Mount Yae

Mount Yae is a stunning spot to enjoy sakura, but it tends to get very crowded during the sakura season, especially around their sakura festival. If you prefer a more peaceful experience, consider visiting after the festival and on weekdays when the crowds thin out. The scenery is still breathtaking, and you’ll have more space to truly appreciate the beauty of the cherry blossoms. It’s a perfect spot for a serene and picturesque outing!

Great place, especially during the Sakura season. The trees are everywhere. Not a lot of parking around the upper part of the mountain and the roads are very narrow.

These are photos that were taken in late January 2020. The cherry blossom is a flower of many trees of genus Prunus. The most well-known species is the Japanese cherry, Prunus serrulata, which is commonly called "sakura". The typical lifespan of sakura chrysanthemums is 10-14 days. They bud, bloom, and wilt in this short span. The sakura species in Mount Yae (and in Okinawa in general) is called Ryukyu Kanhizakura. At the place where we were, there were more than 7000 of Ryukyu Kanhizakura from the foot to the top.

Beautiful mountain and peaceful cemetery. I went just in time for the sakura festival and the drive was so enjoyable!

Went too late, the sakura had started to wilt. Still a nice place to visit though.

Visited 2-11-24 and most of the Sakura were in full bloom. It’s a great area to see them! Common rose butterflies everywhere! There are a couple paths to hike so wear the proper shoes if you want to explore.

This place was spectacular with all the great views and mountains. Had to walk most of the ways but it was worth it. It was the most windiest part of the area. The typhoon was the strongest here. Great walk to the top and not many people here. Had the place to ourselves.

It's super hard to climb. After a rainy day, there are so many bugs when you reach the top of the mountain. It's like there's no top. 👎😡