{Inter} Cultural Japan

One of the most famous places for seeing cherryblossoms in Osaka is the Mint, or Zoheikyoku, which features a long lane where rare cherry trees form a veritable tunnel of blossoms.

As the branches hang down low, the flowers are surprisingly closeby.

There are apparently 120 different kinds of cherrytrees and about tree times as many trees; the tunnel is 560 meters long and can only be walked in one direction, from the Nanmon, the south gate of the Mint near Tenmabashi to the north exit near Sakuranomiyabashi.

The Mint opens its grounds especially for this event, which started already in 1883 (it was an idea of the then Director of the Mint, Mr Endo Kinsuke). The area has been known as beauty spot much longer, as the name of the opposite bank “Sakuranomiya” or “Cherry Blossom Palace” testifies. It lasts only a week, though, until April 11, and large crowds are expected, especially in the evenings when the trees are lit up.

I walked there today at lunchtime. For most trees it was still a bit early, although there were also some great ones in full bloom. The number of visitors was relatively modest, so to my surprise guards along the whole route were exhorting people to keep walking, not to stop, to move on, etc. etc. All that hoarse shouting did not really create a nice atmosphere for blossom viewing, I must say, and it was wholly unnecessary. Sometimes Japan feels like one big kindergarten, due to the extreme uncertainty avoidance of its authorities.

But I must not complain, entree was free, and indeed there were some very special trees you will not easily find elsewhere (late-blooming, double-petalled varieties). And there was more: the whole riverbank outside the Mint (the Old Yodo River) was also clad in cherrytrees, and these were all in full bloom already.

It was also full of booths selling all kinds of “matsuri foods” as burned squid, bananas dipped in chocolate and oden.

But that is all part of the game, and although not the most peaceful, it certainly is the grandest place for blossom viewing in Osaka. You could even walk back along the riverbank to Temmabashi and then head for the Osaka Castle Park with more sakura…

[Osaka Business Park seen from the Old Yodo River Bank near the Mint]

Tel: 06-6351-6150

Hours: 10:00-21:00 (weekend from 9:00)

Access: 10 min walk from Temmabashi St on the Keihan or Tanimachi line; 15 min walk fromOsaka Temmangu St on the JR Tozai line. Map.

The Mint also has an interesting museum, but that is closed in this period.