Sakura Kingdom of Utsubuki

#cherryblossom2024 The Kingdom of flowers The small Utsubuki Park at the foot of the mountain of the same name boasts dense forests and the lush splendor of cherry blossoms. Take the time to reconnect with nature and stroll through one of Japan's best urban parks. How to get there The nearest major transportation hub is JR Kurayoshi Station. From there, you can take a bus in about 20 minutes. Utsubuki Park is located behind the Kurayoshi City Hall. The famous place of admiring flowers There are about 4,000 sakura trees and 40,000 azaleas in the park. It is one of the most beautiful urban parks in Japan — primarily as the best place to admire flowers in the entire San in region, which covers the lands of Tottori and Shimane prefectures. The center of the park, Mount Utsubuki, 204 meters high, is covered with dense forests with diverse vegetation. In the park At the very entrance to the park, tourists are greeted by a beautiful pond with an elegant bridge – a popular place for wedding photos. Several hiking trails lead to the forested top of the mountain, and the most popular one, which is the easiest to navigate, runs behind the zoo. If you go down the mountain from the back side, you can go to the track and field and the circular area (Doha) for sumo wrestling. The route ends at the Kurayoshi Sports Center at the eastern foot of the mountain. The symbol of the city of Kurayoshi The city of Kurayoshi was once the economic center of the entire region and on top of Mount Utsubuki — one of its most recognizable landmarks — stood the castle of the powerful ruler Yaman Tokiyoji and his son Moroyoshi. Today, alas, only traces of the former fortifications and magnificent views of the city remain.