Cherry blossom @ Osaka @ 20.04.2009
 

Hello :)

I'm in need of help. I will be landing in Osaka on 19.04 and I would love to participate in hanami but according to japan-guide.com I will be too late. From what they write, the closest place to see cherry blossom would be Kanazawa. However it's a little to far for me and the trip would be expensive. So I wonder if you know of any locations near Osaka that are placed higher (=colder) or have different climate and are nice spots to observe cherries in bloom?

Please help!
Regards

That's pretty late for hanami, so I won't promise anything. But these are the places where you'd have the best chances to see the sakura in late April without traveling a great distance from Osaka.

1. Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto, Kyoto.

2. Hikiage Memorial Park in Maizuru, Kyoto

3. Okuhiei Enryakuji Temple in Otsu, Shiga

4. Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto, Kyoto.

5. Umenomiya Shrine, Kyoto, Kyoto.

My home Territory.. Ahh, Kyoto brings back great memories..

Maruyama Koen Park was always a good place to watch the Sake drinkers under the trees:o

Cherry Blossom Report 2009: Kyoto Report

Kyoto Travel: Maruyama Park (Maruyama Koen)

You could try the Yoshino Valley in Nara, the trees grow up the sides of the valley and there may still be some at the top.