Culture Spring Travel Guide

Yozakura: The Night Sakura in Japan

What is Yozakura? Does this word sound familiar to you? Indeed it is a Japanese word 夜桜 (Yozakura). Those who read manga or watch anime are familiar of the word “Yozakura Quartet“.

I think you understand me that I am not going to tell you about that manga here but something which is very extraordinary.

Yozakura means night cherry blossom, so viewing cherry blossom at night is called Yozakura. It is a typical night event for Japanese, held during the cherry blossom season.

Usually, the one who does not like to go out at night much, I can guarantee you that he/she would like to go out to see beautiful illuminated sakura.

Weeping Cherry Tree at Rikugien Garden in Tokyo, Yozakura
Weeping Cherry Tree at Rikugien Garden in Tokyo, Yozakura! Photo credit: Taichiro Ueki at Flickr through Creative Commons licensing.

Hanami at night brings a breathtaking scenery of majestic cherry blossoms. Could you imagine that? With the right lighting, sakura sparkle nicely! In fact this is what I expect to see when cherry trees are in full bloom in my home town.

You will be amazed viewing night sakura in Japan, no doubt about that. It is really hard to explain the beauty it displays and often words cannot describe it.

When I take a leisurely walk along the illuminated cherry trees, I feel like I am dreaming of something which is very peaceful and magical.

Night Sakura at Kema Sakuranomiya Park in Osaka
Night Sakura at Kema Sakuranomiya Park in Osaka. Photo credit: m-louis .® at Flickr through Creative Commons licensing.

Usually, at a hanami spot, most of the cherry trees there are lit up in the evening. In addition, Japanese traditional lanterns hung from the cherry trees. That’s the perfect spot to have an evening picnic party with friends and family members.

Just by pouring some sake in a well designed sake cup one can enjoy the whole evening time till the late night. I can suggest you to go there with a nice sake set with foods. Please note that you can buy delicious street foods from the food vendors.

Night Cherry Blossom at Gyoya River, Tochigi Prefecture
Night Cherry Blossom at Gyoya River, Tochigi Prefecture. Photo credit: Takashi Hososhima at Flickr through Creative Commons licensing.

In Japan, Yozakura can be enjoyed throughout the country, though not all the cherry blossom spots offer this exclusive festive atmosphere.

Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo both are said to the perfect places to enjoy viewing Yozakura (Night sakura).

In Kyoto, you could find many hanami spots, some of them are very famous for viewing sakura at night such as Maruyama park, Okazaki Canal, Kyoto Botanical Garden, Arashiyama and Philosopher’s Path.

Meguro River Cherry Blossom at Night in Tokyo
Meguro River Cherry Blossom at Night in Tokyo. Photo credit: saotin at Flickr through Creative Commons licensing.

If you decide to go to Maruyama Park to see illuminated night sakura then you would witness a giant weeping cherry tree there.

It looks amazingly beautiful at night since it gets lit up in the evening time. Let me introduce to you a famous Yozakura spot, located in Tokyo.

That’s Nakameguro Sakura Festival (meguro river)! Every day hundreds of visitors visit this popular hanami spot in Tokyo. I hope you will not miss this spot.

\You also can visit Rikugien Garden, just take a look at the intro photo. That’s one of the impressive sakura viewing spots in which you can see such a nice weeping cherry tree.

Sakura Tunnel at Night, Japan
Sakura Tunnel at Night, Japan. Photo credit: halfrain at Flickr through Creative Commons licensing.

I do hope you have enjoyed reading this post about Yozakura. Japanese cherry blossom display can’t make you bored and disappointed; rather it makes you to feel something that you have never felt before.

If you are young enough and want to drink something under cherry trees then why don’t you think of drinking Japanese Sake? Before doing that, make sure you do have a beautiful sake set.

However, spring is the best season for Japanese to enjoy outdoor beauty. We do have a lot fun just walking along the walkway covered with hundreds of sakura trees. Enjoy hanami in Japan!

6 Comments

  1. sakura!!! thanks for sharing. Now, I know where does the title of the album I like written by Susumu Yokota comes from : ) Wanda

    • I see, I am glad you know it now! Susumu is a good composer. In the future I will share more things about Japanese sakura. You just wait on for that day! 🙂

  2. Just this last Spring I finally got to see the cherry blossoms in bloom in Washington DC. I would absolutely love to see them in Japan some time.

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