The Hii River is deeply connected with the legend of a eight-headed and eight-tailed serpent that is written in Japan’s oldest history book, Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters). The river’s sandbank resembles the serpent’s scales, and its course twists and turns like a slowly slithering serpent. JR Kisuki Station is located roughly midstream of the river, and in front of the station are rows of 800 cherry blossom trees stretching for about 2km across both banks of the Hii River. A dedicated cherry blossom guardian lovingly looks after the flowers to make sure they look their best. As you pass through the sakura tunnel, you can get a glimpse of the magnificent mountains of the Chugoku region towering in the distance. Each year in early April, a festival is held on the weekends featuring local entertainment and special regional products for sale.

Ibara City in Okayama Prefecture is blessed with a warm climate and abundant water; it’s also known as a holy land for denim, which has gained it the attention of some of the world’s top brands. The Oda River is an important source of water used to produce high-quality denim fabric, as well as being a famous place of scenic beauty that attracts locals and tourists alike. The row of cherry blossom trees that stretches for around 2km is a particularly stunning scene to behold in the spring. When illuminated at night with paper lanterns, the pale pink sakura reflected in the river’s surface creates a mystical atmosphere. You can also buy some local denim to take back with you at the store in Ibara Station on the Ibara Line.

Located on the top of a roughly 400m mountain is the shrine Yaoyorozu-no-Kami-no-Goten. Around 8000 cherry blossom trees cover the mountainside, creating a tunnel of sakura leading to the summit. Steadily make your way up the mountain and through the fragrant pink petals toward the summit, and once you reach it, a truly breathtaking view of the mountain covered in cherry blossoms opens out before your eyes. You may even lose track of time with this mesmerizing scenery. Nearby is the popular sightseeing spot Udatsu Town, which is a picturesque street of traditional houses and stores found in jokamachi (castle towns) during the Edo period. It’s only about a 10-minute drive from the mountain, so you can enjoy both tourist attractions on the same day.

(This information is as of March 2018)