Sakura Excellence at Yagiyama Zoo [SPOT REPORT]

     Who goes to the zoo for hanami? No one, I would have said last week, but this week my opinion is different. A strangely great thing to do when the cherry blossoms are finally blooming in northern Japan is to take a quick trip to Yagiyama Zoo, in Sendai. Surprisingly, there are many many cherry blossom trees dotting the zoological park with a few even located directly over park benches and such. 

     Finally, there is a chance to do something like the traditional hanami without breaking any laws or causing any problems! Some benches are even next to vending machines, so if all you wanted was a quick chance to rest your feet between exhibits, you could enjoy the sights of early Japanese spring at the same time. 

     Upon entering the park, the first cherry blossom trees you see on the other side of a bridge and not actually accessible for proper viewing, but the further you walk into the park, you'll find more and more of the lovely trees spreading out above in a great show of traditional, Japanese beauty. What was wonderful was the different kinds of trees also had different colors of flower and slightly different blooming schedule.

Right by the red pandas, a massive sakura tree blooms.

     While many of the trees showed evidence of already having reached full bloom and moved beyond, many others were in a fantastic state of beauty on Thursday, April sixth when my family visited.

     Getting to Yagiyama zoo is fairly easy and only requires a subway trip from Sendai Station or short drive into the Yagiyama area. Parking is around 500 yen for most of the day for on-site parking and the ticket price. Admissions is only 480 yen for adults and 120 yen for elementary and junior high school students. For spring, the open hours run from 9AM to 4:45PM with the last admittance at 4:00PM.

Pretty trees and a crepe for me! Happy hanami season!

     The zoo itself is always a really fun thing to see but If you're going for a family trip and to enjoy some cherry blossoms, going a little bit early in the day so that you can also enjoy crepes under the cherry blossoms, or a lunch from the nearby cafeteria is also a good idea.