Mount Yoshino — Attraction in Yoshino

Very beautiful place. A touristy area though, so the main shopping street was very crowded (granted, I went on a Saturday during sakura season).

I went specifically to hike up the mountain and get a good view of the sakura from the top, but there are paved sections for casual walking as well. The trails get significantly less crowded as you go up the mountain. There are some unpaved off-shoot trails, but I believe there are paved roads most of the way up as well. Most people seemed to be traveling up the roads rather than the trails.

The only downside was that parking was ¥2000! The parking was probably so expensive because I went during sakura season.

Also, I timed my visit a bit early, so the sakura were not at full bloom and some of the trees hadn't even started blooming. Their offical website does keep updates on how the sakura are blooming, so I'd recommend checking there first before visiting (no English I believe, so Google Translate would be necessary for...

Apr 10 still blooming! Used 1 day Kintetsu railway pass. The train was packed around 9AM and I stood the entire journey there (from Kyoto Station). Got to Yoshino station around 11AM. Right when you get off the staff will direct you to the hiking path/bus line/ropeway to get to the viewpoint. I took the ¥450 bus (they came one after another) then another 30min uphill walk for the viewpoint. Saw long lines for bathrooms along the way, some food stands, people having picnics. Most people are resting and eating at the viewpoint (and of course enjoying the view). The way down I walked through the main town (more restaurants) to the ¥450 ropeway. It took about 45min downhill walk to get there but it was much shorter a ride than the bus (3min vs 15min?). I suggest you take the bus up and walk the ramp side to the viewpoint then walk the stair side down to...

Mount Yoshino ranks as one of the best places in Japan to immerse yourself in the spring cherry blossom season. Over 30,000 flowering Japanese cherry trees, or sakura, grow in four main groves on the hillside. Because the trees, some planted over 1,300 years ago, grow at different elevations, the cherry blossom front gradually moves up the mountain in a slow, fragrant wave as the season progresses. Peak bloom usually arrives between early and mid-April. Most years, crowds wander through the town of Yoshino, visiting its traditional temples and shires, before admiring the profusion of cherry blossoms, a custom known as hanami. Of course, we can practice hanami virtually with pictures. But if you're lucky enough to have a blooming cherry tree near you, we encourage you to pause and breathe...