India, March 22 -- Cherry blossom season in Japan is second to none. The country is renowned for its sakura trees, but what makes the experience so spectacular is the island's deep love for the season-there's even a special word for the art of enjoying cherry blossoms: hanami. Cherry blossom season is considered one of the busiest times to visit Japan, but (for better or worse) most travelers tend to stick to Tokyo and Kyoto when visiting. And they may be missing out on one of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan: Mount Yoshino.

Mount Yoshino is located within Yoshino-Kumano National Park, about 55 miles southeast of Osaka, 70 miles south of Kyoto, and 300 miles southwest of Tokyo. Though it's a bit out of the way for the aver...