Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Gunma: 1 km Cherry Blossom Tunnel

Ibaraki Tochigi Gunma Saitama Chiba Tokyo Kanagawa

Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura in Maebashi, Gunma is a 1 km cherry blossom tunnel of ~1,000 trees on Mt Akagi's south slope. Spring festival in early-to-mid April.

Highlights

Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Overview: Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura runs along the southern slope of Mt. Akagi near Maebashi, creating a cherry blossom tunnel that’s popular for a hanami drive.
1,000 Cherry Blossom Tunnel Scale: Around 1,000 Somei Yoshino trees stretch for about 1.3 km, and at full bloom the contrast with a blue sky is great for photos.
Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Festival Fun: The Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Festival adds food stalls (yakimanju, Joshu beef skewers, okirikomi) and stage events to enjoy.
Night Illumination: Illumination is typically from sunset to 21:30 during the festival period, offering a different feel for an evening cherry blossom walk.
How to Get There: There are ways to reach the area from Maebashi Station. During the festival, shuttle buses from Maebashi Station may run on select days (dates and fares vary by year). By car, it’s about 2 hours from Tokyo via Akagi IC; temporary parking is available.
Fees: Admission is free (parking during the festival is typically around ¥1,000).
Crowd Patterns: It tends to get crowded during the peak bloom festival period, so an early-morning walk is usually more relaxed.

For the latest information, please refer to official announcements or check on site.

What Is Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura?

Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura (Akagi South Slope Thousand Cherry Trees) is a famous cherry blossom spot in Naegashima Town, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture.

Located on the southern slope of Mount Akagi, more than 1,000 Somei Yoshino cherry trees bloom along a road of over 1 km, including the adjacent Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori Park.

During cherry blossom season, the Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Festival is held, and in some years you can enjoy local food stalls and nighttime illuminations.

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Highlights of Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura

1. Like a Cherry Blossom Tunnel! Dreamlike Spring Scenery

The rows of cherry trees on both sides of the road turn a soft pink color in spring.

At peak bloom, the contrast with the blue sky is beautiful, making it a popular photo spot.

① Walk Through Rows of Cherry Blossoms

Walking through the cherry blossom tunnel feels like stepping into a dream.

Because of the elevation differences, bloom timing can shift slightly, which sometimes lets you enjoy the blossoms for a longer period.

② Night Illuminations Are Held in Some Years

During the festival period, the cherry tree-lined road may be illuminated, creating a different atmosphere from daytime.

2. How to Enjoy the Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Festival

At the “Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Festival,” held during cherry blossom season, there may be food stalls and events.

① Great Selection of Local Gourmet Stalls

At the venue, you can find stalls serving Gunma specialties.

Yaki Manjū (a Gunma specialty)
Jōshū Beef Skewers (Gunma-produced beef gourmet)
Okkirikomi (a local Gunma dish)

② Traditional Performing Arts and Live Performances

In some years, local music and performances are held.

③ Don’t Miss Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori Park

At the adjacent “Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori,” you can also enjoy cherry blossoms and seasonal flowers.

3. Seasonal Highlights at Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura

① Spring

The season when cherry blossoms reach full bloom
Some years also feature the festival

② Summer

The greenery of Mount Akagi is beautiful, making it a good season for hiking

③ Autumn

The surrounding scenery turns colorful, and it is also popular for drives

④ Winter

You can enjoy it together with sightseeing around Mount Akagi in snowy scenery

4. Nearby Attractions Around Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura

If you visit Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura, be sure to stop by nearby attractions as well.

✅ Mount Akagi (for hiking, camping, and more)

✅ Akagi Shrine (a shrine on the shore of Lake Ōnuma)

✅ Fujimi Onsen (a hot spring great for relaxing)

5. Tips to Avoid Crowds

Weekends during cherry blossom season can be crowded, and traffic jams may occur on surrounding roads.

If you visit early on a weekday, or during nighttime illumination hours, you may be able to enjoy the area more comfortably.

If using public transportation, you can access the area by taxi from Ōgo Station on the Jōmō Electric Railway.

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Useful Information for Travelers

Access (How to Get to Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura from Tokyo)

By Train + Taxi

Tokyo Station → Takasaki Station → Maebashi Station → (local transfer) → Ōgo Station (Jōmō Electric Railway)
Ōgo Station → Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura (by taxi or bus)

By Car

You can access the area from the Kita-Kantō Expressway “Isezaki IC” direction
You can also access the area from the Kan-Etsu Expressway “Akagi IC” direction
Temporary parking lots may be set up during cherry blossom season (some may be paid)

Opening Hours and Admission

Open hours: Hours for walking/exploring vary by area
Admission: Free

Wi-Fi Information

Available at some nearby facilities

Multilingual Support

Multilingual information may be available on municipal tourism websites and similar sources

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Summary

Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura is a famous cherry blossom spot that colors spring in Gunma.

In some years, you can enjoy walking under the cherry trees, festival food stalls, and nighttime illuminations.

Combining your visit with nature sightseeing around Mount Akagi makes for an even more rewarding trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What kind of cherry blossom spot is Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura? keyboard_arrow_down

A. Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura is a famous cherry blossom spot in Maebashi, where Somei Yoshino trees line a city road for about 1.3 km. It has been selected as one of Japan's 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association, and the contrast between the cherry blossom tunnel and the nearby rapeseed flowers is especially beautiful at full bloom.

Q. When is the Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Festival held? keyboard_arrow_down

A. The Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Festival is usually held from early to mid-April, timed to match the cherry blossoms. Since there is also a local products market and an event stage, visiting during the festival period is a good choice if you want to enjoy not just the flowers but also the festive atmosphere.

Q. What is the admission fee and parking fee at Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura? keyboard_arrow_down

A. Viewing the cherry blossom avenue itself is free. During the festival period, temporary paid parking is usually around 1,000 yen for a standard car. On weekends and at peak bloom, it gets busy from early in the day, so arriving early or using public transport can make it easier to plan your walking time if photography is your main goal.

Q. How do I get to Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura? keyboard_arrow_down

A. If you are using public transport, the usual route is to take a taxi for about 20 minutes from Ogo Station on the Jomo Electric Railway. On some weekends during the festival period, there is also a paid sightseeing bus from the south exit of JR Maebashi Station. If you want to avoid traffic jams, planning around the bus schedule can make the return trip easier too.

Q. When should I go to avoid crowds at Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura? keyboard_arrow_down

A. If you want to avoid the crowds, weekday mornings are the best choice, or right after opening even on weekends. Around midday, food stalls and flower viewers overlap and the flow of people tends to slow down. If you want to photograph the rapeseed flowers as well, starting on the park side while there are still fewer people makes it easier to frame your shots.

Q. Is there a night illumination at Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura? keyboard_arrow_down

A. Yes, the trees are illuminated during the festival period, usually from sunset until around 21:30. In daytime, the appeal is the color contrast between the cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers, while at night the outline of the blossoms stands out in a very different atmosphere. Since it gets cold after evening, a light down jacket or gloves can make the visit more comfortable.

Q. Where are the best photo spots at Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura? keyboard_arrow_down

A. Classic photo spots include a straight view down the cherry blossom avenue and a composition from Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori Park looking across the rapeseed flowers. In addition to wide-angle shots, using a medium telephoto lens to compress less crowded sections can make the blossoms look denser. Cloudy weather can also help because the flower colors are less likely to wash out.

Q. Are there any nearby spots worth visiting with Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura? keyboard_arrow_down

A. It is easy to combine with the area around Gunma Flower Park Plus or with a trip toward Mount Akagi. During cherry blossom season, time on site can be harder to predict, so it is often easier to keep the afternoon to nearby stops with short travel times. Since you will likely stay outdoors most of the day, pollen masks and eye drops can also be helpful.

Useful Japanese Phrases

Meaning

To Ogo Station, please. — Use when getting into a taxi at Maebashi Station to reach Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura. Show the driver the station name on your phone if pronunciation is difficult.

Meaning

Where is Senbonzakura (the thousand cherry trees)? — Ask locals or taxi drivers near Mt. Akagi's southern slope. Point in the general direction of the mountain to help clarify what you are looking for.

Meaning

Are the cherry blossoms in full bloom? — Ask at a tourist information desk or a food stall during the festival. Locals may also point you toward especially beautiful viewing spots that day.

Meaning

One yaki manju (grilled stuffed bun), please. — Order at a festival food stall. Yaki manju is a local Gunma specialty with a sweet miso glaze. Hold up one finger to confirm the quantity.

Meaning

Do you have Joshu beef skewers? — Ask at food stalls during the festival. Joshu beef is premium Gunma-raised beef. Look for stalls with "上州牛" on their signs.

Meaning

May I take photos here? — Ask before photographing near the cherry blossom tunnel or at Miyagi Senbonzakura no Mori Park. A slight bow while asking makes the request more polite.

Meaning

What time does the illumination start? — Ask at a festival information booth or food stall. The night illumination of the cherry blossoms offers a completely different atmosphere from daytime viewing.

Meaning

Where is the parking lot? — Ask if you are visiting by car. Temporary parking areas are set up during cherry blossom season, and traffic can be heavy on surrounding roads.

Meaning

What kind of dish is okkirikomi? — Ask at a food stall or local restaurant. Okkirikomi is a traditional Gunma noodle dish often available during the festival. Pointing at the menu item helps the vendor understand your question.

Meaning

Could you tell me how to get to Akagi Shrine? — Ask at a tourist information point or a taxi stand after enjoying the cherry blossoms. Akagi Shrine is a lakeside shrine at Lake Onuma on Mt. Akagi, a popular nearby attraction.

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