錦帯橋は日本三名橋の一つで、木造のアーチ型の橋です。
春は桜で橋の形の美しさがさらに増して、素晴らしい景色になります。

Kintaikyo Bridge, an arch-shaped wooden structure, is one of the three great bridges of Japan. In spring, the bridge is surrounded by sakura, which only adds to the splendor of this wonderful scenery.

「夙川」という川の両岸に南北2.7km・1660本の桜が植えられていて、とてもきれいです。
休日には川岸でお弁当を食べながらお花見をする人でいっぱいです。

Both the North and South sides of the Shukugawa River are planted with rows of sakura trees for 2.7 km. The 1,660 trees make a very beautiful spectacle. The banks of the river are always full of people enjoying their obento picnic lunches during the holidays.

樹齢推定400年の大木『伏姫桜』です。名前の由来は「南総里見八犬伝」の伏姫からとのこと。
１本だけですが、とても大きい木にたくさんの枝が広がって、
地面に届きそうな枝の先まで花でいっぱいになり、本当に見事です。
ソメイヨシノより開花が早く、そろそろ満開も近いので行かれる方はお早めに。

Jureisutei is a 400-year-old huge Fusehime species sakura tree. The name comes from the Fuchihime found in the Nansou Satomi Hakken Den Biography. It is only a single tree, but it is an enormous one with branches spreading in all directions, and even the branches that almost reach down to the ground are full of blossoms. It is an amazing sight.

This type of sakura tree blossoms earlier than the more popular Somei-yoshino sakura so even at this early point in the season it is almost in full bloom. If you want to enjoy it, get there early!

わたしのうちの近くには桜の名所があります。
以前はかくれた名所でしたが、いまはすっかり有名になってしまいました。
入苑料は少し高いですが、とてもきれいですよ。
多種類の桜が咲き乱れ、まさに「百花繚乱」です。 もう半月もすれば見ごろです!

There is a famous site for sakura near my home, Hyakka Ryoran. It used to be one of those secret hidden sites, but now it has become completely famous.

The entry price is a little expensive but the beauty inside makes it worth it. A large variety of Sakura species bloom all around, it really is as its name (lit., resplendence of all sorts of flowers) suggests. It would take half a month to see it all!

皇居を取り囲むように桜並木が続いていて、
シーズン中はものすごい人で溢れかえっています。
人をかき分けながら見る桜ですが、一見の価値はあるのでお勧めです。

The Imperial Palace is encircled by a continuous row of sakura trees. During the blossom-viewing season, it is overflowing with an incredible number of people. Although you have to wade through the throngs of other visitors to observe the sakura, it is definitely worth a viewing.

北海道には誰もが知る二つの桜の名所があります。
一つは新ひだか町の二十間道路、もう一つは松前町です。
二十間道路は、直線７キロに及ぶ道路の両側の桜並木が豪快で、北海道ならではの景色です。
道路の両側の桜と桜の間がちょうど二十間あります。花の種類はえぞ山桜です。
松前は、函館に近い道南の、松前城のある歴史的な町で、
ここには北海道では珍しいソメイヨシノもあります。

There are two sakura sites that almost everyone knows about in Hokkaido. One is along Shinbidaka Cho Town's Nijuukan Road, and the other is in Matsumae Machi.

Nijuuken Road, a straight 7-km road lined on both sides by sakura trees, is a splendid site that can only be found here in Hokkaido. The space between each of the trees on both sides of the road is exactly 20 ken (an old Japanese measure), or about 36 meters, hence the name. The species of blossoms is Ezoyama Sakura.

Matsumae Town is near Hakodate in the southern region of the island, a historical town in which you can also see Matsumae Castle. Here you can have rare viewing of Someiyoshino in Hokkaido.

なだらかな丘陵にどこまでも広がる芝生が、とても美しい公園です。
春には一帯が桜色に染まります。起伏のある散歩道を、昔、カレとよく歩きました・・・。
が、その人が夫となってからは、数えるほどしか行っていません。
今年は久しぶりに、満開の桜を愛でながらの～んびりと過ごしたいです！

This beautiful park is set on a gently sloping hill with an expansive lawn. In spring, the whole area seems to be dyed cherry blossom pink.

I used to the walk along the undulating path with my boyfriend... However, since he became my husband, I can count on one hand the number of times we've been back there! It has been a while, but this year we had a chance to admire the blossoms and spend a long relaxing afternoon.

新潟・やすらぎ堤の桜です。
日本一長い・信濃川の河口近くの堤防の左右に桜が植えられています。
遊歩道の整備されたその場所を『やすらぎ堤』といいます。
みんなが気楽に楽しめる名所です。

Niigata Yasuragitei's sakura are found along the banks of both sides of the estuary of Shinanogawa River, the longest river in Japan. The well-kept promenade found here is known as Yasuragitei. It is a place where everyone can relax and enjoy the scenery.

群馬県は山に囲まれていますので、桜の名所はたくさんあります。
その中で、「前橋南面千本桜」はとても有名なところです。
道に沿って、約１０００本の桜が植えられており、
満開時には、見事な桜のトンネルになります。

Gunma Prefecture is flanked by mountains on all sides, so there are a number of famous places to look at sakura. One of these is Maebashi, a very famous spot. About 1,000 sakura trees are planted along the road; during full bloom, these trees form a must-see tunnel of cherry blossoms.

ここは造幣局（日本のお金（硬貨）やオリンピックのメダルを作っているところ）の
構内にあります。 1883年から一般の人にも入れるようになりました。
毎年4月の1週間だけ入ることができます。夜はライトアップがあります。
５６０ｍの道を歩きながら、１２０種類３７０本の日本全国の桜を見ることが出来ます。
平日の昼間は混んでいないので、おすすめですよ！

These are the grounds of the National Mint, where Japan's money and memorial coins are minted. It has been open to the public since 1883. We can enter for one week only every year in April. The nighttime offers a glowing spectacle. As you walk along the 560-meter road, you look at 120 species of cherry blossom trees, all in all 370 trees collected from around the country.

⑫  弘前城を囲む公園内には、ソメイヨシノを中心に、シダレザクラなど約50種類2600本の桜が咲くそうです。 桜祭の最中は公園内で「津軽三味線」のライブも行われていて、桜の下で聞く「津軽じょんがら」は最高でした。 津軽じょんがら（視聴できます）

⑬  映画で見たシダレザクラがあまりにも美しかったので、 どうしても見たくなって行きました。行った時期が遅くて葉桜しか見ることができませんでしたが、 たくさん残っている武家屋敷を見ながら通り歩くと昔の日本にタイムスリップしたような気がしました。 ぜひもう一度訪れて咲いているところを見たいと思っています。

In Hirosagi Park around Hirosagi Castle, there are 2,600 Sakura trees of 50 species (although mainly the Someiyoshino species). During the Sakura festival season there is a performance of Tsugaru shamisen. Listening to their rendition of "Jyongara" under a Sakura tree is simply the best. Listen to Jyongara here.

I saw these species of Shidare Sakura in a movie and just had to go and see for myself. When we went though, we were a little late so we only saw the trees leafing. However, we enjoyed walking around the preserved samurai residences and felt as though we had taken a time trip back into ancient Japan. I would really love to go again, hopefully when the trees are in full bloom.