Introducing the spring events and cherry blossom festivals in Japan held all over the country according to the time when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom!

Go out to the hottest spots selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots, or get drunk whilst the cherry blossoms are lit up at night… Enjoy spring with the perfect cherry blossom viewing plan for you!

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Find out more about types of cherry blossoms, Spring in Japan here: What to do in Spring, Where to go in spring, Wisteria in Japan, Spring Date ideas, What to do eat in spring, Where to see cherry blossom in Tokyo and Cherry blossom festivals.

1. Goryokaku Park [Hokkaido]

Night cherry blossom illumination Goryokaku Park

At Goryokaku Park, where around 1,600 Yoshino cherry trees are in full bloom, the cherry blossoms are lit up at night. Not only are the lit up cherry trees spectacular by themselves, but the cherry blossoms that bloom in the Guo fill the star-shaped ridge, creating an atmosphere that resembles a flower fort.

2. Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival [Aomori Prefecture]

Hirosaki Park, which has been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan,” has around 2,600 cherry blossoms varying from 52 types of different trees, including Yoshino cherry trees, weeping cherry trees, and double cherry blossoms.

 You can enjoy the “Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival”, which has celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018. In addition to shows at the local entertainment theatre, the park will be lit up and crowded with many people. 

3. Towada City Spring Festival [Aomori Prefecture]

The Towada City Spring Festival will be held in and around the government office street, which has been selected as one of the “100 Best Roads in Japan” as the cherry blossoms bloom. The government office street, nicknamed “Koma Kaido,” is a beautiful tree-lined road with 156 cherry blossom trees and 165 pine trees. It is lit up at night, and you can enjoy the fantastic beauty of the cherry blossoms at night.

4. Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival [Akita Prefecture]

The Yoshino cherry trees planted on the Hinokinai River bank, which has been designated as a national scenic spot, creates a tunnel of cherry blossoms during its full bloom. Voluming over around 2 km along the river on the west side of Kakunodate Samurai Street. The weeping cherry tree on the samurai residence street shines on the blackboard wall, where you can feel the atmosphere even more. 

Approximately 400 weeping cherry trees, including those designated as national natural monuments, are in full bloom in Kakunodate Town. The view of the entire town is dyed in light red, which can be seen from the top of Mt. Kojo is a  spectacular masterpiece. During the Sakura Festival, Kakunodate’s “Oyama Hayashiya” stores will be open, and you can enjoy the illuminated cherry blossoms at night.

5. Ogawara Sakura Festival [Miyagi Prefecture]

In Miyagi Prefecture, the “Ogawara Sakura Festival” will be held at the riverbed just in time to see the Shiroishi River Tsutsumi Ichimoku Senbonzakura, which was selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan” along with Funaoka Castle Ruins Park. 

You can enjoy cherry-blossom viewing in your own style, such as the “Ohanami Yakatabune” that runs back and forth to the Nagijin Weir, as well as a walk on foot. Special cherry-blossom viewing lunch boxes will be sold and cherry blossoms will be lit up at night.

6. Tsuruga Castle Park Illuminated [Fukushima Prefecture]

At Tsurugajo Park, which is also known for being one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan,” has the entire historic site lit up as the cherry blossoms bloom. 1000 cherry blossoms are in full bloom in the park, and at night you can enjoy the cherry blossoms with Tsuruga Castle in the background. The illuminated cherry blossoms at night reflecting onto the surface of the moat is beautiful and creates a fantastic atmosphere.

7. Roppongi Hills Spring Festival [Tokyo]

The annual “Spring Festival” is held around Roppongi Hills Arena and Mori Garden. Popular characters will appear, fun performances will be held, and gourmet food stalls with restaurants in Roppongi Hills will line up, allowing you to enjoy a variety of menus. In Mori Garden, whilst the flowers of the four seasons are beautiful, the cherry blossoms in full bloom begin in spring are very memorable, as well as the carpet of bright azaleas fills the garden spectacularly.

8. Toshimaen Sakura Festival [Tokyo]

Toshimaen, is a famous place for cherry blossoms near the city centre, is full of Yoshino cherry trees and around 500 double cherry blossoms in late March every year. During the Sakura Festival, the opening hours will be extended and you can enjoy the illuminated night cherry blossoms. A great-value ticket “Sakura Night Pass” offers unlimited rides on vehicles is also on sale, so you can easily enjoy the cherry blossoms at night while riding the attractions (open only after 17:30).

9. Odawara Sakura Festival [Kanagawa Prefecture]

The “Sakura Festival” will be held when the 320 Yoshino cherry trees in Odawara Castle Park are in full bloom. Also known as the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”, it is crowded with many people during this time. The cherry blossoms that can be seen from the top floor of the white castle tower is a picturesque masterpiece.

10. Satte Sakura Festival [Saitama Prefecture]

Satte Gongendo Tsutsumi, is famous nationwide for being a great place to view cherry blossoms. You can enjoy various spring landscapes such as the beautiful two-color contrast between the tunnel of 1000 cherry blossoms that stretches for about 1 km and the rape blossoms that are in full bloom at the same time. Additionally, the cherry blossom trees are lit up at night. At the Satte Sakura Festival, the annual Sakura Goodwill Ambassador Handover Ceremony, tea party, haiku contest, etc. are held, and about 100 stalls and tourist products are lined up.

11. Shimizu Park Sakura Festival [Chiba Prefecture]

At Shimizu Park, which is famous for being one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”, the “Sakura Festival” is held at the best time during the cherry trees peak bloom. 2000 cherry blossoms of around 50 species, such as weeping cherry blossoms and prunus campanulata are in full bloom centering around the Yoshino cherry trees. 

During the period, a tourist information centre will be set up, guide maps and cherry-blossom viewing maps will be distributed, and the lights will be lit up after sunset, so you can enjoy the fantastic night cherry blossoms.

12. Akagi South Senbonzakura Festival [Gunma Prefecture]

Akagi South Senbonzakura is a cherry blossom viewing spot that has been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”. The “Sakura Festival” will be held at the best time to see the cherry blossoms, which include attractions such as  the night illumination, cherry blossom viewing stage, and Maebashi Bussan Market.Adjacent to the “Miyagi Senbonsakura no Mori”, you can enjoy rape blossoms and about 500 cherry blossoms of 37 varieties. 

13. 56th Hitachi Sakura Festival [Ibaraki Prefecture]

In Hitachi City, there are so many cherry blossom spots that it is nicknamed “Mito’s Shiraume, Hitachi’s Sakura”, where you can see the magnificent cherry blossom tunnel of Yoshino cherry tree planted about 1km on Heiwa-dori from Hitachi Station to Route 6. This row of cherry blossom trees has been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan” along with the cherry blossoms in Kamine Park. On the 7th and 8th, “Hitachi Furyumono” (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage), where you can find a Karakuri puppet show is performed on a huge mountain car with a height of 15m and a weight of 5t, which inherits the tradition from the Edo period, will be shown. During the period, various events will be held at Kamine Park. It is lit up at night and you can enjoy the fantastic night cherry blossoms.

14. Takada Castle Million People Viewing Cherry Blossom Party [Niigata Prefecture]

At Takada Park, which has been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan,” the “Takada Castle Million People Viewing Cherry Blossom Party,” is said to be one of the “Three Great Night Cherry Blossoms in Japan,” will be held.

 Approximately 4000 Yoshino cherry trees, including the area around the park, are in full bloom, and the surrounding area is dyed in cherry blossoms. Approximately 3000 bonbori lights up, and you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at night, as well as the “Sakura Road,” which is a lighted-up tunnel of cherry blossoms. The night cherry blossoms in Takada Park have been certified as a Japanese night view heritage known as the “Light-up night view heritage.” Additionally, Takada Castle is one of Japan’s three major night view castles.

15. Arakurayama Sengen Park Cherry Blossom Festival [Yamanashi Prefecture]

Approximately 650 Yoshino cherry trees are planted in Arakurayama Sengen Park on the hillside of Mt. Arakura, and they begin to bloom all at once in mid-April every year. From the hill behind the Chureito Pagoda, which has beautiful vermilion pillars, you can see Mt. Fuji over the Chureito Pagoda and Fujiyoshida City below. This is especially popular during the cherry blossom season as it is a spectacular spot where you can feel the original scenery of Japan. The “Sakura Festival” is held at the best time, and on the 14th and 15th, and is full of events such as store openings and stage events.

16. Izukogen Cherry Blossom Festival [Shizuoka Prefecture]

The “Izu-Kogen Cherry Blossom Festival ” will be held simultaneously with the flowering of the cherry blossoms of around 3000 m. The trees continue from the front of Izu-Kogen Station to the direction of Mt. Omuro. During the Hanamachi period, it is crowded with street stalls and stage events, where you can also enjoy watching the lit cherry blossoms at night. The cherry blossoms in front of the station are scheduled to be in full bloom in early March.

17. Iwakura Sakura Festival [Aichi Prefecture]

The “Iwakura Sakura Festival” will be held on the banks of the Gojo River in Iwakura, which is famous for being one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”. During the festival, there will be a demonstration of the carp streamer glue removal “Nonbori Washing” held in the Gojo River, as well as a mountain car cruise and a karakuri demonstration. There is also a night cherry blossom illumination and a produce market. * During the Sakura Festival, congestion is expected on roads near the Gojo River.

18. Wolong Sakura / Sakura Festival [Gifu Prefecture]

The “Sakura Festival” is held at the best time to see one of the Edohigan cherry blossoms, which is called “Wolong Sakura” because the shape of the tree resembles a dragon led down. This cherry tree, which is over 1100 years old, has a height of 20m, a branch of 38m, and a trunk circumference of 7.3m, creating a strong presence. It has been designated as a national natural monument. During the period, a tourist information centre and a food stall village will appear in Garyu Park, where special products will be sold and the bonbons will be lit from 18:00 to 20:00.

19. Takaoka Sakura Festival [Toyama Prefecture]

At Takaoka Kojo Park (Takaoka Castle Ruins), which has been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”, has around 1800 trees including 18 types such as Koshino Higan, Yoshino Cherry, and Oshima Sakura are in full bloom. At night, large and small bonbons are lit and crowded with many cherry blossom viewing visitors. A sightseeing boat (planned) can be found on the moat in the park, which is operated according to the cherry blossom season, where you can enjoy special cherry blossom viewing from the boat. Various events are scheduled, such as folk songs and dances, and walking around the park guided by a tourist volunteer guide.

20. Kenrokuen Garden Free Opening & Kanazawa Castle / Kenrokuen Cherry Blossom Viewing Season Illumination [Ishikawa Prefecture]

Around 400 Yoshino cherry trees such as Higanzakura, and Yamazakura are in full bloom in Kanazawa Castle Park and about 420 in Kenrokuen. The park will be open for free for about a week during the cherry blossom season. During this period, the garden is lit up and you can see beautiful cherry blossoms day and night.

21. Illumination of cherry blossoms, corridor of lights [Fukui Prefecture]

Fukui has many cherry blossom spots, such as the cherry blossom trees on the Asuwa River embankment, which has been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan.” It has its trees lit up as it blooms, and you can enjoy the fantastic night cherry blossoms that are different from the daytime.

22. Okazaki Sakura Corridor Illuminated & Tour of Toishi Boat [Kyoto Prefecture]

At Okazaki, Kyoto’s prominent cultural and exchange zone accommodates facilities such as ROHM Theatre Kyoto, the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Miyako Messe.  This is a good spot to enjoy the fantastic night cherry blossom scenery with the cherry blossom corridor lit up along Lake Biwa Canal. Ishifune operates (day and night). You can enjoy spring Okazaki over a period of days. There are many things to do such as viewing the cherry blossoms, visiting the ten stone boats, and various other infrastructures such as zoos and cultural facilities. 

23. Heian Jingu Kansakura Tea Ceremony [Kyoto Prefecture]

You can enjoy tea while admiring the weeping cherry tree at Heian Jingu Shrine. From April 5th to 8th, the “Red Weeping Concert (Light Up)” (charged) will be held in the East and South Shrine areas, where you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at night while listening to the beautiful sounds.

24. Osaka Castle [Osaka Prefecture]

At the Osaka Castle castle tower, the opening hours will be extended by 2 hours during the cherry blossom viewing season. After viewing the cherry blossoms, you can spend a different time inside the castle tower, such as watching the night view from the observatory on the 8th floor or going round the historical exhibition.

25. Kurayoshi Spring Festival-Haruka Town Kurayoshi / Retro Spring- [Tottori Prefecture]

The “Kurayoshi Spring Festival” will be held at the main venue of Utsubuki Park, which is located at the foot of Mt. Utsubuki, where the legend of the celestial maiden remains. As a tourism cooperation campaign for “Harukamachi Kurayoshi / Retro Spring”, various events will be held in various places to announce the arrival of spring, such as “Kurayoshi Uchibuki no Shibina” and “Sakura Cup Competition Sumo Championship”. At Utsubuki Park, which is known for being one of the best cherry blossom and azalea spots in the Sanin region. The bonbori that colours the flowers will be lit from late March to mid-May.

26. Tsuyama Sakura Festival [Okayama Prefecture]

Tsuyama Castle (Tsuruyama Park), has around 1000 cherry blossoms in full bloom every spring, has been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”. Taiko drums and dances are performed at Tsuruyama Park, and Koto and Shakuhachi performances such as “Spring Tune” are held at Shurakuen, which is about a 10-minute walk from the park. It is lit up at night, and you can see the fantastic night cherry blossoms, and various other events are held mainly on Saturdays and Sundays. * 20 minutes walk from “Tsuyama Station” on the JR Kishin Line to Shurakuen

27. Shobara Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival [Hiroshima Prefecture]

At Shobara Ueno, centre of Shobara City, around 600 Yoshino cherry trees are in full bloom around April 10th every year. The “Sakura Festival” is held simultaneously with the flowering of the cherry trees, and is crowded with many cherry blossom viewing visitors. It has been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”.

28. Tokiwa Park Sakura Festival 2018 [Yamaguchi Prefecture]

The Sakura Festival will be held at Tokiwa Park, which is known as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots”. At night, the cherry blossoms are lit up with LED lighting. The main event will be held on April 1st, and there will be plenty of other events such as the “Sakura Sweets Fair” where you can enjoy sweets and bread that run with the theme of cherry blossoms.

29. Special scenic spot Ritsurin Garden Spring illumination [Kagawa Prefecture]

At Ritsurin Garden, which is said to be a national treasure, the north garden is lit up during the season whilst the cherry blossoms are beautiful. In addition to this, cherry blossoms such as weeping cherry trees and Yoshino cherry trees and pine trees are illuminated by the light, creating a fantastic atmosphere in the park. The array of the cherry blossoms with the beautiful green colour of the pine trees, and the cherry blossoms reflected on the surface of the lake are especially magnificent during this time.

30. Mifuneyama Rakuen Flower Festival [Saga Prefecture]

The “Flower Festival” will be held at Mifuneyama Rakuen, a nationally registered monument that is famous as a scenic spot in Kyushu. It is Kyushu’s largest night cherry blossom illumination where 2000 cherry blossoms in the 50,000 tsubo area will emerge in the dark night. There are a variety of cherry trees such as the Yoshino cherry trees, Prunus speciosa, and Yaezakura in the park.

The cherry blossoms that grow in clusters on the left side of the “azalea valley” under the cliff of Mifuneyama show are exceptionally beautiful, especially around the pond that spreads in front of the entrance gate. Additionally, around 200,000 azaleas and flowers such as Ofuji, are in full bloom one after another. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is from late March to early April, azaleas are from mid-April to late April, and Ofuji is from late April to early May. 

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Find out more about Spring in Japan here: What to do in Spring, Where to go in spring, Wisteria in Japan, Spring Date ideas, What to do eat in spring, Where to see cherry blossom in Tokyo and Cherry blossom festivals.

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