Published date: April 15, 2025
Enjoying Cherry Blossoms from Early Morning Night Cherry Viewing to Kanazawa Kenrokuen Night Illumination at the Strange Hotel
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
If it’s spring, it’s cherry blossoms! Considering places where cherry blossoms can be seen beautifully, I decided to visit Kenrokuen Garden.
The accommodation I chose was "The Strange Hotel," which I had been curious about since it was featured on TV.
Self-check-in has become quite common now, but at the time of the TV show, it wasn't so prevalent, and the robot dinosaur guiding guests was innovative.
I wanted to follow the standard route of Kenrokuen → Kanazawa Castle → Gyokusen'inmaru Garden → Oyama Shrine, so I made a reservation at a hotel near Oyama Shrine.
I checked in at 3:00 PM.
It was easy to check in by just entering my name on the touchscreen.
The dinosaur robot actually talks and guides guests.
*There was an additional accommodation tax of 200 yen to pay.
There are self-lockers on the first floor, so you can store your luggage before or after check-in.
I had reserved a double-bed room, but they generously upgraded me to a twin-bed room.
It had a separate bath and toilet which I prefer.
Apparently, for the double-bed room, there is a unit bath.
I liked that the sliding door separated the main room from the entrance!
There were large windows, but since it was between buildings, there wasn't much of a view to enjoy.
However, the size was ample for a solo stay.
Personally, I was happy that the TV screen was large enough to watch while lying in bed.
There is an ice machine and a laundry room on the second floor.
A LAWSON convenience store nearby adds to its good location.
I recommend it for those staying primarily for sightseeing!
Experiences during the trip
The theme of this trip was "cherry blossoms," so I visited famous cherry blossom spots.
1. Kenrokuen Garden
I visited three times: early morning opening, noon, and nighttime illumination.
Although it was 4:30 AM, it was still quite dark, so to be honest, it felt like night.
The early morning opening of Kenrokuen Garden allows entry during such times (the entry time varies depending on the season).
I walked on the completely dark paths that were not illuminated to see the cherry blossoms.
Experiencing the natural beauty of nighttime cherry blossoms is also a highlight!
Please be careful, as what appears to be cherry blossoms might actually be plum blossoms.
As the sun rises, the garden slowly becomes visible, adding to the excitement!
I took pictures of the cherry blossoms with the rising sun, and since there were few people early in the morning, I could enjoy taking my time photographing from the bridges.
I also visited around 11:00 AM, but there were too many people, making it difficult to move forward.
Trying to capture a good angle often placed me in the middle of the path, making it hard to take the photos I wanted, so I quickly decided to move on to the next spot.
I came back around 7:00 PM to see the night illumination.
As expected, there were many people, but it felt a bit less crowded compared to 11:00 AM.
There seemed to be fewer families with children and older individuals.
The illuminated cherry blossoms were stunning, different from the morning and afternoon views, and it was fascinating to see how the colors appeared differently to the naked eye compared to the camera!
It was a truly lovely cherry blossom experience, and I would want to come back again!
2. Kanazawa Castle & Kanazawa Castle Park
A recommended spot for beautiful cherry blossom photography is the cherry-lined path near the Hirayagura turret and the Black Gate.
The cherry blossoms by the moat are beautiful not only during the day but also beautifully illuminated at night.
You can take beautiful pictures and videos here.
The cherry blossom alley near the Black Gate is famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and I saw many families enjoying it.
It’s best to visit this area during the day.
3. Higashiyama Chaya District
This is actually a hidden gem.
While it is not as large as the Higashiyama Chaya District, the narrow paths behind it are charming and photogenic!
The hanging cherry blossoms photographed from the top of the stairs are particularly lovely.
Since there were few people, it felt like a private visit when I went.
Also, the scenery along the Asanogawa River from the bridge is wonderful.
4. The Back of Higashiyama Chaya District
Most people just walk around the Higashiyama Chaya District, but frankly, that’s a waste.
There are cherry trees at the "Utatsu Shrine" located at the end of the Higashiyama Chaya District. There are also rare upside-down guardian lion-dogs, like at Ishikura Shrine.
Additionally, a short walk up the hill about 240 meters from the Higashiyama Chaya District leads to "Hōsenji Temple," which also offers recommended views.
There was a park with beautifully blooming cherry blossoms near Hōsenji Temple too.
5. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Cherry trees were planted here on the land where an elementary school once existed.
They are beautifully in bloom, making it a great place for cherry blossom viewing or taking pictures against the cherry blossoms as a backdrop.
This place is recommended for families since it has fewer people than Kenrokuen Garden.