The Hidden Gem Japan Cherry Blossom Tour:
Discover Late Sakura in Kakunodate

  • Written by Roi Alfassi
  • Updated October 2025

From the moment Japan reopened to tourists, planning and booking for the spring cherry blossom season began in full swing! As a result, the classic destinations are quickly reaching full capacity. To ensure you won’t have to give up on a high-quality holiday, we’ve found an exciting new destination for you—an excellent alternative for the perfect sakura trip.

Kakunodate (角館) – The Hidden Samurai Town of Sakura

Kakunodate, located in Akita Prefecture in northern Honshu, is a fascinating destination that remains largely undiscovered by international travelers, even though it’s a well-known cherry blossom spot among Japanese visitors.

The town is famous for hosting some of the most spectacular cherry blossoms in the entire Akita region. Its great advantage lies in the later bloom season—unlike the popular cherry blossom destinations in Tokyo or Kyoto, where sakura peaks around February–March, Kakunodate’s blossoms usually reach full bloom between late April and early May. This makes it the perfect choice for those who missed the early season yet still wish to enjoy hanami.

A Samurai Legacy

In the past, Kakunodate was a prominent castle town, though the castle itself no longer exists. However, its heritage as a powerful samurai stronghold still lives on. The samurai once competed by planting hundreds of weeping cherry trees (shidarezakura) as a symbol of their wealth and influence. Many of these magnificent trees still thrive today, alongside several hundred Somei Yoshino cherry trees planted later along the Hinokinaigawa River—an idyllic location for a hanami picnic under a canopy of blossoms.

A Town Frozen in Time

Founded in 1620, Kakunodate has remained remarkably well-preserved, divided into two distinct areas: the Samurai District and the Merchant District. Walking through the Samurai District, visitors can still admire some of the finest examples of samurai architecture in Japan. The rare combination of historical samurai houses and vibrant pink cherry blossoms makes Kakunodate a truly unique cultural and natural experience.

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