In recent years, I’ve been on something of a crusade to promote some of Japan’s lesser-known cherry blossom spots. You see, now that the pandemic is well behind us, places like Yoyogi Park and Chidorigafuchi are so painfully packed with both locals and tourists that it’s nearly impossible to enjoy them. Rather than marveling at the majesty of Japan’s iconic blossoms, you’ll find yourself more concerned with not getting trampled when visiting these popular sites. Luckily, I’ve got you covered when it comes to springtime hidden gems.
Today, we’ll be taking a look at just one of these locales. Known as the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue, this hidden gem can be found southeast of Kumagaya in northern Saitama Prefecture. Now, sure — shots of demure Gram girlies daintily making their way across the three-kilometer-long rivulet via the series of stone steps (like the one seen above) do occasionally pop up on social media, as seen here in my friend Ayane’s post. That said, the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue has somehow managed to stay under the radar — at least as far as inbound tourists are concerned.
When it comes to secluded springtime spots in Saitama, I’ve covered places like Chichibu’s Senbonzakura of Torayama (a bit of a pilgrimage for cosplayers) on this blog that are a bit trickier to access. Thankfully, the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue is extremely easy to reach, making it perfect for a day trip from Tokyo or a quick stop on the way to somewhere else. This flexibility — combined with the absence of the legions you’d encounter at more popular sites — is one of the main reasons I’d recommend it to anyone visiting in early April.
How to Get There
Before I disclose the most photogenic spots along the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue, allow me to take a quick detour to cover some key logistics. First things first, you’ll want to make your way to Fukiage Station in Saitama’s city of Konosu via the Takasaki Line. If you’re coming from Tokyo, I recommend shelling out a few extra yen for a Green Car seat. This line is popular with Japanese commuters traveling in and out of the city, and the upgrade guarantees you a seat for the journey up to the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue.
If you happen to have a rail pass that covers unlimited rides on bullet trains passing through Kumagaya Station, there’s another option: take the Shinkansen up to Kumagaya and then transfer to the Takasaki Line down to Fukiage Station. While slightly faster, I’d only suggest this route to those already holding a pass — it’s not worth shaving off a few minutes if you need to pay the Shinkansen fare out of pocket. You’re better off just taking the slower Takasaki Line up to Fukiage Station.
In any case, use a service like Jorudan to figure out the fastest way for you to get to Fukiage Station. From there, the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue is just a short 5–10-minute walk away. Exit the station via the northern gate and head straight down the main street until you come across a bridge spanning the Motoara River. It should be easy enough to find on your own, but I’ll leave you with the Google Map embeded above in case you’d like to drop a pin for easy navigation.
Getting Your Gram Shots
When it comes to the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue, there isn’t really one specific thing you come here to do, per se. Unlike somewhere like Mt. Yoshino in Nara, which boasts a long historical legacy, Saitama’s Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue is more about soaking in the atmosphere as you leisurely stroll along the riverside. The path is lined with roughly 500 cherry trees stretching about three kilometers, forming a tunnel-like canopy that’s especially magical when the petals begin to fall. Frankly, it’s easy to see why this stretch earned a place among Japan’s top 700 cherry blossom viewing locations.
One thing I will say is that you’ll want to keep an eye out for the river crossings pictured at the top of this article, as they’re one of the shots that those in the know come here to this part of Saitama Prefecture to snap. You see, in addition to the bridges that span the river every 500 meters or so, there are also these adorable stone crossings scattered throughout the length of the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue. Especially when taken from above, they make for an awesome angle — if you can frame your subject just right.
Though there are plenty of potential locations to snap that perfect Instagram shot, I found the most photogenic angle to be a set of stones near the Sakurabashi bridge. I’ll drop a Google Map link so you can easily find the spot, but it should be pretty obvious — chances are you’ll spot at least one model-photographer duo already trying to capture the ideal snap. While you might have to wait your turn for that specific shot, not to worry — there are plenty of less-contested vantage points along the river that are just as beautiful.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that the locals occasionally put on evening illuminations during peak bloom. If you don’t have anywhere important to be and don’t mind hanging around until after sundown, you’ll be treated to Japan’s iconic springtime blossoms bathed in soft, romantic lighting. It’s truly one of the best ways to experience the cherry blossoms — something many foreign tourists sadly miss out on simply because they don’t venture out after dark to see the trees in a different light.
Other Nearby Attractions
As alluded to in the opening sections, there are a lot of awesome spots for cherry blossom viewing in this part of the greater Tokyo region. In fact, I recently did an epic outing to several of them while squeezing in some freelance digital marketing work on the train. I began by taking the Takasaki Line up to the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue. After thoroughly exploring the cherry blossom-lined banks of this amazing springtime hidden gem, I made my way back to Fukiage Station and caught the train a few stops over to the city of Kumagaya.
Once in Kumagaya, I walked from the station down to the Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi. Situated just a stone’s throw from Kumagaya Station, this two-kilometer-long stretch of cherry blossoms and nanohana (rapeseed flowers) runs along the banks of the Arakawa. As you can see in the image here, the contrast between the soft pink of the cherry blossoms and the vibrant yellow of the nanohana creates a truly unforgettable scene — especially when set against a crisp blue sky. Though the areas where food stalls congregate do see a decent number of people, you can still find sections all to yourself.
From the Kumagaya Sakura Tsutsumi, I walked over to Ishiwara Station on the Chichibu Railway. From there, I took the train deep into the mountains of Chichibu and made a beeline for Hitsujiyama Park. Though better known for its shibazakura — or “moss phlox” in English — this park is also a great cherry blossom spot, with a number of weeping cherry trees that are simply stunning when set against the backdrop of Mt. Buko. From there, I did a bit more work in Chichibu before heading to the onsen in the station and taking the last Laview limited express train back to Tokyo.
Anyway, before I spend too much time belaboring the point, just know that there are tons of ways to keep the cherry blossom adventure going after visiting the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue. For example, if you have a regional rail pass, you could head back to Kumagaya Station and jet over to Ueda Castle. Likewise, Gunma’s Mt. Myogi is also enchanting at this time of year. Given how flexible the Motoara River Cherry Blossom Avenue is, it’s definitely a springtime stop worth considering!
Until next time travelers…
