An official UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yoshinoyama's beauty, history, and notable pink color are unparalleled.  A number of poets dating back to the 10th century have referenced this mountain for the beautiful tiny flowers that cover it in the spring months.

The land is famous for growing an abundance of sakura or cherry blossom trees. The most recent record states there are over 30,000 trees planted on the slopes! The trees were planted deliberately at four separate groves, each at different altitudes, so that the flowers come into blooms at different times of the spring and so that people can view Mount Yoshino as a captivating pale pink peak for as long as possible. Mid April is usually when all the blossoms are in full bloom together.

Ropeway

Shimo Senbon – the lower area of the mountain – is accessible via Yoshino Station. There is a ropeway that takes visitors up the steep slope between the station and the town on the mountain, but the wait times can be as long as that of an amusement park rollercoaster during sakura season. An alternative is to walk up to the town, which can be an incredibly scenic miniature hike because of all the cherry blossoms lining the entire route.  

Naka Senbon

Naka Senbon is the middle area of the mountain. It houses Yoshino town shops, restaurants, and a few shrines and temples. Among those being the notable Kinpusenji Temple and Yoshimizu Shrine. Naka Senbon Park is also known for being a picturesque picnic spot. In the spring, a veil of fallen petals blanket the park’s many little hills, and a mixture of small and tall cherry blossom trees encircle the area.

The town here is the starting point of a pilgrimage trail to the sacred Mount Omine, and has been a place of Shugendo mountain worship for centuries. It has also served as a refuge for many people across history, including Emperor Go-Daigo of the 14th century.

Kami Senbon

Kami Senbon is a little higher up the mountain, and is for more ambitious hikers. The area is quieter but there are many rest stops along the path up. In this grove of the mountain exists the famous Hanayagura View Point, which provides a spectacular panoramic view of the Mount Yoshino below. It takes approximately an hour to get from the ropeway station at Naka Senbon to the view point.

Oku Senbon

Though this is the highest area of the mountain, it contains little to no cherry blossom trees and actually provides no view of the mountain below because it is so deep in the centre of the peak with lots of peripheral flat land.

Yoshinoyama is a beautiful, peaceful, and renowned landmark of Japan – be sure to stop by if you have the opportunity to visit Nara!