Uda City has many great cherry blossom spots. Find your favorite one!
Uda City’s Best 12 Cherry Blossom Spots
1. Matabei Zakura
This 300-year-old weeping cherry tree has a height of 13 meters and a width of 3 meters. This is one of the most popular cherry trees in Nara Prefecture, and about 70 thousand people come see this magnificent cherry tree every year. The name of this tree comes from ‘Matabei Goto’, a military commander in the Sengoku period who is believed to have lived in this area. A cherry blossom festival is held during the blooming period.
| Blooming Season |
Early April |
| Species |
Weeping cherry tree |
| Location |
Ouda-Hongo, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-2156 <Map> |
| Access |
From Kintetsu Haibara Station, take a bus bound for ‘Ouda’. Get off at ‘Ouda High School’ and walk for 15 minutes. |
| Parking |
Yes |
| Entrance Fee |
100 yen per person (for tree maintenance fee) |
2. Sennen Zakura at Butsuryu-ji Temple
This 900-year-old cherry tree is the oldest one in Nara Prefecture, and has been designated as a natural treasure. Being the subspecies of ‘Edo-Higan Zakura’ and ‘Yama-Zakura’ (wild cherry tree), this Sennen Zakura is considered very important from an academic standpoint. Night illumination is held during the blooming period.
| Blooming Season |
Mid-April |
| Species |
Subspecies of Edo-Higan Zakura and Yama-Zakura |
| Location |
1684 Haibara-Akabane, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-0213 <Map> |
| Access |
From Kintetsu Haibara Station, take a bus bound for ‘Sonimura Yakuba’. Get off at ‘Takai’ and walk for 40 minutes. |
| Parking |
Yes |
| Entrance Fee |
Free, but 200 yen to enter the temple |
3. Ono-ji Temple
This temple is known for its two old weeping cherry trees called ‘Koito-Shidare Zakura’, both of which are believed to be 300 years old. In the temple ground stand ten ‘Beni-Shidare’ weeping cherry trees too. Across from the temple is one of Japan’s biggest ‘Magaibutsu’ (a huge Buddha statue carved into the rock, with a height of 13.8m.) and it is lit up at night as well as the cherry trees during the blooming period.
-These trees are currently under treatment due to diseases.
| Blooming Season |
Early April |
| Species |
‘Koito-Sidare’ weeping cherry trees, ‘Beni-Shidare’ weeping cherry trees |
| Location |
1680 Murou-Ono, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-0315 <Map> |
| Access |
5-minute walk from Kintetsu Murouguchi-Ono Station |
| Parking |
Yes |
| Entrance Fee |
300 yen |
4. Saiko-ji Temple
This 300-year-old weeping cherry tree is believed to be the parent tree of the ones at Ono-ji Temple. This cherry tree and the ancient temple make a great contrast, which attracts many photographers. A cherry blossom festival and night illumination are held during the blooming period.
| Blooming Season |
Mid-April |
| Species |
Weeping cherry tree |
| Location |
31 Murou, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-0421 <Map> |
| Access |
From Kintetesu Murouguchi-Ono Station, take a bus bound for Murou-ji. Get off at the final stop and walk for 30 minutes. |
| Parking |
Yes (nearby community center’s parking lot is available) |
5. Mikumari Zakura
100 cherry trees are planted along the riverbank near the Udano Mikumari Shrine. Night illumination is held during the blooming period, and cherry blossoms are beautifully reflected on the river.
| Blooming Season |
Early April |
| Species |
Somei-Yoshino, row of cherry blossom trees |
| Location |
Utano-Furuichiba, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-2226 <Map> |
| Access |
From Kintetsu Haibara Station, take a bus bound for ‘Utano’. Get off at ‘Furuichiba’ and walk for 2 minutes. |
| Parking |
Yes (Nearby parking lot for Udano Mikumari Shrine and World Maple Park ‘Hirara’ is available) |
6. Goshin-ji Temple
This 200-year-old weeping cherry tree is spreading out its branches like wings. As the temple is located on a hill, you can look down on the rural village below. This graceful cherry tree is worth a see!
| Blooming Season |
Mid-April |
| Species |
Weeping cherry tree |
| Location |
225 Haibara-Jimyo, Uda City, Nara Prefecture <Map> |
| Access |
From Kintetsu Haibara Station, take a bus bound for ‘Higashiyoshino-mura’. Get off at ‘Jimyo’ and walk for 15 minutes. |
| Parking |
Yes |
7. Uchimaki Kumin-no-Mori
In this park, 500 cherry trees grow around Dake Shrine, which looks like a ‘sea of clouds’. From the observatory on the hill, you can enjoy a superb mountainous view.
| Blooming Season |
Mid-April |
| Species |
Weeping cherry tree |
| Location |
Haibara-Uchimaki, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-0215 <Map> |
| Access |
From Kintetsu Haibara Station, take a bus bound for ‘Higashiyoshinomura-Yakuba’. Get off at ‘Uchimaki Nishiguchi’ and walk for 30 minutes. |
| Parking |
Yes |
8. Kariji-no-Sakura
Uda River is lined with cherry trees for about 2 km, which creates stunning sight. It is fun to stroll along the river. During the blooming season, these trees are beautifully lit up at night.
| Blooming Season |
Mid-April |
| Species |
Somei-Yoshino |
| Location |
Haibara-Shimoidani, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-0241 <Map> |
| Access |
10-minute walk from Kintetsu Haibara Station |
| Parking |
No |
9. Iwahashi-no-Sakura
The riverbank is lined with cherry blossoms for 1 km. During the blooming period, carp streamers fly above the cherry blossoms, which creates wonderful scenery. Local specialty food including ‘Kusa-mochi’ (mugwort rice cake) is offered at the restaurant run by locals, which is open only during the blooming season.
| Blooming Season |
Early April |
| Species |
Somei-Yoshino |
| Location |
Utano-Iwahashi, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-2214 <Map> |
| Access |
From Kintetsu Haibara Station, take a bus bound for ‘Utano’. Get off at ‘Matsui-bashi’ and walk for 40 minutes. |
| Parking |
No |
10. Gokuraku-ji Temple
This weeping cherry tree is estimated to be 300 years old. From the hill, you can look down on the rural village of Murou-Ohara.
| Blooming Season |
Early April |
| Species |
Weeping cherry tree |
| Location |
Murou-Ohara, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-0204 <Map> |
| Access |
15-minute drive from Hari IC on Meihan Expressway |
| Parking |
Yes (Nearby community center’s parking lot is available) |
11. Tenyaku-ji Temple
This weeping cherry tree is believed to be 350 years old. There used to be a main building built in the 11th century, but it was lost in the fire. Since then, locals have been trying to rebuild it.
| Blooming Season |
Early April |
| Species |
Weeping cherry tree |
| Location |
Ouda-Hasama, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-2166 <Map> |
| Access |
From Kintetsu Haibara Station, take a bus bound for ‘Ouda’. Get off at ‘Ouda High School’ and walk for 20 minutes. |
| Parking |
No |
12. Murou-ji Temple
Murou-ji is well-known for its rhododendron flowers that decorate the temple ground in late April to early May, but it is also a great cherry blossom spot as well.
| Blooming Season |
Early April |
| Species |
Weeping cherry tree |
| Location |
78 Murou, Uda City, Nara Prefecture 633-0421 <Map> |
| Access |
From Kintetsu Muroguchi-Ono Station, take a bus bound for Murou-ji. Get off at the final stop and walk for 5 minutes. |
| Parking |
Yes |
