Hi:

I'll be in Japan at the end of March/early April for 12 days and want to catch some cherry blossom action. Any good small towns to explore between Tokyo and Kyoto that will afford some nice, more rural scenery? I'm also flying in and out of Osaka.

Thanks!

I went to some shrines in Kamahura at that time and several of them had gorgeous cherry blossoms. Of course, the main Cherry Blossom festival is at Ueno Park in Tokyo. My Japan section on my site may have some more Tokyo info to help you like shopping and side trips.

www.lostmyguidebook.com/category/japan

Sorry - that should be Kamakura!

Kamakura would be nice place for hanami (cherry blossoms viewing).

Ueno is very nice.

My personal favourite is at Yasakuni. At the grounds of the shrine there's food and drinks stalls. Just across the road there's a river/moat along which there's long row of cherry blossom trees on both banks. When I first saw the trees in full tree, it really took my breadth away. In my mind it's worth going all the way to Japan just to see it. Some pics I took last year.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...9/P1010452.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...9/P1010473.jpg

ttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/grumpy889/P1010466.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...9/P1010477.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...9/P1010469.jpg

Thanks for the info - the links and pics are great.

I will be in Japan from 4/16 - 5/4 and hope to see some of the beautiful blooms. Will I still be able to see the flowering trees or will it all be over?

Nobody can tell you for sure what will be. However, we have been in Japan in April 2005, between 13 and 22. We were very pessimistic, because in all internet sites we found that in 2005 the blossom will begin at end of Maarch, for maximum ten days. However, we found all Japan full of cherry flowers, till our last day in Osaka. It was wonderful.
Wishing you to be as lucky as we were!