I write about Fukushima a good quantity, and never simply because I wish to proceed debunking doubtful claims about it being “radioactive.” It’s certainly one of Japan’s most attention-grabbing prefectures, and in addition the best to discover, being lower than two hours from Tokyo through Shinkansen.
Nevertheless, regardless of the truth that I’ve come right here many instances through the years, one place continued to evade me till not too long ago. And mockingly, it was the place I needed to go to most.
I’m speaking, after all, about Fukushima Hanamiyama. The excellent news? It greater than lives as much as its title, which accurately means “flower viewing mountain” in Japanese. The higher information? You don’t have to attend almost so long as I did to take your personal journey right here.
Why Hanamiyama Evaded Me for So Lengthy
I initially deliberate to go to the Fukushima sakura mountain in 2020, as a part of what would have been my most intensive cherry blossom journey to Japan to that date. Sadly, as you may keep in mind, Japan closed its borders proper as that yr’s season was starting. By the point it reopened three years later, I had different locations that I needed to go to (or, by that time revisit—I missed lots of my favorites) that Hanamiyama had fallen by the wayside.
It took me a pair years of refamiliarizing myself with lots of Japan’s elementary locations and experiences—not not like how somebody who’s rusty at poker or blackjack may want knowledgeable picks to push them in path of the precise on-line casinos—to get again to the place I’d been when the pandemic hit. Fortunately, this made my eventual first journey to the mountain (which passed off in April 2025) all of the sweeter than it would’ve been 5 years earlier.
Spend a Day at Hanamiyama Park
Discover your strategy to Fukushima Station
For the overwhelming majority of vacationers, the journey to Hanamiyama begins at Fukushima Station. Right here, shuttle buses can take you to the doorway of the park in about quarter-hour one-way. Whether or not arriving through Shinkansen or native prepare, don’t fret—signage indicating the place to catch the bus could be very clear and apparent.
Don’t trouble renting a automobile
I personally had a rental automobile throughout my journey to see the Fukushima cherry blossoms, however not with a view to go to Hanamiyama. Relatively, I deliberate to journey between Aizu-Wakamatsu and the Fukushima coast, and simply occurred to cease in Fukushima Metropolis on the best way. Nevertheless, you possibly can’t park on-site, so there isn’t a sense in renting a automobile for the aim of coming right here.
(You’ll should take a bus anyway)
When you do have a automobile, nonetheless, merely set your GPS for the doorway to Hanamiyama. You possibly can’t park there, as I discussed earlier, however on the best way you may be pressured to park on the official on-site lot that’s been arrange throughout cherry blossom season. Somebody will actually be blocking the highway that might in any other case lead you on to the path.
Be curious and adventurous
As you get off the shuttle bus and start mountaineering, you’ll discover not solely varied species of cherry blossoms (together with the weeping shidarezakura and the brilliant pink yamazakura), however different flowers, together with peach blossoms, plum blossoms and yellow rapeseed flowers. There’s much more than meets the attention, so method with curiosity and adventurousness.
Plan on spending not less than half a day right here
There are additionally a number of different trails right here, apart from the “official” one which most individuals go to, a few of which go up a lot greater and have higher views of Fukushima Metropolis under. I’d advocate spending not less than half the day right here, with a view to expertise all of the pleasant flower viewing on supply on the mountain.
Sure, Fukushima is Secure
There’s no measurable nuclear radiation in Fukushima Metropolis—I do know this as a result of there are radiation counters in every single place! Sadly for me, I did fall sufferer to a different sort of radiation (the photo voltaic sort) on my journey to Hanamiyama. I forgot to put on SPF lip balm, and ended up having burnt (and, later, blistered) lips for a number of days after leaving Fukushima. It was not a great look, and I’m glad my journey was principally over after that.
In different phrases, whenever you ask the query “is Fukushima protected?”, the reply is sure—after all. Now, there’s one exception to this, i.e. the world throughout the exclusion zone instantly across the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Energy Plant. However that is small and shrinking, and is actually off-limits anyway. When you can entry someplace in Fukushima with out actually crawling by barbed wire to achieve it, you possibly can ensure that it’s utterly protected.
Different FAQ About Visiting Fukushima’s Sakura Mountain
How a lot does it value to go to Hanamiyama Park?
Hanamiyama itself doesn’t cost an entry payment, although you’ll have to pay the value of a shuttle bus (round ¥500 round-trip), plus parking in case you drove your personal automobile to get right here. Regardless, it is a very low-cost tour to make, which makes it a fair sweeter one than it would in any other case be.
Is Fukushima Metropolis value visiting?
Fukushima Metropolis is way from probably the most thrilling vacation spot in Fukushima prefecture, with lots of its high locations being nearer to cities like Koriyama and Aizu-Wakamatsu. With this being stated, I do really feel like Fukushima is value visiting, significantly in case you’re capable of go to in spring when Hanamiyama Park is in bloom.
How lengthy ought to I spend at Hanamiyama Park?
I like to recommend spending not less than half a day at Hanamiyama Park. It is because there are different flower mountains (i.e. hanamiyama) away from the principle park space, and due to the size of the paths it’s a must to stroll and the modifications in elevation concerned, you want time to cowl all that floor.
The Backside Line
Fukushima Hanamiyama was completely definitely worth the years I waited to examine it off my bucket checklist, even when I don’t advocate you placing it off so lengthy. Regardless of flying underneath the radar in comparison with different cherry blossom locations like Nara’s Mount Yoshino, Hanamiyama is among the finest locations in Japan to see spring flowers—and never simply sakura. Furthermore, its lack of notoriety implies that it’s comparatively uncrowded, though it is best to observe that phrase could be very a lot out amongst native Japanese and another Asian vacationers. Want personalised assist incorporating Fukushima into your subsequent Japan journey? Take into account hiring me to plan your Japan itinerary!