Weather Ministry Forecasts First Blossoms on Mar. 19
Nagoya City has prime o-hanami, or cherry blossom viewing locations, each with their own features. This list introduces some of the most popular spots and notes what is distinct for each.
Nagoya Castle
Perhaps the most stunning photos of Nagoya Castle can be taken during the cherry blossom season as the castle’s moat is surrounded by cherry trees on both sides. The nearby shrine and market also make for good sightseeing fun and photos. In total there are over 1,000 cherry trees in the area. The sidewalks around the moat and castle are filled with trees and can be a relaxing walk. However, during this time of year, the shops and restaurants are crowded and there are few places to sit. Official Cherry Blossom Festival starts Mar. 21 and ends May 7.
Perhaps the best views and photos can be taken without entering the castle grounds and just wandering around the vast area surrounding the castle including Nagoyajo Koen with its own 200 cherry trees. The prime viewing season for the park is the end of March. Entrance fee to the castle grounds is 500 yen for adults and free for children under 12.
Directions: best to take the Nagoya City Subway Meijo Line to Nagoyajo Station (formerly Nagoya City Hall Station) and use Exit 6. Alternatively, use Nagoyajo Koen Station Exit 2 to enter directly onto the park that surrounds the castle. If going by car, parking is located on the east side of Nagoyajo Koen on Sotobori Rd. Google Maps Link
Yamazaki-gawa River
Yamazaki River provides a very pastoral walk with frequently stunning views especially from bridges that span the river. Over 600 cherry trees line both banks of the Yamazaki-gawa in a 2.5 kilometer (1.5 miles) stretch of the river from Ishibashi Bridge to Ochiai Bridge. This location is registered with the 100 Famous Sakuara Locations of Japan. The area is residential and provides a quiet way to enjoy the views including one section with a path separate from car traffic. Benches are available at some points for a rest. The best time this year is forecast for the end of March and beginning of April when the trees will be lit up at night. Nagoya City’s Mizuho Ward Office manages the event.
Access: By train use Nagoya City Subway Sakuradori Line to Mizuho Kuyakusho (Ward Office) Station, leave out of Exit 1 and walk east for about 13 minutes along the Shioji Sakura Road then turn south upon reaching Yamazaki-gawa River to Ishibashi Bridge. If going by car, the only available parking is the area west and north of the Paloma Mizuho Arena as the river enters the residential area soon past there.
Tsuruma Park
Tsuruma Park is a very popular cherry blossom viewing location in Nagoya especially in the evenings. Over 700 cherry trees are grouped in different sections of the large park and will be in full bloom from the end of March to early April. The park is still popular throughout the spring with over 20,000 flowers of 90 varieties during the park’s Flower Festival being held from Mar. 24 to Jun. 4. The park is also registered on the list of 100 Famous Cherry Tree Locations in Japan.
Tsuruma Park is one of the few parks in Nagoya to enjoy o-hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, in the traditional way of sitting down next to cherry trees with friends and food. In some sections of the park with cherry trees, guests bring tarps or blankets and place them under the cherry trees and spend hours enjoying food and conversation. Things get more lively at night. Food and drinks are available from the food trucks and stalls in the park and convenience stores near entrances. During COVID-19 restrictions this was not allowed, and the same restrictions might apply in 2023 despite national venues dropping mask requirements from Mar. 12.
On Apr. 1 and 2 Tsuruma Park will host the ZIP FM sponsored Sakura Wine Festival 2023 featuring 60 wines mostly of which are rose and white wines. Entry to the event is free but guests can taste wine with coins included in the purchase of a “starter set” that includes food from one of six vendors, including Nagoya resident BBQ expert Troy Miller and featuring food from his catering business Troy’s American BBQ. Extra coins are available at 200 yen per coin. The festival will be held in the center of Tsuruma Park in front of the Sorakudou, a copper domed raised round stage, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday the 1st, and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday the 2nd.
Heiwa Park & Shounai Ryokuchi
Both Heiwa Park and Shounai Ryokuchi offer a chance to enjoy the cherry trees and the green a park should have without the hustle and bustle of the famous locations mentioned above. These are both good parks to take a family or whomever you want to spend a quieter day among the white and pink petals while sitting on some green grass.
Heiwa Park has its Sakura no En, sakura garden, in the south part of the park. Green grass and slightly rolling hills support the cherry trees in this bucolic section of the park which makes it perfect for a quiet picnic. Just a short walk west is a larger open lawn called Metasequoia Square that’s great for ball or Frisbee tossing or just to enjoy the view of the Nekogahora Pond. Both sections of the park have 1,500 cherry trees.
Access: Use the Nagoya City Subway’s Higashiyama Line’s Higashiyamakoen Station’s Exit 2, turn left when arriving street level, walk to the traffic light at the Heiwa Park Entrance, cross the street and turn left and continue for about 20 minutes. Cross the street at the Heiwa Koen traffic signal and you should see the cherry trees. Alternate train access is from the Meijo Line’s Jiyugaoka Station. There is parking inside the park but expect to park farther away from the best locations.
Shounai Ryokuchi feels like a large park because it has no traffic roads running through it. It offers a picnic ground with bbq pits, lots of space, and 1,000 cherry trees throughout the park. It also hosts 20,000 flowers and will hold its annual Spring Flower Festival, Haru-no-hana-matsuri, from Mar. 25 to Apr. 9. Many of the flowers will be in full bloom during this period in areas designated to the variety of flower. Depending on the day, there will be lectures, in Japanese, a tree climbing experience and other activities for kids.
Access: By train, use the Tsurumai Line’s Shounai Ryokuchi Station Exit 2. Parking is also available on the park’s grounds.