Japan in April: What's at Its Best and What's Closed

119 places are at their best in April; 24 are closed all month and 59 partly closed.

Plan your April trip Map: what's a day trip from where you stay

What is closed, by prefecture

At its best in April

Tokyo & Yokohama 3

• Ueno ParkTokyoCherry blossoms along the central path (usually late Mar – early Apr)
• Shinjuku GyoenTokyoCherry blossoms, late March to April
• Nezu ShrineTokyoBunkyo Azalea Festival in April: 3,000 azaleas of 100 kinds

Mt. Fuji & Hakone 3

• Arakurayama Sengen Park (Chureito Pagoda)YamanashiCherry blossoms, early to mid-April
• Saiko Iyashi no Sato NenbaYamanashiWeeping cherries mid-April to early May; autumn leaves late Oct to mid-Nov
• Daiyuzan Saijoji TempleKanagawa20+ weeping cherries bloom late March – early April; autumn leaf light-up

Nikko 1

• Rinnoji Temple and Taiyuin MausoleumTochigiThe 500-year-old Kongo-zakura cherry in front of Sanbutsudo blooms in late April

Kanazawa 1

• Tonami Tulip ParkToyamaLate April – early May: Tulip Fair

Takayama & the Japan Alps 1

• Tateyama Kurobe Alpine RouteToyamaSnow walls (Yuki-no-Otani), mid-April to June

Kyoto 4

• Nijo CastleKyotoCherry blossom festival, late March to mid April
• Philosopher's PathKyotoCherry blossoms, early April
• Mii-dera Temple (Onjo-ji)ShigaThe evening bell, one of the Eight Views of Omi; cherry light-up from late March to early April
• Ninna-jiKyotoOmuro Flower Festival with the late-blooming Omuro cherry trees (spring)

Osaka & Kobe 2

• Osaka CastleOsakaCherry blossoms, late March to early April
• Fujiidera TempleOsakaWisteria festival, around Apr 20 to early May

Nara 6

• Ishibutai Kofun (Asuka)NaraA 6th-century tomb whose earth mound is gone, leaving a huge stone chamber in the open, in the rural heart of Asuka village.
• Hasedera TempleNaraA mountainside temple reached by a long covered stairway, with a large wooden stage and flowers in every season.
• Muroji TempleNaraA mountain temple once open to women when Mount Koya was not, with a small five-storied pagoda among cedars and stone steps.
• Taimadera TempleNaraAn old temple at the foot of Mount Nijo with an east and a west three-storied pagoda, famous for its peonies in spring.
• Okadera Temple (Ryugaiji)NaraAbout 3,000 rhododendrons (mid-April to early May), dahlias floating in the pond and water basins (late April–early May), autumn leaves (November)
• Fujiwara Palace SiteNaraCosmos in early to late October; rapeseed in late Mar-early Apr; lotus in mid-Jul-early Aug

Hiroshima & Miyajima 2

• Kintaikyo BridgeYamaguchiCherry blossoms, late March to early April
• Ondo-no-Seto ParkHiroshimaCherry blossoms in late March to early April; azaleas in late April to early May

Kyushu 16

• Kirishima Onsen-kyoKagoshimaCherry blossoms in the highlands in early April, Miyama-kirishima azaleas in early summer, autumn leaves, and rime ice in winter
• Fukuoka Castle Ruins (Maizuru Park)FukuokaCherry blossoms and evening light-ups during the Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival
• Dazaifu Government Office RuinsFukuokaAbout 100 cherry trees around the ruins in spring
• Akizuki Castle TownFukuokaAbout 500 m of cherry trees on Sugi-no-Baba, and maples at the Kuromon gate in late autumn
• Karatsu CastleSagaCherry blossoms in late March and wisteria in late April in Maizuru Park
• Mifuneyama Rakuen GardenSagaAbout 2,000 cherry trees and 200,000 azaleas in spring; a 170-year-old maple in autumn
• Ogi ParkSagaCherry blossoms from late March and about 25,000 azaleas in early summer
• Oka Castle RuinsOitaThe curving stone walls and the Rentaro Taki statue

Also: Saitobaru Burial Mounds, Cape Toi, Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden, Tsuetate Onsen, Choanji Temple, Doya Rice Terraces, Okoshiki Coast, Daikozenji Temple (Tsutsuji-dera)

Hokkaido 3

• Goryokaku Park (Hakodate)HokkaidoAbout 1,600 cherry trees (late Apr – mid May)
• Matsumae Castle & ParkHokkaidoMatsumae Cherry Blossom Festival, mid-April to early May
• Taushubetsu River BridgeHokkaidoA 130 m concrete arch bridge on the former JNR Shihoro Line, completed in 1937. It appears from Lake Nukabira around January as the water drops, starts to sink from about May and lies under the lake by summer.

More in Tohoku 20

• Hirosaki ParkAomoriCherry blossoms, mid to late April (some years into early May)
• Kakunodate Samurai DistrictAkitaWeeping cherry blossoms, mid to late April
• Tsuruga CastleFukushimaCherry blossoms, early to mid-April
• Senshu Park (Kubota Castle Site)AkitaCherry blossoms in spring, azaleas and wisteria in late May, lotus in the moats in summer
• Uesugi Shrine (Matsugasaki Park)YamagataAbout 200 cherry trees along the moats in mid to late April
• Kajo Park (Yamagata Castle Ruins)YamagataCherry blossoms from early to mid April, lit up along the east and south moats
• Tsuruoka ParkYamagataCherry blossoms from mid to late April during the Tsuruoka Cherry Festival
• Hanamiyama ParkFukushimaPeak blossoms from late March to mid April

Also: Miharu Takizakura, Kasumigajo Park (Nihonmatsu Castle Ruins), Morioka Castle Ruins Park, Akayu Onsen, Tenshochi Park (Kitakami), Shiroishi River Hitome Senbon-zakura, Nanko Park (Shirakawa), Matsugaoka Pioneer Settlement, Shirakawa Komine Castle, Yunokami-Onsen Station, Isasumi Shrine, Ishiwari-zakura (Rock-Splitting Cherry Tree)

More in Kanto 19

• Hitachi Seaside ParkIbarakiNemophila in late April; kochia turns red in October
• Ashikaga Flower ParkTochigiGreat wisteria, late April to early May
• Hitsujiyama Park Moss PhloxSaitamaMoss phlox, mid-April to early May
• Myogi Shrine & Mount MyogiGunmaA lavishly carved, black-lacquered shrine on the slopes of jagged Mount Myogi, one of Gunma's three famous peaks.
• Sakitama Kofun ParkSaitamaNine large ancient burial mounds in Gyoda; the Inariyama mound yielded a national-treasure inscribed iron sword, and you can climb Marubakayama.
• Shiroyama Park & Tateyama CastleChibaAbout 460 cherry trees bloom in turn from late February; azaleas in late April
• Ogasawara Islands (Chichijima)TokyoHumpback whale watching, best from February to April
• Gongendo Park (Gongendo Cherry Embankment)SaitamaSatte Cherry Blossom Festival (late March to early April) and Red Spider Lily Festival (mid-September to early October)

Also: Koga Kubo Park (Koga Sogo Park), Mt. Ohira (Ohirasan), Karasawayama Castle Ruins, Agatsuma Gorge, Tsutsujigaoka Park (Tatebayashi), Ushijima Wisteria (Tokaen), Hachigata Castle Ruins (Yorii), Kasamori Kannon (Kasamori-ji), Amabiki Kannon (Rakuhoji Temple), Tsuchiura Castle Ruins (Kijo Park) & Machikado-gura, Minoyama Park

More in Chubu 19

• Takada Castle ParkNiigataAbout 4,000 cherry trees; lotus fills the outer moat in summer
• Takaoka Castle Park (Kojo Park)ToyamaThe moats and earthworks of Takaoka Castle, built by Maeda Toshinaga and abolished in 1615, now form a large park known for cherry blossoms.
• Asuwayama ParkFukuiA 116 m hill park in central Fukui with ancient burial mounds, small museums and about 3,500 cherry trees.
• Kofu Castle (Maizuru Castle Park)YamanashiCherry blossoms mid-March to early April
• Takeda ShrineYamanashiCherries late March–early April; maples mid-November to early December
• Minobusan Kuonji TempleYamanashiWeeping cherries late March to early April
• Neodani Usuzumi Cherry TreeGifuOne of Japan's three great cherry trees
• Takato Castle Ruins ParkNaganoAutumn-leaf festival in early November (2026: Oct 31-Nov 8)

Also: Ueda Castle Ruins Park, Komoro Castle Ruins (Kaikoen), Tokugawa-en Garden, Yamataka Jindai-zakura (Jissoji), Fuefukigawa Fruit Park, Ena Gorge (Enakyo), Matsushiro Castle Town, Tatsuoka Castle Goryokaku, Hotaruika (Firefly Squid) Museum, Asahi Funakawa “Spring Quartet”, Kanegasaki Castle Ruins & Kanegasaki-gu Shrine

More in Kansai 9

• Himeji CastleHyogoCherry blossoms, late March to early April
• Kinosaki OnsenHyogoCherry trees along about 1 km of the river (Apr); Yume Hanabi 5-min fireworks on most nights Jul 30 – Aug 21, 2026; snow crab season from early Nov to end of Mar
• Hikone CastleShigaCherry blossoms, early April
• Mt. YoshinoNaraCherry blossoms, early to mid-April
• Kaizu Osaki Cherry TreesShigaPeak bloom usually early to mid April, late for the Kinki region; cherry cruises run in spring
• Akashi Castle (Akashi Park)HyogoHitsujisaru turret open on weekends and holidays Sep–Dec
• Wakayama CastleWakayamaThe sloping covered bridge Ohashi-roka and Momijidani garden
• Kimiidera TempleWakayamaView of Wakanoura from the top of the steps

Also: Oku-Biwako Parkway

More in Chugoku 7

• Onomichi & Senkoji TempleHiroshimaCherry blossoms in Senkoji Park, late March to early April
• Tottori Castle Ruins (Kyusho Park)TottoriCherry blossoms in early April; the city's official sakura reference tree stands at the park entrance
• Tsuyama Castle (Kakuzan Park)OkayamaCherry blossoms in early-mid April; autumn leaves mid-late Nov
• Daigo-zakura Cherry TreeOkayamaBlossoms late March to early April, lit up 18:30–21:00
• Mt. SenjoTottoriSenjosan Cherry Blossom Festival (April); autumn leaves mid to late November
• Entsuji Temple and ParkOkayamaAbout 500 cherry trees, late March to early April
• Taineiji TempleYamaguchiAutumn leaves, mid-Nov to early Dec (evening light-up); cherry blossoms, late Mar to early Apr

More in Shikoku 3

• Naruto WhirlpoolsTokushimaBiggest at spring tides, especially spring and early autumn
• Mt. ShiudeKagawaCherry blossoms with the Inland Sea behind
• Shishijima Island (Giant Camphor Tree)KagawaCardiocrinum lilies by the camphor tree (July–August)

Closed all month

• Hokkaido 1

• Himenuma Pond (Rishiri Island)

• Aomori 3

• Anmon Falls (Shirakami-Sanchi)
• Komakino Site
• Osorezan Bodaiji (Mt. Osore)
  Closed November to April

• Iwate 1

• Geto Onsen

• Akita 4

• Kawarage Jigoku (Hell Valley)
• Kawarage Oyutaki (Hot-Spring Waterfall)
• Takedai Nature Observation Forest (Shirakami)
  Closed from late November to mid-May (access road closed in winter)
• Yasu-no-Taki Falls
  Road closed by snow from about mid-November to late May

• Yamagata 2

• Mount Gassan
  Climbing season is about July 1 to late September; the road to the 8th Station is open about late June to late October and closed by snow the rest of the year
• Yudonosan Shrine
  Open from June 1 to about November 3 (2026); closed by snow the rest of the year

• Fukushima 1

• Oze National Park (Fukushima side, Ozenuma)

• Gunma 2

• Ichinokurasawa
• Oze National Park (Gunma side)
  Closed by snow from November to April; May and October are the edges of the season

• Saitama 1

• Ashigakubo Icicles

• Niigata 1

• Lake Okutadami (Sightseeing Boat)

• Ishikawa 1

• Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road

• Fukui 1

• Mizushima Island

• Yamanashi 1

• Hirogawara (Kita-dake trailhead)

• Nagano 1

• Happo Pond (Hakuba Happo-one)
  Hiking lifts run from late May/June to early November (2026: May 30-31 and Jun 6-Nov 3); the area is a ski resort in winter

• Gifu 2

• Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River (Ukai)
• Mt. Norikura (Norikura Skyline)

• Saga 1

• Kunen-an

• Kagoshima 1

• Izumi Crane Observation Center
  Open Nov 1 to the 2nd Sunday of March only

Partly closed or seasonal limits

• Hokkaido 8

• Asahiyama Zoo
  Closed about 3 weeks in April and 1 week in early November
• Cape Kamui (Shakotan)
  Trail beyond the Nyonin Kinsei Gate closed for works 5 Oct 2026 – early Apr 2027; the cape can still be viewed from near the gate
• Former Maruichi Honma Merchant House (Mashike)
  Open late April to 3 November only
• Kaminoko-ike Pond
• Lake Onneto
  Road beyond Meakan Onsen closed early Dec – early Apr; the lake can only be reached on snowshoes
• Mt. Moiwa Night View (Sapporo)
  Closed for annual maintenance 29 Mar – 28 Apr 2027
• Shiretoko Five Lakes
  Closed in winter (about mid-November to late April)
• Shiretoko Pass

• Aomori 4

• Cape Shiriya & Kandachime horses
• Fujita Memorial Garden
  Garden closed Nov 24 to mid-April; only the Western house opens (9:00–16:30)
• Hotokegaura
• Juniko Lakes (Aoike Pond)
  The Juniko bus runs only from about mid-April to the end of October

• Iwate 1

• Toshichi Onsen

• Miyagi 3

• Mt. Kurikoma (Iwakagami-daira)
• Naruko Gorge
  Gorge trails are closed from late November to late April
• Zao Okama Crater Lake
  Road closed from early November to late April

• Akita 8

• Dakigaeri Gorge
  Trail and toilets closed in winter (late Nov to late April)
• Former Ikeda Family Garden
• Hachimantai Summit & Dragon Eye
  Aspite Line closed in winter (early Nov to mid-April)
• Isedotai Jomon Site
• Mt. Chokai (Hokodate)
• Mt. Moriyoshi (Ani Gondola)
• Oyasukyo Gorge Daifunto
  Gorge path closed in winter (about early Nov to late April); view from the bridge
• Tamagawa Onsen
  Closed in winter (about Nov 30 to mid-April); sister inn Shin-Tamagawa stays open

• Yamagata 1

• Zao Onsen
  Zao Onsen Dai-rotenburo (big outdoor bath) is closed late Nov to mid-April; public baths stay open

• Fukushima 4

• Jododaira and Bandai-Azuma Skyline
  The Skyline is closed in winter, from mid November to early April
• Maezawa Magariya Village
  The museum and facilities close for winter, from mid November to late April
• Mugenkyo Ferry
• Nakatsugawa Gorge

• Tochigi 1

• British & Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Parks

• Gunma 3

• Chatsubomigoke Moss Park
  Closed for snow from December to mid/late April; opens mid-to-late April
• Lake Nozori
• Mount Tanigawa & Tanigawadake Ropeway
  Closed for maintenance for part of April and November; in winter it serves the ski area

• Chiba 1

• Kamogawa Sea World

• Niigata 2

• Hoshitoge Rice Terraces
  In winter the car park and viewpoint are not cleared of snow and cannot be used, sometimes until after early May
• Matsudai Nohbutai Field Museum (Echigo-Tsumari Art Field)

• Toyama 2

• Kurobe Gorge Railway
  Runs from late April to November
• Shomyo Falls
  Road closed in winter (about late Nov to late Apr); bus runs mid-May to mid-Nov

• Fukui 1

• Maruoka Castle

• Yamanashi 3

• Mt. Mizugaki
• Nishizawa Gorge
  Trail closed Dec 1 to late April
• Ojiragawa Gorge
  Valley trail closed in winter, about mid-Dec to mid-Apr

• Nagano 5

• Kamikochi
  Open from mid-April to November 15
• Kitayatsugatake Ropeway & Tsuboniwa
• Kitazawa Pass
• Shirahone Onsen
  The public outdoor bath closes for winter, Nov 25 to mid-April (inns stay open)
• Togakushi Shrine
  Okusha closed Jan 7 to late April; buses skip the Okusha stop in winter

• Shizuoka 1

• Mt. Fuji Fujinomiya Trail 5th Station

• Mie 1

• Osugidani Gorge

• Shiga 3

• Biwako Terrace (Biwako Valley)
• Kyorinbo Temple
• Mt. Ibuki

• Kyoto 1

• Rurikoin Temple

• Nara 1

• Odaigahara

• Tottori 1

• Sand Museum
  Closed between exhibitions: the 2026 show ends Jan 3, 2027; the 2026 show opened Apr 24

• Hiroshima 1

• Sandankyo Gorge
  Autumn leaves late Oct - late Nov. Ferry boats do not run in winter (about Dec-Apr)

• Tokushima 1

• Mt. Tsurugi
  Chairlift closed December to mid-April

• Kagoshima 1

• Reimeikan Museum
  Dec 2026 – Apr 25, 2027: 2nd-floor permanent gallery closed for lighting work (1st and 3rd floors open)

• Okinawa 1

• Aharen Beach (Tokashiki)
  Lifeguarded swimming season runs from the beach opening in mid-April to the end of November (Tokashiki Village official).

Where to stay this month

• Osaka 14 at their best within 60 km
• Kyoto 13 at their best within 60 km
• Tokyo 9 at their best within 60 km

Onsen in April →

Other months: January · February · March · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December