Discover Japan’s Rare Autumn Cherry Blossoms in Aichi
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Imagine Japan’s pink cherry blossoms cherry blossoms in full bloom among the vivid red leaves of autumn. It might sound like a dream, but come November, it’s a very real phenomenon at this spot in Aichi!
Japan’s cherry blossoms are a symbol of spring, and the red and yellow leaves of koyo are a symbol of autumn. They represent direct opposites on the calendar, and it would be foolish to look for them together. But it turns out there is at least one autumn destination in Japan where you can see this rare phenomenon, of cherry blossoms blooming alongside Japan’s colorful autumn leaves. Head to central Japan, and you’ll find this unusual scene in the Obara area of Toyota, a city not far from Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture.
It’s common knowledge in Japan that the cherry blossom or “sakura” bloom happens once a year each spring, which is why the country’s parks and gardens overflow with visitors from the end of March through the beginning of April. But things look a little different in Obara, which starts to see an increase in visitors mid-way through November each year, signaling the start of the area’s most beautiful season. Studded with maple trees crowned in pointed red leaves, and packed with over 10,000 rare cherry blossom trees, Obara is a stunning mosaic of bright red and pale pink, the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else.
The reason why Obara Park looks more like a painting than real life is the rare shikizakura (四季桜) cherry blossom, a variety whose name translates to “four-season cherry blossoms.” These special trees were carefully bred to ignore the regular yearly schedule and bloom twice a year instead, which is why Obara’s cherry blossoms come to life once in spring and again from mid- to late November each year.
During the autumn cherry blossom bloom, the Obara Shikizakura Festival is held across all of the area’s most famous autumn cherry blossom spots: the Senmi Shikizakura Village (川見四季桜の里), Kakigairi Walking Path (柿ケ入遊歩道), and Obara Fureai Park (小原ふれあい公園). And like many spring festivals, the Obara Shikizakura Festival also includes local food vendors offering regional specialties for visitors to enjoy while taking in this rare natural beauty. Of course, in this quiet region of Aichi Prefecture there are plenty of uncrowded areas where you can relax among the flowers as well.
Besides Obara’s rare autumn cherry blossoms, Toyota City has plenty of other interesting sightseeing attractions as well. Read more about them here!
For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don’t forget to follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook!
Details
NAME:Obara Fureai Park
http://www.kankou-obara.toyota.aichi.jp/english/shikizakura.html
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