If you’re going to travel to Japan, I highly recommend going during
the sakura season which is the cherry blossom season. This probably doesn’t
help to be honest as the cherry blossom season lasts a maximum of three weeks a
year on average, and it can vary each year due to the seasons, weather and unpredictable
Mother Nature. You’re generally looking at the end of March-April time to catch the sakura, and if you’re lucky enough then you can see it all over Japan.
The cherry blossoms are some of the most amazing sites in Japan, both
from a cultural point of view and a nature point of view. The blossoms can make
the dullest of streets look beautiful, and they make the parks and gardens look out
of this world. It may seem like I am exaggerating, after all they are just a
few flowers on some trees, but they take over Japan when they do and the
whole nation get involved. During the sakura season a lot of ‘sakura chasing’
can be carried out where locals and tourists fleet the streets to find trails of
blossom. You’ll see a million locals and tourists as well taking tonnes of
pictures, which capture Japan in its prettiest form. Here are a few places I would
recommend visiting during the sakura season, to catch the best images and the
best blossom:
Tokyo – The season starts at the top of the country and works
its way down, but very quickly so don’t expect a week of blossom in one city,
then another week further south. If you’re starting in Tokyo then head to the
Imperial Palace for a site of some of the most spectacular gardens I have ever seen
with mystical lakes, waterfalls, different types of trees and of
course some glorious shades of cherry blossom. Second, I would
suggest heading to Shinjuku Park. At 500yen to get into the park, it won’t break the
budget, and it’s a great place to have a picnic and relax among the blossom.
Kyoto – Kyoto is full of gardens and nature so it’s not hard to find a
good spot near the blossom. However, I would recommend Nijo-jo Castle as there
are some great views from the top of the castle but also petal soaked paths
full of blossom. A second site I would suggest visiting during the sakura season is
Kiyomizu-dera. Both these sites are worth visiting if in Kyoto anyway, but this
particular site is right on the edge of the valley, therefore you are
surrounded by trees, temples and bright pink blossom.
Osaka – Osaka isn’t the most garden filled place in Japan, but if you are visiting during the sakura season then I
would recommend going to Osaka Castle as there are some great views and some slight aspect of a garden. It is also worth going round the edge of the city around the
canals and rivers to catch a good blossom.
Of course the more countryside you go to, the more sakura you will see,
but as these three cities tend to be the most popular backpacker attractions
then these are the places I would recommend. You may find some beautiful hidden
spots of your own, if so don’t keep them hidden for long.

Thank you very much for the advice! I will enjoy the sakura next year ^^