Normally, cherry blossom viewing spots are crowded with many tourists from March to April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. One of the best seats to see the cherry blossoms while avoiding the crowds may actually be from an airplane. Because of the speed, it's only for a moment, but the pale pink carpet will be an unforgettable sight. The top recommendation from JAL pilots is, without a doubt, Narita Airport.
Scenic spot 1: Cherry blossoms at Narita Airport
"Just before landing at Narita Airport, look to the right (west). There is a mountain (Sakurakan Sky Station) where cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and you can see beautiful cherry blossoms during the season. They are lit up at night, and it's really beautiful." (Male, 52)
These cherry blossoms are close to the airport, so you can see them before takeoff. Although it is still difficult to fly internationally, if you ever find yourself using Narita Airport during cherry blossom season, please be sure to enjoy the view.
"When waiting for takeoff on Runway A at Narita Airport, you can see them on the opposite side of the runway. Also, when the southerly wind is blowing and you are landing from north to south, you can see them before landing. It's nice during the day, but it's very relaxing to see the cherry blossoms in the evening while waiting for takeoff." (Male, 50)
Scenic spot 2: Cherry blossoms at Takamatsu Airport and other airports around the country
"There may not be many views where you can clearly see cherry blossoms during flight, but many domestic airports have cherry trees planted nearby, so you can enjoy them from the cabin window during takeoff and landing." (Male, 52-year-old captain)
As you can see, there are actually many great cherry blossom viewing spots at airports all over Japan. Another recommended spot is Takamatsu Airport.
"The cherry blossoms at Takayama Aviation Park, located next to the runway at Takamatsu Airport, look beautiful." (Male, 52, B737 pilot)
Well, there are many other spectacular views besides the cherry blossoms. If you are flying from Haneda, there are plenty of scenic spots recommended by the pilot.
Scenic spot 3: Tokyo's landmarks and Mt. Fuji
"When taking off from Haneda, if you are heading west from Runway C (34R), you can get a beautiful view of the Skytree, Tokyo Dome, and Mt. Fuji." (Male, 53, Boeing 737 captain)
Scenic spot 4: The beautiful greenery of Amanohashidate
"If you're flying between Haneda and Izumo or Haneda and Yamaguchi Ube, be sure to look down at the ground when you're flying over Miyazu City, where the Sea of Japan meets. It depends on the weather, but sometimes you can see the beautiful green line of Amanohashidate." (Male, 52, Boeing 737 captain)
From up in the sky, you'll likely discover unknown sides of beautiful scenic spots that you would normally only be able to see from the ground.
Scenic spot 5: "Beautiful autumn foliage in the Kiso and Hida Mountains"
At a cruising altitude of about 10,000 meters above the ground, man-made structures can only be seen as small structures, but the grandeur of nature is a different story. Sometimes you can see dynamic landscapes filling the entire window.
"On routes heading south, such as Haneda-Fukuoka and Haneda-Kumamoto, 15 to 20 minutes after takeoff, when flying over the Kiso and Hida mountain ranges in autumn, the mountains can be seen turning red with the autumn leaves." (Male, 52-year-old pilot)
Scenic spot 6: "Mountains from Yatsugatake to Lake Suwa"
"On the Tokyo-Fukuoka route, about 15 minutes after takeoff, look to your right. You'll see scenic spots such as the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Northern Alps, the Southern Alps, and Lake Suwa one after another. In winter, the plane is covered in snow, making it even more spectacular." (Male, 55, Boeing 787 captain)
Now, these are spectacular views that can be seen with a high probability depending on the season, weather, and operating conditions, but there are some special views among them that you can only see if you're lucky.
Scenic spot 7: Fireworks from around the country
The photograph is an image
"When flying over the Kanto and Western Japan areas around 8pm on summer weekends, there are fireworks going off everywhere, which is very beautiful. Also, depending on the runway being used, when taking off and landing at Haneda Airport, you can see beautiful fireworks from a nearby amusement park." (Male, 40s)
In addition, you may be able to see special natural phenomena that can only be seen in the sky.
Scenic spot 8: "Venus Belt" that sometimes appears on clear evenings
The photograph is an image
"On clear evenings, the sky can sometimes look two-toned. This is because the Earth's shadow is visible before sunset, with the upper part of the boundary being daytime and the lower part being nighttime. The ash pink band at this boundary is called the 'Venus Belt.' It can also be seen before sunrise, but it's easier to see before sunset, and can be seen from both windows on planes flying east-west." (Male, 56, B767 captain)
The scenery outside the plane that you normally see without even thinking about it is actually full of hidden gems and must-see views like these. When you have the opportunity to fly again, why not try to find some spectacular views that can only be seen from the sky? However, with an airplane traveling at speeds of up to 850km per hour, there are very few opportunities to see them. Please be careful not to miss out on any special views.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
