Things to Do in Koka, Japan: Ugui River Senbonzakura Cherry Blossoms Guide.

Ugui River Senbonzakura: A Hidden Cherry Blossom Paradise in a Small Mountain Village, Shiga, Japan

Visiting Ugui River Senbonzakura Again in 2024, One of Koka City’s Cherry Blossom Highlights

Koka City is home to a beautiful cherry blossom spot known as Ugui River Senbonzakura. Along both banks of the Ugui River, hundreds—so many they are poetically described as “a thousand”—cherry trees grow in dense clusters. When they reach full bloom, the scenery becomes truly majestic, making this place a quiet but impressive seasonal destination.

I first visited Ugui River Senbonzakura in 2022, when I traveled to Aiga in Tsuchiyama Town, one of Shiga Prefecture’s well-known cherry blossom areas. In 2024, after pandemic-related travel restrictions had fully eased, I returned once again to see these blossoms in their full glory.

To reach the Ugui River, I drive from my home in Minakuchi Town toward the Tsuchiyama–Suzuka area along National Route 1. Leaving the highway partway and heading into the mountains, the road passes exposed rocky slopes as the valley beside it gradually deepens. Soon, Aodo Dam comes into view.
After passing the dam, the road enters a small mountain village, where rows of cherry trees begin to appear, raising anticipation for the destination ahead. While being distracted by cherry trees blooming throughout the village, you quickly find yourself arriving at the Ugui River.

When I visited again after two years, the cherry blossoms were right at peak bloom. The number of visitors was moderate—busy enough to feel lively, but not so crowded as to spoil the atmosphere. The weather was pleasantly warm that day, perfect for cherry blossom viewing in Tsuchiyama, which is often still a little chilly in early spring. I took many photographs of the beautiful sakura scenery in this part of Shiga.

When Is the Best Season to Visit?

The cherry blossom season varies each year, often shifting by a week or more depending on temperatures. The best viewing period arrives suddenly once the cold loosens its grip. Peak bloom usually lasts about one week, while the entire blooming period spans roughly two to three weeks.

Tsuchiyama Town tends to be slightly cooler than other parts of Koka City, so cherry blossoms here typically bloom about a week later than in central Koka. I visited on April 13, 2022, and April 7, 2024, and on both occasions the blossoms were just past full bloom. As a general guide, early to mid-April (the first to second week of April) is the best time to visit this area.

Access to Aiga / Ugui River Park

Ugui River Park
601 Aiga, Tsuchiyama-cho, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture 528-0202, Japan

Access and Parking Information

Access to Ugui River is essentially car-dependent. A private car, taxi, or rental car is the most practical option. According to Google Maps, there is also a bus route, which takes about 50 minutes from JR Kibukawa Station to the Aigawa-guchi bus stop.

The surrounding area is a small rural village, so during cherry blossom season, nearby open spaces are temporarily used as parking areas for visitors. From what I observed, traffic guidance and parking management seemed to be handled voluntarily by local residents. The parking areas filled up reasonably well, but were not overwhelmingly crowded.

Even during peak bloom, the area remains quiet—there are no rows of food stalls or kitchen cars. There is, however, one of the few nearby cafés in the area (Hakuna Matata), which might be worth a stop.

Camera Gear Used on This Day

In 2022, I used a Canon X7i, and in 2024, a Fujifilm X-T30. The improvement in image quality compared to my previous visit is quite noticeable. While my earlier photos lacked sharpness, this time I used a low-pass-filter-less camera, resulting in much sharper images with better color reproduction.

Equipment used:
Cameras: Fujifilm X-T30, Fujifilm X100F
Lenses: XF 16–80mm f/4, XF 56mm f/1.2

Cherry Blossoms Along the Ugui River in Photos

Photos from both 2022 and 2024 are presented here.

The most famous view is from the bridge crossing the Ugui River. From this vantage point, cherry trees cascade down from both riverbanks, combining with the flowing river and the surrounding mountains to form a scene that feels like a perfectly composed painting.

Along both sides of the river, visitors can enjoy the blossoms from the embankments above as well as from the riverbanks below.

On the riverbanks, visitors stroll leisurely or sit beneath the fully blooming cherry trees, spending relaxed moments immersed in the gentle atmosphere of spring.

Several small pedestrian bridges cross the Ugui River at different points, where people stop to cross, take photos, and enjoy the scenery.

Afterword

This concludes my introduction to Ugui River Senbonzakura in Aiga, Tsuchiyama Town, one of Koka City’s most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Shiga Prefecture.