[2025 Shibata District Attraction] Travel Guide for Funaoka Castle Ruins Park (Updated Jun)

Funaoka Castle Ruins Park & Hitome Senbonzakura This year, I chose the legendary cherry blossom scenery of Tohoku! 🚶♀️Itinerary: Funaoka Station ➡️ Funaoka Castle Ruins Park ➡️ Hitome Senbonzakura ➡️ Ōgawara Station 📌【Funaoka Castle Ruins Park】 From Funaoka Station, it’s a 15-minute walk to the foot of the mountain. Before climbing, you’ll pass by several food stalls where you can grab a bite before heading up! Unfortunately, the cable car 🚡 has been discontinued due to aging, so you’ll need to walk. However, the path is lined with fully bloomed cherry blossoms, making it feel like you’re walking through a tunnel of flowers 🌸. At the summit, you’ll find the Funaoka Peace Kannon statue, a rest area, and small food shops. You can also enjoy a breathtaking view of the Shiroishi River embankment—truly healing scenery! 📌【Hitome Senbonzakura】 From the mountain, walk down to the riverside to reach the legendary cherry blossom tunnel 🌸. The most iconic scene is the moment when a train passes through the cherry blossoms 🚃✨. Many visitors gather on the "Shibata Senbon Bridge" to secure the perfect photo spot. 📌【Heading to Ōgawara Station】 Along the way, you’ll spot adorable painted stones pointing the direction 🪨. It’s about a 30-minute walk to Ōgawara Station, just in time to catch the cherry blossoms bathed in the golden glow of the sunset—truly romantic 🌇. 🚃Transportation: JR Tōhoku Main Line (Sendai ➡️ Funaoka/Ōgawara)

Funaoka Castle Park is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot near Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. It is selected as one of the top 100 cherry blossoms in Japan. 🌸 The cherry blossom season is from early to mid-April every year. There are more than 1,000 cherry trees, with many varieties, such as Yoshino cherry, double cherry and mountain cherry. 🌸 Seeing the train tracks in the cherry blossom scenery is like a painting. 🚂 There is a row of mountains in the background, which looks very different. 🏔️ Compared to other big cities in Japan, there are fewer people here, it is quiet and comfortable, and perfect for flower viewing😊 📍Sendai Funaoka Castle Park There is a mountain train in the park, which is lit up until 21:00✨ 🗓️ Mid-April 2025 🚊Take the JR Tohoku Main Line from Sendai Station to Funaoka Station or Ogawara Station (about 30 minutes), get off and walk for 15 minutes ☀️It is recommended to visit on weekday mornings to avoid the holiday crowds 🍡There are snack stalls in the park For more travel and food information around the world, please follow @bunnys2peach_travel 🌷 #globaltravel #japan #japantravel #sendai #sendaisakura #sendaitravel

Sendai truly feels like the backyard garden of the Japanese people~ In mid-April, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, painting the sky with pink~ Funaoka is indeed a great spot for flower viewing~ The "Hitome Senbonzakura" offers a breathtaking visual experience. An endless sea of cherry blossoms fills you with vibrant energy 🙂 Even more beautiful than what I saw in Shikoku, Fukuoka, and Osaka. Sendai, I will definitely come back📍 📍Address: Funaoka Castle Ruins Park

#cherryblossom25 If you're in Sendai, make sure to visit Shiroishi River's One-Mile Cherry Blossoms in Ōgawara Town, which is often regarded as the best cherry blossom spot in the Tohoku region! 🌸✨ Why Visit One-Mile Cherry Blossoms? 🌸 A Blossoming Paradise: This picturesque location stretches over 8 kilometers with more than 1,200 cherry trees lining the Shiroishi River. During the peak season, it's a breathtaking cherry blossom tunnel, where you can enjoy a serene walk while being surrounded by thousands of pink petals. 🌸 Perfect Timing: The cherry blossoms usually peak around April 2nd, though the dates can shift slightly due to weather. You can keep an eye on the Flower Front Forecast for real-time updates on the bloom period. 📅✨ Itinerary Suggestions 📍 Here’s a quick guide to navigating the area, based on the official route with a few adjustments: Start at Sendai Station (11:00 AM): Take the Tōhoku Main Line and head to Ōgawara Station, arriving by 11:34 AM. Walk Along the Shiroishi River 🌸: After you exit the station, follow the wide riverbank road, heading towards the Ōgawara Town area. You'll come across a pedestrian bridge, which gives you a great view of the cherry blossoms as you cross. Lunch 🍱: Near the bridge, enjoy a sakura bento (flower lunch) from Shiroishi River Park (reservations available on the official website), or pick up snacks from nearby street vendors. 🍣🌸 Explore These Key Spots: Ōtakayama Shrine: A peaceful shrine surrounded by cherry trees. Shirotori-no-Kai: A beautiful area with a scenic view. Ōgawara Bridge: Perfect for photos of the river and sakura in full bloom. One-Mile Cherry Blossom Road: The highlight of the trip, where the trees stretch as far as the eye can see. Nishigami Falls: A hidden gem of the area. Funagata Castle Park: Reachable by cable car, where you can enjoy stunning views, especially around sunset. 🌅 #travel

#cherryblossom25 Funaoka Castle Park, a mountainous area that turns pink with cherry blossoms in the spring, and the Shiroishi River, famous for its Hitome Senbon Zakura (view of a thousand cherry trees), are the only two places in Shibata Town, Miyagi Prefecture selected as one of the "100 best cherry blossom viewing spots" by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association🌸 Enjoy the Shibata Cherry Blossom Festival in both areas from April 1 (Tuesday) to April 14 (Monday)✨ Take a stroll through the magical cherry blossom tunnel at Funaoka Castle Park😊 Don't miss the view from the hilltop, where you can see the Hitome Senbon Zakura lining the Shiroishi River, set against the backdrop of the snowy Zao mountain range❗ Take your time to enjoy the cherry blossoms from every angle🌸 *The festival period may change depending on the blooming of the cherry trees. #japantravel #travel #japanview #japan_vacations #tohokutourism #japantrip #japan #tohokujapan #tohoku #explorejapan #amazingjapan #cherryblossom #funaokacastlepark #senbonzakura #shiroishiriver #bestcherryblossomspots #miyagi #zaomountainrange #springflowers #tohokutrip #sakurafestival #mustvisitjapan #romanticspring

Funaoka Castle Park is another top-tier cherry blossom spot in Miyagi, famous for its breathtaking 'Sakura Tunnel' and stunning panoramic views. Located on a hill where Funaoka Castle once stood, the park features a unique slope car that takes visitors through a tunnel of cherry blossoms to the observation deck at the top. The view from the summit is truly spectacular, offering a sweeping panorama of the Shiroishi River and the surrounding mountains covered in pink sakura. During peak bloom, the park is a popular hanami destination, attracting both locals and tourists. Food stalls and festival activities enhance the lively spring atmosphere. The combination of history, natural beauty, and unique experiences like the slope car ride make Funaoka Castle Park a standout cherry blossom destination. If you’re exploring Miyagi during sakura season, this park should definitely be on your itinerary.

Now is the best time to view cherry blossoms at Funaya Castle Ruins Park in the Tohoku region. There are many ways to enjoy the cherry blossoms, such as walking or taking a boat ride. However, there is a very special way to enjoy the flowers at Funaya Castle Ruins Park. Here, you can take a climbing cable car from the parking lot directly to the park's mountaintop, about 305 meters high. Along the way, you will pass through clusters of blooming cherry trees, as if you are traveling through a cherry blossom tunnel. Upon reaching the mountaintop, you will see a unique and stunning view that can only be found here. At a glance, not only can you see the 24-meter-tall Funaya Peace Kannon statue standing in the city center, but you can also take in the streets of Shibata Town, the Senbonzakura (thousands of cherry trees), the Shiroishi River, the Zao mountain range, and the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the park is lit up at night, allowing visitors to appreciate the beautiful night cherry blossoms. Funaya Castle Ruins Park is a place where you can enjoy different romantic atmospheres during the day and night. Address: 95-1 Funayakanayama, Shibata Town, Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture Access: Get off at JR Funaya Station, about a 15-minute walk

Funaoaka Castle Ruins Park is the only spot in Miyagi Prefecture selected as one of the Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots. The park occupies half a mountain and covers a vast area. At the summit, a 24-meter-tall Statue of Peaceful Kannon is erected, serving as a landmark of Tateyama. During the cherry blossom season, the park hosts the Shibata Cherry Blossom Festival, attracting over 200,000 visitors annually, a testament to its exceptional charm. Over a thousand Yoshino cherry trees are planted throughout the mountain, and when in full bloom, the hilltop is dotted with red and white, creating an elegant and pleasant cherry blossom landscape as beautiful as a postcard. Visitors can choose to hike or take the old-fashioned inclined mine cart up the mountain. As the railway to the summit is flanked by dense cherry blossom trees, riding the small cable car feels like traveling through a cherry blossom tunnel, a famous cherry blossom scene at Funaoaka Castle Ruins Park. Despite the large number of people waiting, the journey of approximately 300 meters is fleeting, but it is still recommended to experience the dreamy feeling of being surrounded by cherry blossoms. As it involves climbing a mountain, the greatest highlight of Funaoaka Castle Ruins Park, besides the cherry blossoms all over the mountain, is undoubtedly the panoramic view from the summit. The top offers a spacious view with a plaza for cherry blossom viewers to stop and enjoy the scenery. Looking north, one can see the cityscape of Shibata Town and the charming view of Senbonzakura along the Shiroishi River embankment. To the east, one can gaze at the Pacific Ocean, and to the west, the snowy mountain scenery of the Zao mountain range. The commanding view satisfies all cherry blossom viewers. Moreover, the Statue of Peaceful Kannon at the summit is said to have been donated by the medical scientist Noguchi Hideyo, a native of Funaoaka, in memory of his late wife and to protect the people of Shibata Town. The peaceful Kannon statue, set against the backdrop of numerous cherry blossoms, appears even more majestic and is another famous cherry blossom spot for photo opportunities at Funaoaka Castle Ruins Park. Funaoaka Castle Ruins Park Address: 95-1 Tateyama, Funaoaka, Shibata Town, Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture

#cherryblossom2024 Address: Tateyama-95-1 Funaoka, Shibata, Shibata District, Miyagi 989-1606, Japan. Highlights: Funaoka Castle Ruins Park is a must-visit destination, especially during the cherry blossom season. From the top, you can take in stunning views of the riverbank and the cityscape below. To make the most of your visit, I recommend taking the slope car to the top. From there, you can easily explore the park and visit the cannon with the help of a cable car. The cable car ride costs 250¥ for a one-way trip, but it's well worth it for the spectacular views you'll experience. Whether you're admiring the cherry blossoms in spring or enjoying the scenic views year-round, Funaoka Castle Ruins Park is a fantastic destination for nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike. #Nature #Japan #awesomepic