April 6, 2009 Day 07: Yoshino & Himeji

Mount Yoshino, in Nara Prefecture, has been Japan's most famous cherry blossom spot for many centuries. It is said that the first trees were planted along its slopes more than 1,300 years ago, and today the mountain is covered by approximately 30,000 cherry trees of many different varieties, especially of the Yamazakura variety. Rather than a free standing mountain, Yoshinoyama is a north-facing mountain slope. Visitors can enjoy the cherry trees as they ascend the mountain, passing Yoshino's touristy town with its various temples and shrines, and enjoying hanami in the parks and viewpoints along the way.

Yoshinoyama's cherry blossoms typically start opening in late March or early April and reach full bloom around early to mid April. The Yoshino Ropeway bypasses the steep ascent between the station and the town, but waiting times for the ropeway can get very long during the peak of the season. Lots of cherry trees are planted along the road up to the town, making the ascent on foot an attractive alternative to the ropeway.

Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely considered Japan's most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds. The castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Unlike many other Japanese castles, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives to this day as one of the country's twelve original castles.

Himeji Castle is also a highly popular cherry blossom spot during the short and crowded blooming season which usually falls in early April. On busy days, visitors may encounter considerable waiting times for entering the interior of the main keep. The number of visitors allowed to enter the main keep may be limited by the use of numbered tickets.