Hiyori-yama Kōen

Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)


In the hills above Ishinomaki, 56m above sea level, this beautiful park stands on the site of the former Ishinomaki castle. Offering sweeping views over the city, it's a wonderful spot to relax. The park's 400 cherry-blossom trees bloom from mid-April. On a more sombre note, it's also the best vantage point to comprehend the scale of the 2011 tsunami's destruction.