The sea of baby blue eyes at Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture is truly a magical sight. Mid-April to early May is the best time to see these delicate blue blooms, but a visit during other times of the year will not disappoint either.
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A warm start to the season saw people across Japan enjoying the iconic sakura blossoms earlier than usual, with most places reaching full bloom by the end of March. However, in areas such as the Tohoku region and Sapporo, people can still expect to see them from around mid to late April. 


It’s still unclear when we can travel internationally again, but in the meantime we will continue to bring you travel inspiration and updates and look forward to welcoming you to Japan when the time is right.


This month’s newsletter will delight nature lovers as we introduce various places to enjoy springtime blooms. We also take a trip to the lesser-known Chugoku region, explore the astounding range of adventures available in Japan and take a look at some Evangelion-inspired attractions. 

 

COVID-19 health & safety information: 

Our webpage provides access to travel advisories and the latest information on countermeasures the government and facilities such as airlines, airports, railway companies and accommodation providers have implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19.

 

JNTO Sydney brochure room and travel information phone line closures:
Please note that due to the current situation, our public enquiry phone line and self-service brochure room will be closed until further notice. We have also suspended our hardcopy brochure mailing service. If you have any travel enquiries, please contact us using our enquiry form. For PDF/electronic brochures, please visit this link.
 
April is about more than just sakura; a myriad of flowers such as wisteria, azaleas and tulips also burst into bloom across the country. Mountain locations closed throughout the winter months such as the Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route and Kamikochi begin to open up too. 

April is a month full of exciting festivals celebrating cherry blossoms and traditional culture. Read on to see a list of festivals throughout Japan for April 2021 – while dates may vary slightly each year, it can be a useful reference for planning any future travel to Japan.
Beautiful flowers in Miyajidake Shrine

 

Located high on a hill in the town of Fukutsu in Fukuoka Prefecture, Miyajidake Shrine is famous for its sunsets and for housing three large sacred objects: a drum, bell and straw rope. Seasonal flowers such as cherry blossoms and irises also bloom throughout the year on the shrine grounds. 
Nokonoshima Island Park in spring

 

Located on the northern tip of Nokonoshima Island in Hakata Bay, Fukuoka City, this natural park has over 30 types of seasonal flowers. You can enjoy the blanket of colourful blooms such as cherry blossoms and poppies against the background of the sea in spring. 

 Adventures in Japan

 

Explore the lesser-known tropical islands of the south or carve up the powder on the slopes of the wintery north. Whether it’s extreme sports like bungee jumping, or just a relaxing round of 18 on one of the breathtaking golf courses around Japan, you’ll find an adventure that calls for you.
 

When travelling through Japan, many stick to the obvious destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. However, the relatively unexplored Chugoku region is the perfect place to experience some quintessential Japanese culture and to better understand the country and its people.

The castle was originally constructed by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three great unifiers of Japan. Nowadays Maizuru Castle Park comprises one section of the castle ruins and is a popular spot for hanami, with around 160 sakura trees blooming in the park each spring.  
 
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time was released in Japan on 8 March – the final instalment of the Rebuild of Evangelion film series. Here are a couple of attractions in Japan that are sure to interest fans of this cult-classic anime series.
 

Kurogi no Ofuji is the name of a giant wisteria tree - over 600 years old - in Susano Shrine, Fukuoka Prefecture. Mid-April to early-May is considered to be the best time to view the impressive tree in bloom, with the festival held around this time drawing visitors from all over Japan.

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Azalea Festival (Nezu-jinja Shrine) image © TCVB