Cherry Blossoms Almost at Peak along Historic Waterway in Japan’s Shiga Prefecture

The Yomiuri Shimbun

13:34 JST, April 1, 2026

OMI-HACHIMAN, Shiga — Cherry blossoms along a historic waterway have almost reached full bloom in Omi-Hachiman, Shiga Prefecture.

The Hachimanbori waterway dates back to Toyotomi Hidetsugu (1568-95), nephew of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a warlord who completed national unification. Hidetsugu developed the waterway when he constructed a castle on a nearby hill. The waterway helped the castle town flourish as a commercial center by connecting it with Lake Biwa.

Cherry blossoms lining a 120-meter section along the waterway are illuminated in the evening, with the reflections of the flowers creating a fantastic sight.

The flowers are illuminated from sunset to around 9 p.m. According to the city’s tourism association, cherry blossom viewing can be enjoyed through around April 10.