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

39 places are at their best in March; 64 are closed all month and 73 partly closed.

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

What is closed, by prefecture

At its best in March

Tokyo & Yokohama 2

• Ueno ParkTokyoCherry blossoms along the central path (usually late Mar – early Apr)
• Shinjuku GyoenTokyoCherry blossoms, late March to April

Takayama & the Japan Alps 1

• Hida Great Limestone CaveGifuIce Valley, early January to early March, lit up at night

Osaka & Kobe 1

• Osaka CastleOsakaCherry blossoms, late March to early April

Nara 1

• 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 7

• 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
• Karatsu CastleSagaCherry blossoms in late March and wisteria in late April in Maizuru Park
• Ogi ParkSagaCherry blossoms from late March and about 25,000 azaleas in early summer
• Saitobaru Burial MoundsMiyazakiRape blossoms and cherry trees among the mounds in spring
• Shinbaru-Nuyama Burial MoundsFukuokaRape blossoms around the mounds in March and about 150,000 cosmos in late October
• Okoshiki CoastKumamotoSunset over the tidal flats, January to April

Hokkaido 1

• 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.

Okinawa 1

• Kerama IslandsOkinawaWhale watching, January to late March

More in Tohoku 1

• Hanamiyama ParkFukushimaPeak blossoms from late March to mid April

More in Kanto 8

• Kairakuen GardenIbarakiPlum blossoms, late February to mid-March
• Izu Oshima IslandTokyoIzu Oshima Camellia Festival each February
• Kodokan (Mito Domain School)IbarakiLast shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu studied here as a child and later stayed in the Shizendo rooms
• 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
• Koga Kubo Park (Koga Sogo Park)IbarakiKoga Peach Festival, late March to early April; ancient lotus (Oga-hasu) in June–July
• Ogose Plum Grove (Ogose Bairin)SaitamaOne of the Kanto region's three great plum groves, with about 1,000 trees including an old tree said to be over 670 years old.
• Kasamori Kannon (Kasamori-ji)ChibaPlum and cherry blossoms around the temple in spring

More in Chubu 3

• Kawazu Cherry BlossomsShizuokaKawazu cherries, early February to early March
• Fuefukigawa Fruit ParkYamanashiA large prefectural park on a hillside above the Kofu Basin, with fruit orchards and a hot-spring foot bath. Known for its night view over the basin.
• Seihakuji TempleYamanashiPlum blossoms early to mid-March

More in Kansai 3

• 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
• Kimiidera TempleWakayamaView of Wakanoura from the top of the steps

More in Chugoku 6

• Onomichi & Senkoji TempleHiroshimaCherry blossoms in Senkoji Park, late March to early April
• Daigo-zakura Cherry TreeOkayamaBlossoms late March to early April, lit up 18:30–21:00
• Hofu Tenmangu ShrineYamaguchiPlum blossoms, mid-Feb to early Mar; Goshinko-sai (naked men's festival), 4th Saturday of 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
• Mt. KasayamaYamaguchiHagi Camellia Festival, 3rd Saturday of Feb to mid-Mar (camellias best mid-Feb to late Mar)

More in Shikoku 2

• Naruto WhirlpoolsTokushimaBiggest at spring tides, especially spring and early autumn
• Shishijima Island (Giant Camphor Tree)KagawaCardiocrinum lilies by the camphor tree (July–August)

Closed all month

• Hokkaido 6

• Former Hanada Family Herring House (Obira)
  The town lists the house as closed December to March
• Former Maruichi Honma Merchant House (Mashike)
  Open late April to 3 November only
• Himenuma Pond (Rishiri Island)
• Kitakogane Shell Mound
• Shiretoko Five Lakes
  Closed in winter (about mid-November to late April)
• Shiretoko Pass

• Aomori 4

• Anmon Falls (Shirakami-Sanchi)
• Cape Shiriya & Kandachime horses
• Komakino Site
• Osorezan Bodaiji (Mt. Osore)
  Closed November to April

• Iwate 2

• Geto Onsen
• Toshichi Onsen

• Miyagi 2

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

• Akita 9

• 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)
• Kawarage Jigoku (Hell Valley)
• Kawarage Oyutaki (Hot-Spring Waterfall)
• Mt. Chokai (Hokodate)
• Takedai Nature Observation Forest (Shirakami)
  Closed from late November to mid-May (access road closed in winter)
• Tamagawa Onsen
  Closed in winter (about Nov 30 to mid-April); sister inn Shin-Tamagawa stays open
• Yasu-no-Taki Falls
  Road closed by snow from about mid-November to late May

• Yamagata 3

• Hojin no Ie (Former Ariji Family House)
  Closed December 1 to March 31
• 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 3

• Jododaira and Bandai-Azuma Skyline
  The Skyline is closed in winter, from mid November to early April
• Nakatsugawa Gorge
• Oze National Park (Fukushima side, Ozenuma)

• Tochigi 1

• British & Italian Embassy Villa Memorial Parks

• Gunma 5

• Arafune Cold Storage (Arafune Fuketsu)
• Chatsubomigoke Moss Park
  Closed for snow from December to mid/late April; opens mid-to-late April
• Ichinokurasawa
• Lake Nozori
• Oze National Park (Gunma side)
  Closed by snow from November to April; May and October are the edges of the season

• Saitama 2

• Ashigakubo Icicles
• Ushijima Wisteria (Tokaen)
  Open only from about mid-April to early May; closed the rest of the year

• Niigata 1

• Lake Okutadami (Sightseeing Boat)

• Toyama 3

• 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
• Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
  Closed from December to mid-April

• Ishikawa 1

• Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road

• Fukui 2

• Echizen Ono Castle
  Castle closed December to March
• Mizushima Island

• Yamanashi 3

• Hirogawara (Kita-dake trailhead)
• Nishizawa Gorge
  Trail closed Dec 1 to late April
• Ojiragawa Gorge
  Valley trail closed in winter, about mid-Dec to mid-Apr

• Nagano 3

• 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
• Kamikochi
  Open from mid-April to November 15
• Kitazawa Pass

• Gifu 2

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

• Shizuoka 1

• Mt. Fuji Fujinomiya Trail 5th Station

• Mie 1

• Osugidani Gorge

• Shiga 2

• Kyorinbo Temple
• Mt. Ibuki

• Kyoto 1

• Rurikoin Temple

• Nara 1

• Odaigahara

• Tottori 2

• Mitokusan Nageiredo
  Nageiredo trail closed from December to March (snow)
• Sand Museum
  Closed between exhibitions: the 2026 show ends Jan 3, 2027; the 2026 show opened Apr 24

• Tokushima 1

• Oku-Iya Double Vine Bridges
  Closed December to March

• Kagawa 1

• Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art (MIMOCA)

• Fukuoka 1

• Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden

• Saga 1

• Kunen-an

Partly closed or seasonal limits

• Hokkaido 7

• 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
• Kaminoko-ike Pond
• Lake Onneto
  Road beyond Meakan Onsen closed early Dec – early Apr; the lake can only be reached on snowshoes
• Lake Toyoni (Heart Lake)
• Matsumae Castle & Park
• Mt. Moiwa Night View (Sapporo)
  Closed for annual maintenance 29 Mar – 28 Apr 2027
• Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park
  Closed 27 Feb – 8 Mar

• Aomori 8

• Fujita Memorial Garden
  Garden closed Nov 24 to mid-April; only the Western house opens (9:00–16:30)
• Hirosaki Nakacho Samurai District
  Nov–Mar each house opens only 2–3 days a week; Umeda house closed Dec–Mar
• Hotokegaura
• Juniko Lakes (Aoike Pond)
  The Juniko bus runs only from about mid-April to the end of October
• Lake Towada
  Cruises and through buses do not run in winter (cruises roughly late Apr – early Nov)
• Memorial Ship Hakkoda-maru
  Closed Mon–Fri of the 2nd week of March
• Tatehana Wharf Morning Market
• Tsuta-numa Pond

• Iwate 4

• Hashino Iron Mining Site
• Narushima Bishamon-do (Mikumano Shrine)
  Statue viewing hours (9:00–16:30) are given for April–November only; check before a winter visit
• Takadachi Gikeido
  Closed in winter from Nov 21; the hall's site says it reopens in March, the Iwate tourism site says Mar 15
• Tono Furusato Village
  Closed on Wednesdays from January to mid-March

• Miyagi 1

• Naruko Gorge
  Gorge trails are closed from late November to late April

• Akita 5

• Hottai Falls
  The road from Sarukura closes for winter from late November (Nov 20 in 2025); reopening date not stated
• Isedotai Jomon Site
• Mt. Kampu Revolving Observatory
• Mt. Moriyoshi (Ani Gondola)
• Oyasukyo Gorge Daifunto
  Gorge path closed in winter (about early Nov to late April); view from the bridge

• Yamagata 2

• Uesugi Shrine (Matsugasaki Park)
  The Keishoden treasure hall is open from mid-March to November 25 (and on the Uesugi Snow Lantern Festival weekend in February); the shrine grounds are open all year
• Zao Onsen
  Zao Onsen Dai-rotenburo (big outdoor bath) is closed late Nov to mid-April; public baths stay open

• Fukushima 4

• Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum
• Maezawa Magariya Village
  The museum and facilities close for winter, from mid November to late April
• Mugenkyo Ferry
• Shingu Kumano Shrine Nagatoko
  December to March: open on weekends and holidays only

• Tochigi 2

• Mt. Nasu (Chausudake) & Nasu Ropeway
• Oya History Museum (Oya Stone Quarry)
  Closed Tuesdays Dec–Mar; closed Dec 26–Jan 3

• Gunma 1

• Fukiware Falls
  Closed in winter, usually mid-December to late March

• Saitama 1

• Tove Jansson Akebono Children's Forest Park

• Niigata 6

• 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)
• Mt. Yahiko (Ropeway and Summit Park)
• Oyashirazu Cliffs
  Western walking path closed Dec-Mar
• Ryugakubo Pond
• Shibata Castle
  Closed in winter (Dec-Mar); the exterior can still be seen

• Toyama 2

• Kaiwomaru Park & Shinminato Bridge
• Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design (TAD)

• Ishikawa 2

• Kaga Higashitani Hamlets
  Hard to visit in the snow season
• Shirayama Hime Shrine
  Treasure hall closed Dec–Mar (shrine open)

• Fukui 2

• Ikeda Kazura Bridge
• Maruoka Castle

• Yamanashi 3

• Itchiku Kubota Art Museum
  Mid-December to mid-March: open Sat–Mon and holidays only
• Mt. Mizugaki
• Shosenkyo Gorge
  Buses stop short of the gorge from December to March

• Nagano 3

• 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
• Ueda Castle Ruins Park
  Turrets closed from mid-November to March; the museum is closed over New Year

• Gifu 1

• Gandate Gorge (Gandate Park)

• Mie 1

• Akame 48 Waterfalls
  Closed Dec 28–31, and on Thursdays from January to the second week of March

• Shiga 4

• Biwako Terrace (Biwako Valley)
• MIHO MUSEUM
  Closed in winter (2026 autumn season ends Dec 6; 2027 spring season starts Mar 13); breaks between seasons
• Oku-Biwako Parkway
• Omihachiman Suigo Boat Tour

• Hyogo 1

• Tonomine Highlands

• Nara 1

• Mt. Wakakusa

• Tottori 1

• Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park
  Closed on Tuesdays in July-August and on some Tuesdays December-March; closed Dec 31

• Shimane 1

• Kuniga Coast (Oki Islands)
  Sightseeing boat not running Nov - mid-March

• Okayama 1

• Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art (Nagi MOCA)

• Hiroshima 2

• Sandankyo Gorge
  Autumn leaves late Oct - late Nov. Ferry boats do not run in winter (about Dec-Apr)
• Taishakukyo Gorge
  Lake cruise runs about mid-Mar to Nov (2026: Mar 20 - Nov 30)

• Tokushima 1

• Mt. Tsurugi
  Chairlift closed December to mid-April

• Ehime 2

• Mount Ishizuchi
  Snow from late Dec to early Mar (ski area); Ishizuchi Skyline closed Dec-Mar. Autumn colours peak Oct to early Nov
• Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum
  Closed for a period in Feb-Mar for exhibit changes

• Kochi 1

• Tosa Shrine

• Kumamoto 1

• Kikuchi Gorge
  December to March: no staff on site and the visitor center is closed. Paths can be icy.

• Kagoshima 2

• Izumi Crane Observation Center
  Open Nov 1 to the 2nd Sunday of March only
• Reimeikan Museum
  Dec 2026 – Apr 25, 2027: 2nd-floor permanent gallery closed for lighting work (1st and 3rd floors open)

Where to stay this month

• Tokyo 5 at their best within 60 km
• Fukuoka 5 at their best within 60 km
• Kyoto 2 at their best within 60 km

Onsen in March →

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