Miharu Takizakura, Fukushima

Miharu Takizakura

Table of Contents

1 About Miharu Takizakura
2 Best time to see
3 Around the area
4 How to Arrive
5 Information:

About Miharu Takizakura

Miharu Takizakura (三春滝桜) is considered by many as the single most beautiful cherry tree in Japan. It is located in Miharu a small town in central Fukushima Prefecture. “Takizakura” literally means “waterfall cherry tree” in Japanese; Taki = 滝 = WaterFall , Zakura ＝桜 = Cherry Blossom.

Like Waterfall

A fitting name as the 12 meter tall tree’s wide drooping branches spread out over 20 meters east-west and 18 meters north-south, making it appear like a cascading waterfall and makes it for a breathtaking vista
The tree is estimated to be over a thousand years old ! And nationally recognized Natural Monument.
It is even one of the “three great cherry trees” of Japan (along with Usuzumizakura in Gifu and the Jindaizakura in Yamanashi Prefecture that we still didn`t had chance to visit.. Maybe next year? ).

Best time to see

Fukushima located in north Japan so the cherry blossom bloom after Kyoto and Tokyo. When in Tokyo the cherry blossom is over , you can start to see it on north Japan.
The Miharu Takizakura begins blooming from mid-April to late April every year
(Those photos were taken on the 10th of April 2021. It was warm year and every flowers got earlier than usual)

Miharu Takizakura has also light up during the evening. Unfortunately, we went there during the Corona time so the light up was canceled. It says that in both time (day&night) it is magnificent !

Around the area

Aside from Takizakura tree in the area is also blessed with various wildflowers, including rapeseed flowers that you can see around Takizakura cherry tree.
There is some steps to go up to see up-view, in the area above there is many beautiful Somei-yoshino cherry area and a small shrine.

Somei-yoshino cherry

How to Arrive

For most of the year, the town of Miharu in Fukushima is a typical farming community so it is a rural and remote area difficult to access by public transport for most of the year.
In the spring, however, nearly 300,000 people visit the area to catch sight of the Miharu Takizakura. A temporary bus is operated between Miharu Station and the Miharu Takizakura during the peak of the cherry blossom season which costs about ￥1,000 . There is also free shuttle bus from Miharu Town Spots Park.
We used rental car, and there is many free parking space there.