Tsubame-Sanjo 4: Spring cherry blossoms and seasonal sightseeing

Tsubame & Sanjo: where spring bursts into bloom

Is the fresh spring air of Japan's countryside calling your name? Getting ready to check train schedules and cherry blossom forecasts? The area around Tsubamesanjō Station is full of artisan factories and awash with ancient legend, but these two cities are also blessed with four lovely seasons, from snowy winters to verdant green summers. So when spring rolls around, there's no better place to enjoy the beauty of Japan's cherry blossoms and feel the cool breeze coming off the Sea of Japan!

Okozu Bunsui Sakura Park: cherry blossom heaven along the river

Okozu Bunsui Sakura Park in spring. (Image credit: Japankuru)

The two-city area of Tsubame-Sanjo hasn't yet built a reputation for cherry blossoms on a national level, but it's actually home to a cherry blossom viewing spot ranked in the country's top 100, making it a favourite for cherry blossom fans in the know! This hot 100 cherry blossom spot is Okozu Bunsui Sakura Park, known for its path lined with seemingly unending rows of cherry trees. The trees are spaced evenly along the road, so they create walls of pink petals, and even join overhead to create heavenly tunnels. Even during the peak of cherry blossom season, when the flowers are all abloom and a strong breeze will send petals fluttering past, the park tends to be uncrowded, and you'll mostly see locals who come to enjoy the weather or walk their dogs.

The cherry blossom trees that line the park. (Image credit: Japankuru)

The park stretches over 10km along a road running parallel to the river, lined with more than 2,600 Yoshino cherry trees. Not only is it a nice place for a stroll or a hanami picnic, but it's also a great spot for a leisurely drive with the windows down, with flower petals floating in on the breeze.

Okozu Bunsui Sakura Park (大河津分水 桜並木)
Address: 4026 Gosengoku, Tsubame, Niigata
Nearest station: JR Bunsui Station (分水駅)

Bunsui Station: stationside cherry blossoms, noon and night

JR Bunsui Station. (Image credit: Japankuru)

Another major cherry blossom viewing destination in Tsubame is especially popular with railway lovers and fans of Japan Railways, because it's found at Bunsui Station! One of the platforms at this little local station is lined with tall cherry trees, and more cherry trees surround the train tracks beyond the platform, so the flowers are ready to greet each passing train as it comes in or out of the station during the spring.

Approaching train at Bunsui Station. (Image credit: Japankuru)

When the trees are in full bloom, train fanatics and photography lovers alike will line up along the platform, aiming for the perfect photo spot and then waiting in anticipation until the next train arrives, so they can take pictures of the train cars in front of a pretty pink backdrop.

Bunsui Station (分水駅)
Address: 1-1 Bunsuisakuramachi, Tsubame, Niigata

Cherry blossom viewing at night at the train station. (Image credit: Japankuru)

The view from Bunsui Station's platform is lovely at any time of day, and many sightseers and photographers also gather after sunset, when the cherry trees are brightly lit from below. Once a year, the atmosphere becomes especially festive with the arrival of one train in particular, the Yozakura Shu*Kura. The Yozakura Shu*Kura is a special sightseeing train that only makes one stop in Bunsui each year, to take passengers on a fun ride past the beautiful cherry blossoms. Locals gather and make something of an event out of it, ringing musical 'Cherry Bells' to welcome passengers getting off the train, and setting up food stalls outside the station. It's fun to join the festivities whether you're getting on the train or not!

Bonus! Yahiko Park + panda sweets

Cherry blossoms at Yahiko Park. (Image credit: Japankuru)

One extra cherry blossom recommendation in the area is Yahiko Park, not far from Yahiko Shrine! This park is mostly known for colourful autumn foliage, so we'd definitely recommend coming back again in the fall, but you certainly won't be disappointed if you visit in the spring! The lanterns add a little something special to this park path lined with cherry blossoms.

Panda-yaki. (Image credit: Japankuru)

Next to the park, you can also grab yourself a bite to eat while you enjoy the flowers: a local snack that's won praise on a national level! The "panda-yaki" manju (パンダ焼き) at Bunsuido sweets shop are little steamed cakes made in the shape of a panda, and they have such a uniquely chewy texture that you might mistake them for mochi. Filling options for the little pandas include red bean, custard, or cream cheese, but the most popular filling of all is zunda (ズンダ), which is a sweet bean paste made with edamame! The surprising flavors and textures of this local treat won awards at Japan's "National Oyatsu Ranking Grand Prix" (a national competition for sweets and snacks) a few years back, so you know it's worth trying!

Bunsuido (分水堂菓子舗)
Address: 1041-1 Yahiko, Nishikambara District, Niigata
Nearest station: JR Yahiko Station (弥彦駅)

A region of seasonal delights

Enjoy cherry blossoms at Tsubamesanjō in spring. (Image credit: Japankuru)

When the spring cherry blossom season starts to come to a close in cities like Tokyo, that means Japan's northern regions are just starting to look their best, so don't mourn the end of the year's cherry blossoms just yet! Visit Niigata Prefecture and get off at Tsubamesanjō Station for another dose of beautiful spring flowers and wonderful seaside weather, then come back again to see the green of summer, the red autumn leaves, and the white snow of a Niigata winter! The shinkansen is waiting to whisk you away!

See the cities brought to life in our Tsubame-Sanjo video! (Video credit: Japankuru)

Getting to Tsubamesanjō Station

Most of the places mentioned in this article can be accessed from JR Bunsui Station. Visitors can take a 12-minute train ride on the JR Yahiko Line from JR Tsubamesanjō Station (燕三条駅) to JR Yoshida Station (吉田駅), and then switch to the JR Echigo Line and take a 11-minute train ride to JR Bunsui Station.

Outside Tsubamesanjō Station. (Image credit: Japankuru)

As a stop on the JR EAST Jōetsu Shinkansen (bullet train), access to Tsubamesanjō Station is extremely convenient for anyone starting in or around Tokyo! Tsubamesanjō Station is one of a dozen along the train line, which starts from Tokyo Station and stops at Ueno before heading into Niigata Prefecture, and finally arriving in the Tsubame-Sanjo area! The trip is a little under 2 hours, which makes this an ideal destination for a weekend away, or a little excursion using a rail pass.

The JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) and usage area. (Image credit: JR East)

The JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) is especially convenient when heading to Tsubame-Sanjo: for ¥18,000 (tax included), the pass lets you ride all the JR EAST trains you want for 5 days, including shinkansen and limited express trains, and even some JR buses. From Tokyo to Tsubamesanjō Station, tickets with reserved seats normally cost a little under ¥19,000 round trip, but using the pass means you can freely travel all over Niigata and Nagano during your trip. You don't have to be a short-term traveler in Japan, either. Foreign residents can use the pass too! You can also make seat reservations for bullet trains, some limited express trains and Joyful Trains online for free, up to 1 month in advance, here. 

Header image credit: Japankuru

Related Articles

• Tsubame-Sanjo 1: Local artisans who beautifully combine tradition and modernity
• Tsubame-Sanjo 2: Cultural experiences and handicraft workshops
• Tsubame-Sanjo 3: Spring cherry blossoms and seasonal sightseeing

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JAPANKURU

Japankuru is bringing you the best of Japan, from an international creative team experiencing it first-hand and hoping to share it with the world. From unique travel destinations with millennia of history, to the best deals on great food, fun shopping, and relaxing hotels, find more on must-see tourist spots and hidden treasures frequented by locals, and guides for everything from Tokyo daytrips to road trips that explore the deepest reaches of Japan, plus pop culture, news, and more!