonzakura route can start at either Akagi Station or Maebashi Station, both with express access from Tokyo. Ride through the picturesque Watarase Valley, and stop by secluded temples dotted with blooms as you climb up to the 1000 Cherry Blossoms. Dine on local cuisine for lunch before descending down to the other side of the foothills. This intermediate route has some climbing, but electric assist bikes make the hills a little easier. You'll still get a workout to compliment the refreshing experience of pedaling through the countryside. Info on reservations coming soon!
