Tenshochi Cherry Blossoms

Tenshochi, along the banks of the Kitakami River in Hanamaki, is one of the most celebrated cherry blossom sites in the Tohoku region. Some 2,000 Yoshino cherry trees line both banks for about two kilometres, forming a tunnel of white-pink bloom in late April. The river reflects the blossoms, and in the evening the trees are lit from below, creating a spectacle that draws visitors from across the prefecture.

The site is best visited on foot from Hanamaki Station, a pleasant 30-minute walk along the river. The peak bloom period is typically the last week of April, though it varies by a week or more depending on the year. During the Tenshochi Cherry Blossom Festival, food stalls line the paths and traditional performances take place on riverside stages. Outside blossom season the riverside walk is still pleasant, with views of the mountains beyond the valley.

things to do sight
A story
The 2,000 trees lining the river were planted in the 1920s by a local agricultural official named Miyazawa Seijiro — no relation to the poet, despite sharing a surname. He spent years petitioning successive administrations to fund the planting, apparently without success, before doing much of the work himself and with volunteers. The result is considered one of the finest cherry blossom sites in the whole of Tohoku.