Sakura in Nara: 10 Best Spots to See Cherry Blossom

Known for temples such as Kasuga Taisha and the friendly, bowing deer that surround it, Kyoto’s southern neighbor Nara is just as worthwhile to visit, and what better time than the cherry blossom season? If you want fewer crowds and beautiful rural scenery, Nara is the place to go.

We’ll introduce the best spots to see sakura in Nara come springtime, from historic castle ruins to sweeping pink mountainsides. So, if that sounds like something you’re interested in, keep reading!

Nara Prefecture is in the Kansai region, touching the borders of Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto and Shiga. Nara City, home to Nara Park and Mt. Wakakusa, is easily accessible from all major cities across Japan. 

If you were to travel from Tokyo to Nara, there are a few options: 

Bullet train: Taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nara Station requires a changeover from the Tokaido Shinkansen to the JR Nara Line at Kyoto Station. The journey takes just over three hours and costs approximately ¥14,750 for a one-way ticket. 

Bus: To get from Tokyo to Nara by bus, you’ll take the JR Kotoku Bus from Tokyo Station to Nagoya Station. From there, you’ll board the Nara Kotsu Bus at Meitetsu Bus Center nearby and head to Nara Station. 

The fastest bus ride is 8.5 hours, with some taking up to 17 hours and 45 minutes. There is no change in the cost (¥8,800), though the timing is up to you. 

Plane: There are no direct flights between Tokyo and Nara, though you can fly from Haneda and Narita Airport to Osaka’s Itami Airport and Kansai Airport before taking the train to Nara. 

Including the 90-minute bus or train ride to Nara, this method will take around two and a half hours, with the flights alone starting at ¥11,820.

The cherry blossom season is projected to hit Nara around March 27, with the sakura flowers blooming fully on April 3 or 4. 

For a more up-to-date forecast, check out our 2025 Japan cherry blossom forecast closer to your Nara trip. 

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Outnumbering the deer by a few hundred, the 1,700 cherry blossom trees planted across Nara Park make for a gorgeous setting to spend the day. 

Planning on having a hanami picnic? You can spread out on the large lawn wrapped in sakura trees just a short walk from Todaiji’s main hall. 

Find out more: Cherry Blossom Viewing Guide: What to Eat at Hanami

A tributary of the Yamato River, the Saho River has been the subject of many songs and poems included in the Manyoshu, the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry. With all five kilometers of riverbank lined with cherry blossoms, this is a revered spot for viewing cherry blossoms in Nara. 

As it runs from Nara City to the Akishino River near Yamatokoriyama City, there is enough space for everyone to enjoy the magical sight of the pink river. Don’t forget to check out the views at night when the cherry trees are lit up, too!

Just outside of the cosmopolitan Nara City lies the Koriyama Castle Ruins, enclosed within the original fortress walls (composed of collected stone materials, including Jizo statues) and a moat. 

Although most of the castle is in disrepair, the reconstructed Otemon Gate, Otemu Tower and Gokuraku Bridge make for a stunning backdrop during the cherry blossom season. 

As a bonus, the Yamato-Koriyama area hosts several Michelin Star restaurants using the famous heirloom Yamato vegetables of the region. 

Find out more: Michelin Guide Restaurants in Osaka

In 1948, volunteers gathered to construct a 2.5-kilometer cherry blossom tunnel over the Takada River, which flows through Yamatotakada City, the site of the quaint Senritsudera Temple. 

Over 1,200 cherry trees bloom here in a handful of varieties, celebrated annually in the Folk Song, Dance and Nodate Festival in early April. Although we can’t recommend a stroll or bike ride along the river enough, those wanting to have a picnic will want to visit Onaka Park at the center.

Find out more: History, Culture & Types of Cherry Blossoms

Mt. Wakakusa is a grassy hill located behind Nara Park, offering fantastic views of the city below with just a short hike. Whether you want to snap some photos or enjoy a serene picnic, the cherry blossoms combined with the greenery and cityscape are peak Nara (pun fully intended). 

As the place where the imperial family resided during the Nara Period, Heijo Palace is one of the most historically significant sites in Nara. Tour the remaining buildings kept as they were during the Nara Period before enjoying a scenic cherry blossom picnic on the lawn outside of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

One of Japan’s most famous sakura viewing spots, Mt. Yoshino is easily Nara’s most breathtaking scenes during the cherry blossom season. Imagine a lush mountainside covered in 30,000 cherry trees, breaking up vivid greens with pastel pinks. 

Though hiking up the mountain is a great springtime activity, you can also take the cable car to access Mt. Yoshino’s four main viewing spots: Shimo Senbon and Naka Senbon, at the base of the mountain; or Kami Senbon and Oku Senbon, up at the peak of the mountain where you can expect better views with fewer crowds.

A massive Buddha statue and a pink cloud of cherry blossoms? Could it get more Japanese than Tsubosakadera Temple? We think not. Said to help cure eye disease, this temple was built in 703 in the town of Takatori. 

At the height of the sakura season, the 15-meter statue appears to be floating on a cloud of cherry blossoms, a mystical view that’s referred to as Sakura Daibutsu, or “Cherry Blossom Great Buddha.”

The temple is illuminated at night, so we highly recommend sticking around to observe the changing pink scenery if you can.

Eastern Nara’s Asuka Village offers a quiet getaway to Nara’s countryside. As the first capital of Japan, sites like Asukadera and Prince Shotoku’s former residences will delight history buffs. But at the center of it all is Ishibutai Kofun, a burial mound surrounded by cherry blossoms that draws in the crowds each year. 

Built during the Kofun period in the 7th century, the tomb has been given the nickname of a “stone stage” around which 60 Yoshino cherry trees bloom. For those who aren’t spooked by the tomb’s presence, the trees are illuminated at night, making for an interesting contrast that can only be found in Japan. 

Perhaps one of Japan’s most famous cherry trees, Matabei-zakura in Uda City’s Oudahongo district is what cherry blossom dreams are made of. Approximately 300 years old, the tree’s ginormous branches fan out over the stone wall on the grassy knoll like something out of a postcard. 

Its name details an even more interesting history, as it is said to have grown on the site of Sengoku warlord Matabei Goto’s residence at the time of the siege on Osaka.  

While you’re in the Uda area, consider a visit to Murou-ji, a five-story pagoda that’s been oft-featured in Japanese literature.

Interested in more cherry blossom spots? Check out where to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, as well as a full guide to cherry blossom season in Japan.

Need more sakura? We’ve got it covered:

• Best Cherry Blossom Parks for Travelers
• Sakura in Chiba: Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms
• Sakura in Hiroshima: Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms
• Sakura in Hokkaido: Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms
• Sakura in Fukuoka: Best Spots to See Cherry Blossoms
• Sakura in Nagano: Best Spots to See Cherry Blossoms
• Sakura in Toyama: Best Spots to See Cherry Blossoms