#90 Cherry blossoms and snow at the same time
How and where to enjoy cherry blossoms and snow when traveling in Japan.
We have been saying that this winter has been mild and will already be March next week. It will be about a month before the cherry blossom season. Foreign visitors, especially those from countries with no snow, often ask me whether it is possible to enjoy cherry blossoms and snow simultaneously while visiting Japan. This question is a difficult one, but considering the unique characteristics of Japan, which has many areas with heavy snowfall and a long cherry blossom season, there are surprisingly some places where I can find the answer to this question. And you can combine cherry blossoms with snow and hot spring. I want to introduce some places that meet these conditions in this newsletter.
The destination I would like to focus on this time is Aomori Prefecture. Aomori Prefecture's characteristics as a destination can be briefly summarized as follows.
It takes 3 hours and 20 minutes to get to Shinaomori by Tohoku Shinkansen.
Cherry blossoms bloom only in April; the forecast is for April 19, 2024 (full bloom is one week later).
The mountainous areas of Aomori Prefecture are one of the heaviest snowfall areas, with ample snowfall even in the latter half of April.
The Hakkoda region of Aomori Prefecture is one of Japan's best hot spring areas.
If you are in Japan in the latter half of April and have two or three days to spare, you can enjoy cherry blossoms, snow, and hot springs simultaneously on a short trip. If you have a Japan Rail Pass and still have time before the pass's validity, you may have the option of going to Aomori, which I will discuss today, although it may be a bullet tour. Assuming that the cherry blossoms will bloom on April 19 and be in full bloom on April 25, according to the latest JWA forecast, I have planned a two-day tour, first to Sukayu Onsen and then to Hirosaki Park to see the cherry blossoms on the second day, before returning to Tokyo. If you think this is too fast-paced, consider staying one night in Sukayu and one night in Hirosaki.
I’d like to now focus on the highlights of the courses covered in this itinerary.
Sukayu Onsen
Sukayu Onsen is located in Aomori City and recorded the highest snowfall of 566 cm on February 26, 2013 (Japan Meteorological Agency). Because it is famous for its heavy snowfall, news coverage of heavy snowfall always includes a live broadcast from Sukayu. The heavy snowfall is due to its mountainous location at 900 meters. You can see what a wall of snow looks like at the following site. The audio is in Japanese, but the images make it clear.
The only lodging facility is the 90-year-old Sukayu Onsen Ryokan, which also operates a campground during the summer.
The mixed bathing baths, 160 tatami mats in size, made entirely of Hiba (cypress) wood, are a sight to behold.
The spring is a cloudy sulfur spring that smells like rotten eggs to the nose.
Four different sources of spring water in one bath, commonly known as a thousand-person bath.
The large public bath is mixed, but the entrances are different.
I once took this Senninburo(a figurative expression meaning a large bath enough for a thousand people at once). Although it is indoors, there is something about entering this open indoor bath while feeling the texture of the period that I cannot describe here. However, the spring's quality is strongly acidic sulfur spring, so those who do not like this unique smell should be careful. But for those who love hot springs, please don’t miss it!
Mt. Hakkoda
The mountain range consists of 18 peaks, the central peak of which is Oodake (1585 meters), which rises south of Aomori City. The area is known for its abundant snowfall and powder snow for skiing. Ropeway service is available all through the year.
It has a long ski season and runs until mid-May.
There is abundant snowfall and a long ski season.
Many hot springs, such as Sukayu.
Mountain skiing even after late April.
When I was active in skiing, I went telemark skiing (a type of free ski which I can go downslope) in the mountains of Tohoku and skied in Hakkouda because, in late April, when cherry blossoms are in full bloom in the lower areas, spring snow is stable in this area. Furthermore, because there are few steep slopes in this area, every place becomes a suitable natural slope for telemark skiing, and I enjoyed skiing in the quiet spring mountains with my lunch box.
Hirosaki Park
I have never seen the cherry blossoms in Hirosaki Park. Still, they are famous for the number of blossoms and the pink petals that fall onto the outer moat of Hirosaki Castle, forming a carpet of flower rafts that cover the river's surface.
The most popular cherry blossom viewing spot in Aomori Prefecture
In spring, 2,600 cherry trees of 50 varieties bloom around Hirosaki Castle.
The "flower rafts" along the outer moat of the park have been selected as one of the "World's Greatest Views to See Before You Die.
Tips for transportation from Sukayu to Hirosaki
If you travel in groups of three or four, taking a taxi will be quicker and cheaper due to the distance between the two locations. Please refer to the taxi company "Tokyo Taiyo"(017-738-6000). They have a buyout tariff that costs you around 11,000 yen.
This time, I have presented a model course that I got in response to a question from a traveler who asked if it would be possible to enjoy both cherry blossoms and snow simultaneously. If you have any questions or suggestions on how we can make this kind of tour possible, it will significantly help me develop my original tours. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions in the comments.
The detailed times I provide in this newsletter are based on a timetable for a specific day during the season. Public transportation in the Aomori area, except the Shinkansen, is very infrequent, and if you miss one train or bus, you may have to wait at least an hour for the next one.
I hope that his newsletter will be helpful to you, and I will be able to introduce other destinations for different purposes.