Early April 2026. I learned about the "Hagiwara Cherry Blossom Tour" in Hagiwara-cho, Gero City, and made my first visit on a motorcycle tour.
A giant weeping cherry tree stands protruding from the slope of the embankment. The moment you see it, you are overwhelmed. Because it's located quite high up, you naturally look up at it from the road. It truly gives you a feeling of gazing upon a sacred and majestic sight. The weather was beautiful that day, and the contrast between the pink cherry blossoms and the blue sky was stunning.
I am simply grateful for this magnificent scenery.
As of March 31, 2026, many cherry trees in Gero City are in bloom, so please come soon. It rained on April 1st, but all the trees except the Iwataro cherry tree were lit up. The weather has been rough, so if the blossoms don't fall too quickly, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at night until around the middle of the month. The Hida River Park cherry blossom festival is on the 5th. The spots in the Hane district on the opposite bank are within walking distance. The spots in the Shimi and Ozaki districts are a bit far to walk, so it's safer to travel by car. The Nakabashi bridge in Takayama will bloom a little later. Once the cherry blossoms in Hagiwara are finished, the Ogawa district of Meihō in Gujō City should be looking nice. It's a district famous for its Mizukagami cherry trees and flowering peach trees. You can get there in about 20 minutes by taking the large forest road on the mountain opposite Maze Elementary School, heading towards the Maze River from Hagiwara. The new "Meihō Tunnel" on the Gujō side opened a few years ago. A while ago, I compared the distance/time with taking Route 41 → via Wara and it was almost the same. If you follow my history, you'll find various things posted, so please take a look. From here on are my previous posts → here Photo 11 that I posted was taken on April 17, 2025. Please use it as a guide for the blooming period in Hagiwara Town. Zenshoji Temple was blooming early. So then → This is the famous weeping cherry tree that even Gero citizens like me, who weren't interested in cherry blossom viewing 🌸🍶✨, knew about. The branches hang down so much that they almost touch the road. Last year, a group of people wearing yukata 👘 came to see it at night in a minibus 🚌. They were probably from nearby accommodations, right? I think hotels and inns in Gero should provide more shuttle services so that tourists can see it. In 2025, I learned for the first time that Hagiwara Town was holding a cherry blossom tour and that there were many spots to see. I heard that about 17 cherry trees were lit up, so I came to see them, and I was hooked. Everywhere was beautiful and I was moved, so I went to see the cherry blossoms at Ogawa Miyashita in Meiho, Gujo City, which is next door. The cherry blossoms here bloom a little later than in Hagiwara. I've also posted various photos, including of the Mizukagami cherry blossoms, so please check my history for reference. The only downside to Hagiwara is that Hida River Park 🎄⛲, which has the most cherry trees, isn't lit up at night. Early in the evening, there are lights from the Asagiri Ground across the river where baseball is being played. It's a shame that this park holds a cherry blossom festival event during the day but doesn't offer nighttime cherry blossoms. I hope they'll do that in the future. Finally, a request. If you're coming by car or motorcycle, please park as far away from the cherry trees as possible before viewing them. Everyone will be taking pictures. You can use the eraser marker in editing to remove people and cars, but it's best to have photos of the cherry blossoms as natural as possible. Thank you for your cooperation 🙇♀️⤵️
This is how the "Iwataro Weeping Cherry Tree" looked on April 8, 2025.
It was about 10-20% in bloom.
It looks like it will be at its peak around this weekend.
It stands majestically on a slope that looks like it could slide down at any moment.
(It's secured with wire to prevent it from falling.)
There were also lovely "Erythronium" flowers on the slope.
When I visited last time, on April 11, 2022, the weeping cherry tree was in full bloom under a clear blue sky.
This area is featured in the "Hagiwara Town Cherry Blossom Tour" by Hagiwara Town, Masuda District, along with "Hida River Park" and "Eiyoji Temple's Weeping Cherry Tree." The "Iwataro Weeping Cherry Tree" is the most popular, with large, magnificent branches.
It's a short walk, but I parked in the parking lot at "Shimogawa Park."
