Written by Rebecca Milner
Hadano, in Kanagawa Prefecture, boasts an exceptionally long cherry blossom promenade.
What happens?
Hadano Sakura Michi stretches 6.2 km and is lined with hundreds of cherry trees. There are more cherry trees along the riverbank in front of the Hadano Culture Park and during the Hadano Sakura Festival, these trees will be illuminated from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
But the best part is the illuminations in the mountains (well, hills really) a short hike above town. Koboyama Park, at the top of Mt Kobo (235m), has lots of sakura trees (plus, if you’re lucky, Mt Fuji views). The path running from the top of Mt. Kobo to adjacent Mt. Gongen is also lined with cherry trees and the Mt. Gongen Observation Deck and Mt. Kobo Plaza will also be illuminated.
Sakura taxi
There will also be a special sakura taxi to take you to all the main cherry blossom spots, operating between March 7 and April 19.
The service uses local taxi companies’ time-based fare system, so passengers can tour the city at their own pace without dealing with crowds, and can either plan their own route or use a suggested model course. During the campaign period, the first 100 people to book in advance will receive a bottle of Hadano spring water, sightseeing pamphlets including a sakura map and a ¥200 discount coupon for Tsurumaki Onsen Kōbō no Sato-yu and Meisui Hadano Fujimi no Yu.
Fares start from ¥3,640 per 30 minutes for a standard taxi carrying up to four people, rising to ¥4,020 per 30 minutes from March 16, 2026. Booking is required in advance, and the taxi company depends on your departure station: Hadano Kōtsū serves Shibusawa and Hadano stations, Kanachu Taxi serves Shibusawa, Hadano and Tōkai Daigaku-mae, and Aizuru Taxi serves Tōkai Daigaku-mae and Tsurumaki Onsen.
Schedule
The dates may shift around, depending on the blooming situation.
Nightly illuminations will take place from March 20 to April 12 (6 to 9 p.m.). There will also be a bread festival on March 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How to get there
Odakyu Line trains from Shinjuku run to Hadano in just over an hour (if you catch the rapid express) and costs ¥700 each way.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Always check official sites before heading to an event.
