花見シーズンが始まります！松江市内も周りの おすすめ花見スポットはいっぱいあります。
The sakura (Japanese cherry) trees are blooming! Let’s hanami (go flower-viewing) at one (or all) of the many spectacular spots in and around Matsue.
This year’s Matsue Castle Festival is from March 25th-April 8th (link in Japanese only), during which the castle and its grounds are lit up until 9pm. You can take in the delicate beauty of the sakura blossoms among seasonal lanterns, and there are special performances, live music, and additional events on the weekends.
Situated on a hill, about a 15 minute walk from the castle, is Senjyuin Temple (link in Japanese only) and its iconic, 250-year-old, “weeping” sakura. A tunnel of sakura line the way leading to the temple grounds from which you can enjoy sweeping views of the city and castle.
The Tamatsukuri Onsen district on the south side of Lake Shinji is also host to a Sakura Festival (link in Japanese only) from March 27th to April 19th. Enjoy a picturesque view of sakura along the Tamayu River by day, or illuminated in the evenings from 6-9pm.
About an hour outside of Matsue, are the famous sakura of Unnan City (ranked among the 100 best viewing spots in Japan!). The main event of this year’s Sakura Festival (link in Japanese only) is on April 4th and 5th, near the 2 km-long “cherry blossom tunnel” along the Hii River in Kisuki. However, there are eight(!) other amazing spots in this area with different varieties of sakura that bloom from the end of February through April!