Sakura, Japan’s cherry blossoms on the Shimanami Kaido: Best spots & peak bloom

2025/12/15

This page introduces recommended cherry blossom spots along the Shimanami Kaido, including Hirakiyama and Sekizenyama, along with the best viewing and full-bloom periods.

Shimanami cycling in the springtime

A cycling journey to enjoy the four seasons

Connecting Onomichi in Honshu with Imabari in Shikoku, the Shimanami Kaido is a well-known cycling route that lets riders travel across islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea and enjoy cycling all year round thanks to its mild climate. The islands of the Seto Inland Sea show different faces with each season. In addition to local cuisine made with seasonal ingredients such as citrus fruits and seafood, you can also enjoy island, mountain, and seaside scenery, as well as trees and flowers, throughout the year.

Spring, in particular, is the season when the Shimanami Kaido attracts the largest number of cyclists and travelers throughout the year. Temperatures are comfortable, and there is relatively little rain during this period. It is also the peak season from March to May for the Shikoku Pilgrimage, a temple pilgrimage route. Many travelers from overseas deliberately choose this time of year for a cycling trip along the Shimanami Kaido. Of course, the main attraction is the breathtaking scenery of cherry blossoms in full bloom, one of the most iconic symbols of Japan.

The Shimanami Kaido area is home to many cherry blossom viewing spots, including Somei Yoshino and Kawazu-zakura (These are the types of cherry blossoms). During the high season, not only local residents but also visitors from farther away come to the islands to enjoy cherry blossom viewing. On this page, I highlight selected cherry blossom spots in the Shimanami Kaido area that are truly worth visiting during your trip. I have carefully chosen locations and also include information on hidden gems that are still not widely known.

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The best cherry blossom spots

I have carefully selected four cherry blossom spots in and around the Shimanami Kaido area that I especially recommend to travelers. All four locations are situated on mountain summits, so even outside the cherry blossom season, you can still enjoy breathtaking views unique to the Seto Inland Sea.

If you are a beginner cyclist planning to visit these spots using a rental bike, please allow plenty of time, as it can take a while to climb up to the summits. In particular, when descending on an unfamiliar bicycle, be sure to control your speed by braking carefully and watch out for falls.

① Hirakiyama Park (Hakatajima Island)

Cherry blossoms at Hirakiyama in full bloom in 2024: around April 7

My personal top recommendation for cherry blossom (Somei Yoshino) viewing along the Shimanami Kaido is the Hirakiyama Park Observatory on Hakatajima Island. Hirakiyama is pronounced “hiraki-yama.” The park is located on a mountain about 150 meters above sea level near the Omishima Bridge, and more than 1,000 cherry trees are planted here. There is an observatory near the center of the park, and the view of the Seto Inland Sea—featuring sights such as the Tatara Bridge and the Omishima Bridge seen through the cherry blossoms—is among the most beautiful on the Shimanami Kaido. The park is also popular with local residents for cherry blossom viewing, and during the peak season there can be a lot of traffic, so please take extra care when climbing or descending by bicycle. During the cherry blossom season, the road up the mountain becomes one-way.

Cherry Blossom Spot	Hirakiyama Park Observatory
Address	Ikata, Hakata-cho, Imabari City
Phone	0897-72-1500 (Imabari City Hall, Hakata Branch)
Highlights	A summit observatory with spectacular views that is relatively easy to climb even for beginners

② Sekizenyama (Iwagijima Island)

Cherry blossoms at Sekizenyama in full bloom in 2024: around April 7

Alongside Hirakiyama on Hakatajima Island, the Sekizenyama Observatory on Iwagijima Island along the Yumesaki Kaido is often considered one of the two greatest cherry blossom spots in the Shimanami Kaido area. Sekizenyama is pronounced “seki-zen.” The mountain originally had pine trees, but they were cut down around the middle of the Showa period. Cherry trees were planted in their place, and over the years, local residents steadily continued planting them to commemorate celebrations and special occasions. Today, more than 4,000 cherry trees of over 14 varieties bloom around the summit. The scenery is especially breathtaking along the 4-kilometer ridge stretching north toward Ikinajima Island, where rows of cherry blossoms continue with the Seto Inland Sea in the background. I believe this is truly one of the most iconic cherry blossom spots in the Seto Inland Sea region. During the season, visitors come from all over Japan for cherry blossom viewing, so there is heavy car traffic, and the road also becomes one-way during this period.

Cherry Blossom Spot	Sekizenyama Observatory
Address	Sekizenyama, Iwagi, Kamijima Town, Ochi District
Phone	0897-77-2252 (Kamijima Town Tourism Strategy Division)
Highlights	A must-see spot—one of the most representative cherry blossom locations in the Seto Inland Sea

You can check the cherry blossom blooming status on official websites. Because many of the well-known spots on the islands are located at slightly higher elevations, cherry blossoms in the island areas tend to bloom a few days later than on the Honshu or Shikoku mainlands. Blooming times can vary significantly from year to year, so I recommend checking the latest information before your visit.

③ Senkoji Park (Onomichi)

Cherry blossoms at Senkoji in full bloom in 2024: around April 8

Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture is the gateway to the Shimanami Kaido on the Honshu side. Senkoji Park, located on a hillside overlooking the town of Onomichi and Mukojima Island, is one of the city’s most famous tourist spots and can also be accessed by ropeway. The compact, almost miniature-like townscape of Onomichi and the ships traveling back and forth along the Onomichi Channel create a memorable view. While the park is popular with visitors year-round, it is also a well-known spring cherry blossom spot, with around 1,500 trees planted throughout the area. During the peak viewing period, paper lanterns are hung in the trees and lit up at night. If you are staying overnight in Onomichi before starting your Shimanami Kaido cycling trip, or if you finish your ride in Onomichi, I highly recommend visiting to enjoy the nighttime cherry blossoms and city lights. Senkoji Park in spring offers a truly magical atmosphere that is unique to Onomichi.

Cherry Blossom Spot	Senkoji Park
Address	19-1 Nishitsuchido-cho, Onomichi City
Phone	0848-38-9184 (Onomichi City Tourism Division)
Highlights	Seasonal illuminations offer stunning views of nighttime cherry blossoms and the Onomichi Channel

④ Umiyama Castle (Imabari)

Cherry blossoms at Umiyama Castle in full bloom in 2024: around April 6

This is a lesser-known cherry blossom spot, but I would like to introduce Umiyama Castle Park in Imabari City, the gateway to the Shimanami Kaido on the Shikoku side. The park is located on a 154-meter-high hill right next to the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, one of the most iconic bridges on the Shimanami Kaido. The site is said to have once housed a watchtower used by the Murakami navy to monitor the Kurushima Strait, and today there is an observatory at the summit modeled after a castle. Around 600 cherry trees are planted in the surrounding area, and the view of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge framed by cherry blossoms is something you can only see here. Even during the peak cherry blossom season, it is rarely crowded, making this a special place where you can relax and enjoy the gentle spring atmosphere in peace.

Cherry Blossom Spot	Umiyama Castle Observatory Park
Address	747-2 Higuchi, Namikata-cho, Imabari City
Phone	0898-41-7111 (Imabari City Hall, Naba Branch)
Highlights	A hidden gem offering spectacular views of the Kurushima Strait and cherry blossoms

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Best time to see sakura in full bloom

In general, the best time to see cherry blossoms in the Seto Inland Sea region is from late March to early April. Because the timing can shift by about a week depending on the year, I recommend checking the latest information on social media or websites before your visit. Below, I have summarized data on cherry blossom flowering and full bloom dates (Hiroshima and Matsuyama) published by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The flowering date is recorded based on the standard observation tree, when five to six blossoms have opened.

Cherry Blossom Flowering Dates

Year	Hiroshima	Matsuyama
2025	March 26	March 25
2024	March 25	March 27
2023	March 19	March 18
2022	March 21	March 21
2021	March 11	March 15
2020	March 24	March 25
2019	March 27	March 22
2018	March 25	March 19

Cherry Blossom Full Bloom Dates

Year	Hiroshima	Matsuyama
2025	April 2	March 30
2024	April 5	April 5
2023	March 28	March 28
2022	March 29	March 28
2021	March 25	March 27
2020	April 3	April 9
2019	April 3	April 5
2018	March 28	March 27

For reference, cherry blossoms at Sekizenyama on Iwagijima Island reached full bloom around April 7 in 2024, April 1 in 2023, and April 2 in 2022. Because Sekizenyama rises to over 300 meters above sea level, and due to factors unique to island environments such as ocean currents, full bloom here often occurs several days later than the dates announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency for Hiroshima and Matsuyama.

Maps you should get in advance

“CycloTourisme Shimanami," which has been active in cycle tourism and regional promotion for nearly 20 years along the Shimanami Kaido, publishes guidebooks and maps. The map is also available in English and is extremely popular as it is the most detailed cycling-specific map in this region.

This product comes with a set of seven maps, each with a fairly detailed map for each island. I believe that getting your hands on this map will change your experience here. It can be purchased on Amazon.co.jp, and you can also buy it locally at Guesthouse CYCLONOIE in front of Imabari Station.

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Find a good spot to see sakura while cycling

Along the cycling route

In addition to the four major cherry blossom spots introduced on this page, the islands of the Shimanami Kaido and the surrounding area are dotted with many small to medium-sized locations where you can enjoy beautiful cherry blossom scenery.

Even along the Shimanami Kaido cycling route itself, you may unexpectedly come across beautiful cherry blossom scenes while exploring by bicycle. Examples include the cycling road at Itoyama as it climbs toward the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, the Miyakubo Pass on Oshima Island, and the grounds of small shrines and temples tucked away in island villages.

Earlier in the season, the famous weeping cherry tree at Kyozenji Temple on Omishima Island is well worth seeing. There are also scattered spots featuring early-blooming Kawazu-zakura, such as Oozaki Hana in Imabari, Funakakushi Park on Innoshima Island, and along the Onomichi Channel in Onomichi. I hope you will come and enjoy a spring cherry blossom cycling trip on the Shimanami Kaido, and discover your own unforgettable cherry blossom views along the way.

On this page, I have introduced some of the best cherry blossom spots in the Shimanami Kaido area. I have also put together detailed cycling information about the Shimanami Kaido that can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to experienced cyclists on the page below, so I hope you will find it useful when planning your trip.