Koriyama is located in the center of Fukushima Prefecture which is the most southernly prefecture of the Tohoku area. The city of Koriyama is known as an economically developed city since the Tohoku Shinkansen stops here. It takes about 80 minutes (7,680 yen – non-reserved seat) from Tokyo on the bullet train.
It is a suitable spot to feel the four seasons of Japan and during spring (early April to late April), cherry blossoms bloom in many places. There are places where you can veiw 400-year old “Shidarezakura (weeping cherry tree)” and along Kaiseizan Park’s cherry tree-lined road you can view about 1,300 cherry trees in bloom including the oldest “Someiyoshino” (Yoshino cheery tree) in Japan.
Koriyama is a historical city and it was designated as a “national heritage” in 2016.
In this article, I will introduce to you 4 of the best places where cherry blossoms can be viewed.
♦︎Kaiseizan Park’s cherry trees (center of Koriyam) – early April to mid-April
In this park, you can enjoy the viewing about 1,300 cherry trees including the oldest “Someiyoshino” in Japan. The cherry blossom lined road was used as a filming location for the movie “Toki wo Kakeru Shojo” and many food stalls are opened during the cherry-blossom viewing season.
♦︎Benishidare Jizozakura (Koriyamashi Nakatacho) mid-April
Benishidare Jizozakura in Nakata-cho, Koriyama, is a national treasure and it is considered to be one of the three biggest cherry trees in Japan. A “jizo” (image of Khitigarbha-bodhisattva) is set up right beside the tree and people used to pray for this jizo to avoid their infants dying at a young age.
♦︎Shikinosato Ryokusuien (Koriyamashi Kikutacho) mid-April
The flower garden and Shiki no Ryokusuien of Chisen Kaiyushiki can be enjoyed. At this location, you can also enjoy walking in the woods, watching birds and barbequing. Various cherry trees such as Kawazuzakura, Someiyoshino, and Shidarezakuro and seasonal flowers such as 300 thousand iris flowers, azaleas, roses and hydrangeas can be enjoyed at this area.
♦︎Funatsugawa no Sakuranamiki (Koriyamashi Konancho) late April to early May
Funatsugawa is a river in Konan-cho, Koriyamashi which is connected to Inowashiro Lake. You can enjoy the 120 cherry trees including Someiyoshino and field mustard planted on the embankment of the river.
Let’s go to Fukushima Prefecture to see cherry blossoms this spring!
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The NFT platform ‘Adam by GMO’ will offer the creative company NAKED’s first piece of NFT art. Sakura Ousai has been featured in the hands-on art exhibition NAKED FLOWERS held in Nihonbashi, Nijo Castle, Hong Kong, and Korea. The NFT will be available in late March and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support Ukraine. Since its establishment in 1997, NAKED has constantly produced incredibly unique art installations to fit with the times. Starting with the projection mapping of Tokyo Station in 2012, the company has created unprecedented art and entertainment experiences by combining real space with virtual experiences. The current theme is ‘borderless creativity,’ and creating NFT art fits into this vision. NAKED FLOWERS, one of NAKED's signature events, has been held since the New Year 2016. The NAKED FLOWERS experience has now been converted into a piece of NFT art for the first time, and buyers can enjoy these cherry blossoms no matter their location!
Information
Sakura OUSAI NFT Art
Adam by GMO Premium Category NAKED, INC.:
https://adam.jp/stores/nakedinc
Official Site: https://naked.co.jp
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McDonald's Japan will start selling the new Sakura Mochi Pie starting March 23, 2022 for a limited time only. The new pie is inspired by sakura mochi, a traditional wagashi sweet popular during spring.
Sakura mochi is typically made from mochi rice cakes filled with a sweet red bean paste and wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom leaf. The McDonald's pie is filled with azuki red bean paste and a chewy, sakura-flavored mochi that features bits of pickled sakura leaves. The packaging will also feature spring designs and each pie costs just ¥150. They will be available until mid-April. -
Flower Miffy, a flower shop inspired by the popular Dutch picture book Miffy, has begun selling a new series of cherry blossom-inspired items! A limited number of postcard sets are also being offered as purchase bonuses.
Flower Miffy Glass - Sakura Gradient Pink / Pearl: ¥1,595 (Tax Included)
Flower Miffy Sakura Plate: ¥2,090 (Tax Included)
Flower Miffy Mini Towel - Sakura Pink / Ivory: ¥770 each (Tax Included)
The series features original artwork, and fans of Miffy can get their hands on unique glassware, cherry blossom plates, and mini-towels.Those spending ¥3,300 (including tax) or more will receive a set of two limited edition postcards. The offer will end as soon as they’re gone! *Offer does not apply to flower arrangements. Illustrations Dick Bruna Ⓒ copyright Mercis bv,1953-2022 www.miffy.com Information
Cherry Blossom Series
Release Date: February 10, 2022
Where to Buy: Flower Miffy Shops Nationwide, Flower Miffy Online Shop
Official Site: https://benelic.com/flowermiffy/
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To celebrate the arrival of spring, Q-pot Cafe is introducing a cherry blossom-themed menu for a limited time!
Cherry Blossom Romantic Dress Cake Plate with Drink: ¥2,100 (Tax Included)
Enjoy this pink cherry blossom mousse and pure white whipped cream to celebrate the end of the gloomy winter season. Rich pistachio mousse, strawberry pulp, fragrant almonds, and fluffy genoise come together in a scrumptious melt-in-your-mouth explosion of flavor.Romantic Berry Blossom Tea: ¥850 (Tax Included) / Set Menu +¥200 (Tax Included)
A play on Q-pot Cafe’s popular Flower Garden tea, the Berry Blossom Tea has a rich cherry blossom aroma with raspberries and milk added.Romantic Berry Blossom Tea with Bottle: ¥1,296 (Tax Included)
Take-out drinks in patterned bottles are also available! By bringing the bottle with you, the Berry Blossom Tea will be discounted to ¥750 (tax included).Information
2022 Q-pot Cafe Seasonal Menu
Location: Q-pot Cafe Omotesando
Available: March 1 – April 14, 2022
Online Reservations Open
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Japanese aromatic raw chocolate brand MAISON CACAO is launching a new Kamakura-based brand called Shiki to Maison ("Four Seasons & Maison") which will feature chocolates that capture the events and culture found throughout the four seasons in Japan. The first entries to the series are cherry blossom chocolates which are available from March 26 to April 4, as well as cherry blossom drink which can be enjoyed on March 27 and 28.
Aroma Raw Chocolate SAKURA ¥2,200 / Cacao Vinegar Soda SAKURA ¥550 (Before Tax)
Aroma Raw Chocolate SAKURA
Indulge in a box of these luxury cherry blossom chocolates which are made with 100% cacao powder which have a refreshing white chocolate aftertaste. The chocolates are made with cherry blossom as well as a fresh cream laced with salt-pickled cherry blossom. They also include a paste made from liquid drawn from cherry blossom petals. It's a taste of Japanese spring with every bite.Cacao Vinegar Soda SAKURA
This springtime beverage includes a cacao vinegar made from cacao pulp and is coupled with fragrant cherry blossom. This one is available at the Komachi and Cacao Hanare branches as well as at CHOCOLATE BANK.Information
Shiki to Maison Sakura Sweets
Japanese Product Name: 四季とメゾン 桜スイーツ
Serving: March 26, 2021 – April 4, 2021
MAISON CACAO Official Website: https://onlineshop.maisoncacao.com/
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Spring has arrived at TREE by NAKED Yoyogi Park, a cafe run by NAKED that's located in Yoyogi Park in Shibuya, Tokyo. On Monday, the cafe launched a seasonal menu which incorporates a variety of spring flowers like cherry blossoms, showy's baby breath from Kumamoto, keiou-zakura from Yamagata, and more. TREE by NAKED Yoyogi Park first opened in July 2017. It's an experience-based art restaurant where customers can enjoy Japan’s latest cutting edge technology and next-generation gastronomy. Its popularity has risen rapidly, earning itself a reputation for offering an experience that stimulates all five of the senses, as well as for its photogenic interior decor. With the pandemic restricting travel in Japan, people are unable to visit places far away across the country, and so the cafe is bringing a little bit of different places around Japan, namely their flowers, in collaboration with JA Kumamoto Uki and JA Yamagata. Kumamoto is the only place in Japan that grows show's baby breath. They are raised with the prefecture's rich water and soil to blossom beautiful white and pink. These flowers can not only be enjoyed at TREE by NAKED Yoyogi Park as decorations, but customers can actually buy a bouquet of them too. Thanks to the skills of producers, the flowers can be grown out of season over a long period running from December to April, allowing people to enjoy their gorgeous springtime hues even if it's not spring.
Açaí Lemonade - Eat In ¥825 / Takeout ¥810
Cherry Blossom & Strawberry Nicecream - Eat In ¥770 / Takeout ¥756
"Power & Healthly" are the concepts for the lunch and cafe-time menu which includes both food and drink. The cafe's popular homemade açaí lemonade has been turned into a springtime version with fresh cherry blossom petals. There's also a vegan-friendly ice cream made with banana, avocado, soy milk, and a blend of strawberry and cherry blossom. It has a slight salt tang to it.Vegan Cherry Blossom Latte - Eat In ¥770 / Takeout ¥756
Vegan Avocado & Sprout Sandwich - Eat In ¥1,100 / Takeout ¥1,080
The cafe's popular cherry blossom latte from last year returns with a soy milk base. There's also sandwiches, including a vegan one fried in coconut oil.Strawberry Mille-Feuille - Eat In ¥1,650
The cafe's strawberry mille-feuille is so popular that they have to make a limited batch each day. It's even been featured on Instagram. With the strawberry season here, customers can enjoy fresh whole strawberries topping their dessert. The cafe will also be running an evening cafe and bar experience with a range of desserts, food, and alcohol.Information
Spring Menu
Released: March 15, 2021
Where: TREE by NAKED Yoyogi Park
Address: 1-10-2 Tomigaya, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening Hours: 11:00-20:00 (EVENING CAFÉ & BAR TIME from 16:00) *Last orders at 19:00
Closed: Tuesdays/Wednesdays
TEL: 03-6804-9038
TREE by NAKED Yoyogi Park Official Website: https://tree.naked.works/yoyogi/