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Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Gunma – Cherry Blossom Tunnel and Spring Festival

Ibaraki Tochigi Gunma Saitama Chiba Tokyo Kanagawa
Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Gunma – Cherry Blossom Tunnel and Spring Festival
Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura is a 1.3 km cherry blossom tunnel of around 1,000 trees, ranked among Japan’s top sakura spots. Discover the best time to visit, festival food stalls and night illuminations, scenic viewpoints, crowd tips, and access routes for a spring drive around Mt. Akagi.

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.


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.


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


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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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