Takato Joshi Park, Nagano

#cherryblossom25 Takato Joshi Park is often called one of Japan’s top 3 cherry blossom spots — and honestly, it lived up to the hype. The sheer density of sakura here is insane. Over 1,500 trees of a special pale-pink variety called Takato Kohigan Zakura cover the old castle ruins like a fluffy pink cloud. I arrived at dawn to beat the crowds and caught the sunrise filtering through the petals — hands down one of my top travel memories. The atmosphere is festive with food stalls and local crafts, but the park is big enough to find quiet corners too. My #cherryblossom25 post was that golden-hour shot of the petals glowing against the rising sun — pure magic. If you want that “bucket list” sakura moment, Takato Joshi Park is the place.