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E-mail Newsletter "HIGHLIGHTING Japan"
https://www.gov-online.go.jp/hlj/en/


VOL. 203 (SPRING SPECIAL ISSUE 2025)

◆VARIOUS VARIETIES OF CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN JAPAN (PART 2): ADMIRING THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS AT CASTLES IN JAPAN◆

The cherry blossom, or sakura, is one of Japan’s most representative flowers. There are famous cherry blossom viewing sites all over the country. Among them, scenes of cherry blossoms at castles and parks built on castle ruins are widely popular among Japanese people.
The blossoms make a beautifully harmonious picture against the historical buildings and stone walls that have survived or been rebuilt.
This issue of HIGHLIGHTING Japan is devoted to the cherry trees that bloom at various castles and castle ruins around Japan. Featured in this issue are: Hirosaki Park, the site of Hirosaki Castle, where about 2,600 cherry trees of 52 varieties show all their glorious blossoms in spring; Himeji Castle, a site registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site where over 1,000 cherry trees bloom; and Kumamoto Castle Park, home to Kumamoto Castle, which has been undergoing reconstruction work since a 2016 earthquake.

●The History and Charm of Cherry Blossoms Decorating Famous Castles in Spring
(Interview with ASADA Nobuyuki, Secretary General of the Japan Cherry Blossom Association.)

●A Renowned Cherry Blossom Spot in Japan, Preserved Alongside Hirosaki Castle
(Introducing the cherry blossoms of Hirosaki Castle in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, where 2,600 trees of 52 varieties bloom beautifully in spring, offering visitors an extended period of enjoyment as they reach their peak at different times.)

●Cherry Blossoms at Odawara Castle, with Over 500 Years of History
(Introducing the cherry blossoms of Odawara Castle, a symbol of Odawara City in Kanagawa Prefecture, where about 300 cherry trees bloom magnificently in spring.)

●Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Festival, a Tradition Cherished by Local Residents, Celebrates 100th Anniversary
(Introducing the cherry blossoms of Takada Castle Park in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, which boasts around 4,000 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees, and the Cherry Blossom Festival, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025.)

●Admire the Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom in the Expansive Park Where Kanazawa Castle Stands
(Introducing the beautiful cherry blossoms that bloom along the stone walls of Kanazawa Castle in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, which are illuminated at night.)

●Enjoy The Magnificent View of the World Heritage Site Himeji Castle and Cherry Blossoms in Harmony
(Introducing the over 1,000 cherry trees along what is known as a ‘cherry blossom corridor,’ which bloom around the National Treasure Himeji Castle in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.)

●Tsuyama Castle in Spring, When Cherry Blossoms Bloom Like a Sea of Clouds
(Introducing the cherry blossoms of Tsuyama Castle in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, one of western Japan’s most famous cherry blossom spots, where the view of the blooming cherry blossoms from the castle is often compared to a sea of clouds.)

●Enjoying the Cherry Blossoms at Kumamoto Castle as Reconstruction Advances
(Introducing the cherry blossoms around Kumamoto Castle, an iconic symbol of Kumamoto City, which flourished as a castle town, featuring around 560 cherry trees.)

■POLICY-RELATED NEWS
(Abductions of Japanese Citizens by North Korea)

■SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(Newly Developed Advanced CVT Belt Reduces CO2 Emissions)

■DISCOVERING JAPAN THROUGH THE EYES OF JAPANESE INFLUENCERS
(Exploring Japan’s Railway Culture)

■TREASURES OF JAPANESE CULTURE
(A Variety of Lacquer Creations for Contemporary Living)

■BACK COVER
THE BEAUTY OF JAPANESE SWORDS
(Short Sword Mounting with Peony Metal Fittings and Plum-Blossom Ray Skin Scabbard)

https://www.gov-online.go.jp/hlj/en/may_2025/

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