Kumamoto

Minamata Cherry Line

A 6km of line of cherry blossoms along the sea coast

Erik Smith Apr 18, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>The contrast of pink, green, and turquoise blue that is characteristic to the Yunoko Cherry Line is one of the reasons it has been selected as one of the top 100 places to view cherry blossoms in Japan.</p>

<p>The Cherry Line starts in Yunoko Onsen (湯の児温泉) and wraps around the coast to the south.</p>

<p>The Cherry Line extends as ribbon of pink that cuts along the sea coast, up the Minamata River, and to the top of Mt. Nakaoyama.</p>

<p>The Cherry Line runs along the Minamata River...</p>

<p>...and up the hillside to Mt. Nakaoyama park.</p>

<p>The "Sky Road" in Mt. Nakaoyama Park, an elevated walkway through the cherry trees, allows visitors to experience the cherry blossoms up close.</p>

<p>Observatory at the far end of the park commands a great view of downtown Minamata, the Yatsushiro Sea, and the Amaksua Islands in the distance.</p>

The Minamata Cherry Line in Southern Kumamoto stretches along the Yatsushiro Sea coast, through the town of Minamata, and up into the mountains, a sort of pink ribbon of flowers connecting Minamata's ocean front hot spring resort of Yunoko with it's mountainside cousin, Yunotsuru. While the Minamata Cherry Line does not hold the record for being the longest line of cherry trees, the beautiful contrast of the white cliffs, green hills, bright blue ocean, and pink sakura has critics agreeing that Minamata is one of the top 100 places to view cherry blossoms in Japan.

Tourists traveling by car will have an easy time finding and following the cherry line when they enter Minamata. Those who come by train can rent bicycles from either Shin Minamata or Minamata station to make their cherry blossom adventure more pleasant. The blossoms usually reach their peak in the last week of March.

Erik Smith @erik.smith

Working as a CIR (Coordinator of International Relations) in Minamata Japan and doing what I can to share the wonderful places I have explored with the world!