In Japan, many castles and castle ruins have become famous for their cherry blossoms. This time, we will introduce spots featured in "Rurubu", which has been recognized by the Guinness World Records™ as the "Longest book series-travel guides" with the highest number of issues in the world. From the top-ranked cherry blossom spots featured in Rurubu, we have picked up cherry blossom viewing spots where you can also appreciate castles and castle ruins together. We have collected famous places from all over Japan, including popular areas such as Osaka and Fukuoka.
Why are there so many cherry blossoms around Japanese castles?
In places like Hirosaki Castle in Aomori Prefecture and Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture, cherry blossoms bloom wildly in the spring, creating beautiful scenery. However, the planting of cherry trees around castles actually began after the Meiji era (1868-1912). When the castles were military bases for warlords, trees were not planted around them so that the view of invading enemies would not be obscured. After the castle abolition order was issued in the Meiji era, cherry trees were planted to prevent the collapse of the remaining stone walls at the castle ruins and to create a place of relaxation for citizens.
Famous places across Japan where you can see castles and cherry blossoms together
From here, we will introduce famous castles and castle ruins which also serve as as cherry blossom spots throughout Japan. Read along with the episodes related to the castles and choose your next travel destination.
[Aomori] Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle Park)
Hirosaki Castle, the residence of the Hirosaki Domain for generations, is one of the only 12 existing castle towers in the Tohoku region and has become a symbol of the castle town, Hirosaki City. Around late April, about 2,600 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino and Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry), begin to bloom in the castle, with the remaining snow on Mt. Iwaki in the background. In the western moat, cherry blossoms bloom like a tunnel, and the cherry blossoms at night are also beautiful.
- Address: 1 Shimoshirakane-cho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
- Best viewing time: Late April to early May
- Admission fee: Free to stroll, for Honmaru & Kita no Kaku - Adults (high school students and above) 320 yen, children 100 yen
- Business/visiting hours: Free to stroll, Hirosaki Castle (castle tower) is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (7:00 to 21:00 during the cherry blossom festival)
- Closed: Open all year round, Hirosaki Castle (castle tower) is closed for winter from November 24 to March 31
- Number of trees: About 2,600
- Types of cherry blossoms: Somei Yoshino, Shidarezakura, etc.
- Night cherry blossom period (as of 2023): April 21 (Fri) to May 5 (Fri/Holiday) in 2023 *Subject to change depending on the condition of the cherry blossoms
- Night cherry blossom time (as of 2023): From sunset to 21:00 (planned)
- Information provided by: JTB Publishing
【Akita】Senshu Park
Senshu Park was developed as a park in 1896 on the site of the castle ruin of the Satake clan, the 200,000 koku daimyo of Akita Domain. When the cherry blossom season comes, about 700 cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino, are in full bloom. From mid-May, azaleas are also at their best.
- Address: 1-1 Senshu Park, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
- Best viewing time: Mid to late April
- Admission fee: Free (100 yen for viewing the Sumi Yagura, free for high school students and under)
- Business/Viewing hours: Sumi Yagura is open from 9:00 to 16:30
- Closed: Sumi Yagura is closed from December 1 to the end of March
- Number of trees: About 700
- Types of cherry blossoms: Shidarezakura, Somei Yoshino, Yaezakura, Jindai Akebono, O-murazakura, O-shimazakura, etc.
- Period of night cherry blossoms (as of 2023): Mid to late April 2023
- Night cherry blossom viewing time (as of 2023): 18:00 to 22:00 (planned)
- Information provided by: JTB Publishing
【Fukushima】Tsuruga Castle Park
Tsuruga Castle was originally built as Higashikurokawa House by Ashina Naomori in the first year of Shotoku (1384), rebuilt by Gamo Ujisato in the second year of Bunroku during the Warring States period (1593), and extensively renovated by Kato Kiyomasa. It was opened after being defeated in the Boshin War at the end of the Edo period. It was then dismantled by the Meiji government, and the current castle tower was rebuilt in 1965. In spring, about 1,000 cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino, are in full bloom. At the end of the Edo period, when the Boshin War took place, Tsuruga Castle used red tiles, which are said to be resistant to cold, and in 2010, it underwent re-roofing work to reproduce its appearance at that time. It is one of the rare castle towers with red tiles in Japan.
- Address: 1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
- Best viewing time: Mid to late April
- Admission fee: Free
- Closed: Open all year round
- Number of trees: About 1,000
- Types of cherry blossoms: Somei Yoshino, Yaezakura, Shidarezakura
- Period of night cherry blossoms (as of 2023): April 5 (Wed) to May 7 (Sun), 2023 (planned)
- Night cherry blossom viewing time (as of 2023): Sunset to 9:30 pm (during cherry blossom season. After the cherry blossoms fall, until 9 pm)
- Information provided by: JTB Publishing
【Kanagawa】Odawara Castle Park
This park, centered around the main enclosure of Odawara Castle, is home to cherry blossoms that bloom around the castle ruins and its surroundings. The oldest of these were planted in the early Showa era, before the castle tower was restored in 1960 (Showa 35). The cherry blossom trees lining the path from Gakubashi to the castle tower are particularly beautiful.
- Address: Inside the castle grounds, Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Best viewing time: Late March to early April
- Admission fee: Free
- Number of trees: 300
- Types of cherry blossoms: Somei Yoshino
- Cherry blossom viewing at night (as of 2023): Late March to early April 2023 (planned)
- Nighttime cherry blossom viewing hours (as of 2023): 18:00 to 21:00 (planned)
- Information provided by: JTB Publishing
【Hyogo】Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle, an elegant castle known as Shirasagi Castle and a National Treasure, is said to be the most famous castle in Japan and has a 400-year history. Approximately 1,000 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino, Yamazakura (Wild Cherry), and Shidarezakura (Weeping Cherry), bloom inside the castle, and they stand out against the walls of the famous castle. Highlights within the castle include the row of cherry blossom trees in Sannomaru Square, the cherry blossom grove with weeping cherry trees in Nishinomaru Garden, Sangokubori, around Hishi-no-mon Gate, the cherry blossoms along the moat of Himeyama Park, the square in front of Kisaimon and the Sannomaru. Examples include the cherry blossom grove on the hill above the plaza. The main castle tower reopened to the public on March 27, 2015.
- Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture
- Best viewing time: Late March to early April
- Fee: Admission fee: 1,000 yen for adults (18 years and older), 300 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students (free in the park, but Nishinomaru Garden is open to the public for a fee during the night cherry blossom season)
- Business/visiting hours: 9:00 to 16:00 (subject to change depending on the season)
- Closed: No holidays (Closed on December 29th and 30th)
- Number of trees: Approximately 1000 trees
- Types of cherry blossoms: Shidarezakura, Somei Yoshino, Yamazakura
- Night cherry blossom viewing period (at the time of coverage in 2023): April 2nd (Sunday) to April 9th (Sunday), 2023
- Night cherry blossom viewing time (as of 2023): 18:30-21:00 (last entry 8:30 p.m.) Adults 600 yen, children (elementary, middle school, high school) 200 yen *Events will be held rain or shine.
- Information provided by: JTB Publishing
【Kyoto】Fukuchiyama Castle Tower
Known for its construction by Mitsuhide Akechi, it retains a reconstructed castle tower, stone walls, and a copper gatehouse. In 2008, the Tsuri-gane gate was restored. In spring, the path to the castle tower and the area around the Honmaru are colored with cherry blossoms. The daily lighting up of the castle tower is also a highlight.
- Address: 5 Uchiki, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture
- Best viewing time: Early April
- Admission fee: Free (Admission to Fukuchiyama Castle Tower is 330 yen for adults, 110 yen for children)
- Business/visiting hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
- Closed: Tuesdays, December 28-31, January 4-6
- Number of trees: 37
- Types of cherry blossoms: 29 Somei Yoshino, 6 Ezo Higan, 2 Gion Shidare
- Notes on night cherry blossoms (as of 2023): The castle tower is lit up all year round
- Information provided by: JTB Publishing
【Okayama】Tsuyama Castle
A hirayama castle (built on non-elevated ground), completed by the first lord of Tsuyama Domain, Mori Tadamasa, over a span of 13 years. It has been selected as one of the top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots, and the cherry blossoms blooming against the backdrop of the magnificent stone walls are a powerful sight. Various events such as product exhibitions and light-ups are held during the period.
- Address: 135 Yamashita, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture
- Best viewing time: Late March to early April
- Admission fee: 310 yen for adults, free for junior high school students and under
- Business/visiting hours: 8:40 a.m. to 7 p.m. (7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the Cherry Blossom Festival, 8:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October to March)
- Closed: December 29-31
- Number of trees: About 1,000
- Types of cherry blossoms: Somei Yoshino, Jindai Akebono, Yaezakura, etc.
- Night cherry blossom period (as of 2023): March 25, 2023 (Sat) to April 9, 2023 (Sun)
- Night cherry blossom hours (as of 2023): Sunset to 10 p.m.
- Information provided by: JTB Publishing
【Fukuoka】Kokura Castle
Located in the heart of Kokura, the area around Kokura Castle is stunning when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, spilling over the stone walls and illuminating the night.
- Address: 2-1 Jonai, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Best viewing time: Late March to early April
- Admission fee: Free, castle entry is charged
- Business/visiting hours: 6am to 8pm (until 10pm during cherry blossom viewing season)
- Closed: Open daily
- Number of trees: About 200
- Types of cherry blossoms: Somei Yoshino, Yohkoh
- Night cherry blossom period (as of 2023): Late March 2023, depending on the blooming season
- Night cherry blossom time (as of 2023): From sunset
- Information provided by: JTB Publishing
【Kumamoto】Kumamoto Castle
Built by Kiyomasa Kato at its current location before the Battle of Sekigahara, the castle was completed in 1607 and is counted as one of the three famous castles in Japan. There are about 800 cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino and Yamazakura, which adorn the castle tower in spring. Although the area is still restricted due to the Kumamoto earthquake, you can view the cherry blossoms from the special public areas, as well as from the adjacent Sakura no Baba Josaien, Ninomaru Square, Gyoko-zaka, Nagabei Street, and other surrounding areas.
- Address: 1-1 Honmaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture
- Best viewing time: Late March to early April
- Admission fee: 800 yen for high school students and above, 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students
- Business/visiting hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
- Closed: Open all year round
- Number of trees: About 800 (including restricted areas)
- Types of cherry blossoms: Somei Yoshino, Yamazakura
- Cherry blossom viewing at night (as of 2023): March 24 (Fri) to April 2 (Sun), 2023 (planned)
- Night cherry blossom viewing time (as of 2023): Sunset to 20:00 (planned)
- Information provided by: JTB Publishing
Notes on the provided information
- Please note that spot and event information may be subject to change due to circumstances at the facility. If you wish to know the latest information such as fees, schedules, and times, we recommend that you check with each inquiry point in advance.
- While we take great care in providing the information, JTB Publishing, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or safety of the content.
- JTB Publishing, Inc. is not responsible for any damage or inconvenience caused by the use of the information provided. The location information of each spot on the map may be slightly off, so please use it as a guide. Unauthorized reproduction of the information provided is prohibited.
Comments