Takato Castle Park, Nagano

#cherryblossom25 Takato Castle Park gave me a completely different cherry blossom experience — soft, almost mystical. The park is famous for its kohigan-zakura, a slightly smaller variety with a deeper pink hue, and the whole place glows with color during peak bloom. I went early in the morning and the light mist over the petals made the old castle ruins feel like a fairytale. The views from the hilltop were incredible — cherry blossoms as far as the eye could see, with mountains framing the background. I grabbed some freshly steamed oyaki (stuffed dumplings) from a vendor at the base and ate them under a flowering tree. It was calm, quiet, and overwhelmingly beautiful. I found this place through someone else’s #cherryblossom25 post, and I’m so glad I did. It's a bit remote, but if you’re after a tranquil, less commercial sakura experience, Takato is a hidden gem. Easily one of the dreamiest stops I’ve made.