Iwakura

Iwakura is a small commuter city on the Nobi Plain in Aichi Prefecture, just north of Nagoya on the Meitetsu rail line. For most of the year it is a quiet residential town; for one week each spring it becomes one of the region's favorite cherry blossom destinations.

Some 1,400 cherry trees line the banks of the Gojo River through the center of town, forming a tunnel of blossoms over the water during the spring festival, with nighttime illuminations doubling the effect. The site of Iwakura Castle and a small history museum cover the town's Sengoku-era past.

Late March into early April is the moment to come, and because trains from Nagoya run frequently, the festival slots easily into a city stay. Outside blossom season the riverbanks still make an easy stroll, and the town offers a calm, local slice of everyday Japan.