Hanamomo Peach Blossoms in the Closest Village to Heaven

A gorgeous natural tapestry of peach blossoms painted on the former rice terraces of the “Closest Village to Heaven”.

Kaizumi Village

Kaizumi [川角] in Ohnan is known as the “Closest Village to Heaven”, not only for its elevation, but for the fact that the average age in the tiny community is north of 80.

Peach Blossoms in Ohnan

After winding up through the Kandani [神谷] rice terraces, you pop out of a tiny tunnel to find yourself on a mountaintop. Below, hundreds of peach trees, covered with pink and white blossoms, growing on terraces carpeted with bright yellow rapeseed flowers.

Check the state of the blossoms
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The planting of the 2000 or so trees began almost 20 years ago as part of a re-vitalization effort involving local residents and nearby schools. Kaizumi is one special place and well worth the effort to get there.

Between April 5 and April 19, 2025 there will be food stalls open in the village. Parking for about 100 cars will be available. Parking is free, but donations to help support this tiny community in maintaining the terraces is encouraged. Just pop a bit of cash in the donation boxes provided.

As some of the steep roads to Kizumi are closed, visitors are advised to make for here [Google Map Pin] and follow signs up to the village.

Paul Walsh

Paul arrived in Hiroshima "for a few months" back in 1996. He is the co-founder of GetHiroshima.com and loves running in the mountains.