Akagi South Senbonzakura is one of Maebashi’s best-known cherry blossom destinations, located in the Miyagi area at the southern foot of Mount Akagi in Gunma Prefecture. It has been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Japan” by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association and attracts many visitors from Gunma and beyond every spring.
Approximately 1,400 Somei Yoshino cherry trees are planted along the gentle slopes of Mount Akagi’s southern foothills, at elevations ranging from about 430 to 700 meters. When the trees reach full bloom, their branches spread over the road to form a beautiful pale-pink tunnel of cherry blossoms extending for approximately 1.3 kilometers.
The history of Akagi South Senbonzakura dates back to a three-year greening project that began in 1956.
Local residents worked together to plant Somei Yoshino cherry trees along the road connecting National Route 353 with Chuji Onsen. These trees gradually grew over many decades and have since become one of the area’s most recognizable landscapes.
Akagi South Senbonzakura is not simply a tourist attraction. It is also a cherished local landscape that has been carefully nurtured and protected by the surrounding community.
Today, local groups including the Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori Park Preservation Association continue year-round maintenance, including pruning and fertilizing the cherry trees and removing weeds from the moss phlox. These ongoing efforts help preserve the beautiful cherry blossom avenue for future generations.
More than 1,400 Somei Yoshino cherry trees, many of them over 60 years old, line approximately 1.3 kilometers of the municipal road.
When the blossoms are at their peak, the branches spread overhead to form a soft pink arch. Walking beneath the trees feels like passing through a natural tunnel made entirely of flowers.
Because the route covers a range of elevations, the blooming period can vary slightly from one location to another. This allows visitors to enjoy beautiful cherry blossom scenery over a somewhat longer period.
On clear days, the pale colors of the cherry blossoms create a striking contrast with the blue sky. On cloudy days, the scenery takes on a softer and more subdued atmosphere, offering a different kind of beauty.
During the Akagi South Senbonzakura Festival, held every April, the cherry trees are also illuminated at night. From sunset until around 9:30 p.m., the blossoms are softly lit, creating a magical nighttime cherry blossom landscape.
Adjacent to Akagi South Senbonzakura, Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori Park is home to approximately 500 cherry trees representing 37 varieties.
The “World and Japanese Cherry Blossoms Zone,” developed in 2013, allows visitors to see a wide variety of cherry blossoms in one location. Walking through the park and comparing the different flower shapes, colors, and blooming patterns is one of its attractions.
In spring, rapeseed flowers bloom beneath the cherry trees, creating a vivid contrast between the soft pink blossoms and bright yellow flowers. The colorful landscape is also a popular setting for photography.
The park is also home to moss phlox planted through a local initiative known as the “Let’s Expand Moss Phlox” movement. In spring, the flowers spread across the ground to create a colorful landscape quite different from the overhead cherry blossom avenue.
The park remains attractive after the main cherry blossom season has ended. From early to late May, Japanese azaleas bloom in vivid reddish-orange colors, while red spider lilies come into bloom from late September to early October.
Visitors may also have the opportunity to see white red spider lilies, which are relatively uncommon in Gunma Prefecture. Their appearance in autumn creates a landscape with a completely different character from the spring scenery.
The Akagi South Senbonzakura Festival is held every April and attracts more than 100,000 visitors.
During the festival, a local market offers regional foods and specialty products, while visitors can enjoy traditional performing arts, stage performances, street entertainment, and other events.
Families, photography enthusiasts, and visitors of all ages can spend a spring day enjoying the cherry blossoms, sampling local flavors, and experiencing the culture of the surrounding community.
Akagi South Senbonzakura is located in Naegashima, Miyagi, Maebashi, on the southern slopes of Mount Akagi. The surrounding area retains abundant natural scenery, with attractions such as the historic Sanyazawa Akagi Shrine located nearby.
The area is worth visiting beyond the cherry blossom season as well. Fresh green foliage appears in early summer, red spider lilies add color in autumn, and the clear, crisp air of winter offers a completely different atmosphere.
From Ogo Station on the Jomo Line operated by Jomo Electric Railway, the site is approximately 20 minutes away by local bus or taxi. Nearby bus stops include Senbonzakura Baseball Stadium Parking Lot and Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry.
Akagi South Senbonzakura is approximately 30 minutes from Isesaki Interchange on the Kita-Kanto Expressway and approximately 40 minutes from Akagi Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
During the cherry blossom festival, traffic restrictions and parking restrictions may be introduced. Some parking areas that are normally available may also be closed or subject to different rules, so it is advisable to check the latest traffic and access information before visiting.
Akagi South Senbonzakura is a celebrated cherry blossom destination known for its approximately 1.3-kilometer tunnel of Somei Yoshino trees and the long history of care provided by the local community.
At the adjacent Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori Park, visitors can also enjoy numerous varieties of cherry blossoms, rapeseed flowers, moss phlox, Japanese azaleas, and red spider lilies, allowing the area to be appreciated through several seasons.
Surrounded by the beautiful natural scenery of Mount Akagi’s southern foothills, Akagi South Senbonzakura is a wonderful place to walk beneath the blossoms and experience the arrival of spring in Gunma. When visiting Maebashi, it is a seasonal destination well worth adding to your itinerary.
30 minutes by car from Isesaki IC on Kita-Kanto Expressway
35 minutes by car from the Akagi IC of the Kanetsu Expressway