I write about Fukushima a fair amount, and not just because I want to continue debunking dubious claims about it being “radioactive.” It’s one of Japan’s most interesting prefectures, and also the easiest to explore, being less than two hours from Tokyo via Shinkansen.
However, in spite of the fact that I’ve come here many times over the years, one place continued to evade me until recently. And ironically, it was the place I wanted to visit most.
I’m talking, of course, about Fukushima Hanamiyama. The good news? It more than lives up to its name, which literally means “flower viewing mountain” in Japanese. The better news? You don’t have to wait nearly as long as I did to take your own trip here.
Why Hanamiyama Evaded Me for So Long
I originally planned to visit the Fukushima sakura mountain in 2020, as part of what would have been my most extensive cherry blossom trip to Japan to that date. Unfortunately, as you might remember, Japan closed its borders right as that year’s season was beginning. By the time it reopened three years later, I had other places that I wanted to visit (or, by that point revisit—I missed many of my favorites) that Hanamiyama had fallen by the wayside.
It took me a couple years of refamiliarizing myself with many of Japan’s fundamental destinations and experiences—not unlike how someone who’s rusty at poker or blackjack might need expert picks to push them in direction of the right online casinos—to get back to where I’d been when the pandemic hit. Thankfully, this made my eventual first trip to the mountain (which took place in April 2025) all the sweeter than it might’ve been five years earlier.
How to Spend a Day at Hanamiyama Park
Find your way to Fukushima Station
For the vast majority of travelers, the journey to Hanamiyama begins at Fukushima Station. Here, shuttle buses can take you to the entrance of the park in about 15 minutes one-way. Whether arriving via Shinkansen or local train, don’t fret—signage indicating where to catch the bus is very clear and obvious.
Don’t bother renting a car
I personally had a rental car during my trip to see the Fukushima cherry blossoms, but not in order to visit Hanamiyama. Rather, I planned to travel between Aizu-Wakamatsu and the Fukushima coast, and just happened to stop in Fukushima City on the way. However, you can’t park on-site, so there is no sense in renting a car for the purpose of coming here.
(You’ll have to take a bus anyway)
If you do have a car, however, simply set your GPS for the entrance to Hanamiyama. You can’t park there, as I mentioned earlier, but on the way you will be forced to park at the official on-site lot that’s been set up during cherry blossom season. Someone will literally be blocking the road that would otherwise lead you directly to the trail.
Be curious and adventurous
As you get off the shuttle bus and begin hiking, you’ll notice not only various species of cherry blossoms (including the weeping shidarezakura and the bright pink yamazakura), but other flowers, including peach blossoms, plum blossoms and yellow rapeseed flowers. There’s even more than meets the eye, so approach with curiosity and adventurousness.
Plan on spending at least half a day here
There are also several other trails here, besides the “official” one that most people go to, some of which go up much higher and have better views of Fukushima City below. I would recommend spending at least half the day here, in order to experience all the delightful flower viewing on offer at the mountain.
Yes, Fukushima is Safe
There’s no measurable nuclear radiation in Fukushima City—I know this because there are radiation counters everywhere! Unfortunately for me, I did fall victim to another kind of radiation (the solar kind) on my trip to Hanamiyama. I forgot to wear SPF lip balm, and ended up having burnt (and, later, blistered) lips for several days after leaving Fukushima. It was not a good look, and I’m glad my trip was basically over after that.
In other words, when you ask the question “is Fukushima safe?”, the answer is yes—of course. Now, there is one exception to this, i.e. the area within the exclusion zone immediately around the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. But this is small and shrinking, and is literally off-limits anyway. If you can access somewhere in Fukushima without literally crawling through barbed wire to reach it, you can be sure that it’s completely safe.
Other FAQ About Visiting Fukushima’s Sakura Mountain
How much does it cost to go to Hanamiyama Park?
Hanamiyama itself doesn’t charge an entry fee, though you’ll need to pay the price of a shuttle bus (around ¥500 round-trip), plus parking if you drove your own car to get here. Regardless, this is a very cheap excursion to make, which makes it an even sweeter one than it might otherwise be.
Is Fukushima City worth visiting?
Fukushima City is far from the most exciting destination in Fukushima prefecture, with many of its top destinations being closer to cities like Koriyama and Aizu-Wakamatsu. With this being said, I do feel like Fukushima is worth visiting, particularly if you’re able to visit in spring when Hanamiyama Park is in bloom.
How long should I spend at Hanamiyama Park?
I recommend spending at least half a day at Hanamiyama Park. This is because there are other flower mountains (i.e. hanamiyama) away from the main park area, and because of the length of the trails you have to walk and the changes in elevation involved, you need time to cover all that ground.
The Bottom Line
Fukushima Hanamiyama was absolutely worth the years I waited to check it off my bucket list, even if I don’t recommend you putting it off so long. In spite of flying under the radar compared to other cherry blossom destinations like Nara’s Mount Yoshino, Hanamiyama is one of the best places in Japan to see spring flowers—and not just sakura. Moreover, its lack of notoriety means that it is relatively uncrowded, although you should note that word is very much out among local Japanese and some other Asian tourists. Need personalized help incorporating Fukushima into your next Japan trip? Consider hiring me to plan your Japan itinerary!
