Mitsuike Park

Mitsuike Park takes its name — literally 'three ponds' — from the trio of connected reservoirs at its heart, and it is around these calm sheets of water that one of Yokohama's finest hanami landscapes unfolds each spring. Set in the hills of Tsurumi Ward in the city's north-east, the park is a favourite weekend escape for local families, walkers and photographers, and its cherry display is celebrated enough to earn a place on the national list of Japan's 100 best cherry-blossom spots.

The three ponds — originally built for irrigation — are ringed by walking paths that rise and fall through wooded slopes, so a circuit of the park feels less like a stroll through a city green space and more like a gentle woodland hike. In late March and early April some 1,600 cherry trees of around 80 varieties burst into bloom, their branches leaning out over the water so that the pale petals are doubled in the still reflections below. Because the park grows several kinds of cherry that flower at slightly different times, the blossom season here lasts noticeably longer than at single-variety spots, stretching the spectacle over several weeks.

Beyond the cherries, Mitsuike is a genuine all-season park. Plum and camellia brighten late winter, azaleas and fresh green follow in early summer, and the maples and other broadleaf trees on the surrounding hillsides turn gold and scarlet in November, giving the ponds a second, quieter moment of beauty. Waterfowl paddle across the reservoirs year-round, and the wooded margins draw wild birds that make the park popular with birdwatchers. There is also a small children's play area, open lawns for picnics, and a botanical corner, so families can easily spend half a day here.

The atmosphere is unhurried and distinctly local — this is a neighbourhood park loved by the people of Tsurumi rather than a polished tourist attraction, which is much of its charm. On ordinary days you will share the paths mainly with dog-walkers, joggers and retirees; during the cherry season the lawns fill with blue picnic tarps and the mood turns festive. Restrooms, vending machines and parking are available, and the main lakeside paths are broad and manageable, though the hillier back trails involve some steps and slopes.

Getting there takes a little effort, which helps keep the crowds mostly domestic: from Tsurumi Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, or from Shin-Yokohama, ride city bus route 104 to the Mitsuike-koen Kitamon (north gate) stop, from where it is a short walk into the park. Aim for a weekday or an early start during blossom season, bring a picnic, and give yourself time to walk the full loop around all three ponds — the quieter far shore, away from the main entrance, often offers the loveliest and most peaceful views of the water framed in pink.