Me and my wife together with our parents arrived nighttime in Dotonbori, Namba, Osaka on April 12, 2016, a couple of days too late for the cherry blossoms, and we didn't give up. All our efforts would come into waste if we cannot have this dream come true experience of cherry blossom viewing (hanami), which is Japan's most awaited seasonal spectacle, after all.
Researching the internet that night on japan-guide:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3951_late.html pointed us to: Haradani-en Garden (原谷苑) in Kyoto, Japan. It says that sakura / cherry blossoms there blooms full a few days beyond the end of the main season, located Northwest of central Kyoto. Since Kyoto Station is Just 15 minutes away from Shin-Osaka Station by bullet train, and we got Japan Rail passes that gives us unlimited shinkansen / bullet train rides all over Japan, it is very possible for us to catch the phenomenon there.
Haradani-en is an excellent spot to enjoy large numbers of later blooming weeping cherry trees. The pleasant garden is located in the northern outskirts of Kyoto in the hills above Kinkakuji Temple. Haradani-en Garden charges 1200 yen on weekdays or 1500 yen on weekends and holidays, 9:00am to 5:00pm
How we get there (Its easy and fast so I highly recommend it) :
1. We take the Kyoto City Bus from Kyoto Station to Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) Bus Stop.
2. We take taxi from Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) to Haradani-en Garden (原谷苑)
it wont cost much, its around 900 yen
We indeed had a very successful, and a dream come true experience of sakura / cherry blossom viewing (hanami), even though we arrived a couple of days too late for the cherry blossoms season, as the pictures below shows:
