# Hirosaki Sakura Matsuri

> The spring festival of Hirosaki Park, the grounds of Hirosaki Castle, where about 2,600 cherry trees of 52 varieties grow. It runs from mid-April to 5 May, with the trees lit up in the evening.

- Prefecture: Aomori
- Type: Other
- Admission: Free to attend
- Typically held: From mid-April to 5 May, with the start set by the bloom. In 2026 it ran from 10 April to 5 May, 26 days in all.
- Official site: https://www.hirosaki-kanko.or.jp/web/edit.html?id=cat02_spring_sakura

## Dates

- 2027-04-16 to 2027-05-05
- Status: confirmed
- Dates verified on 2026-10-30 from https://www.hirosaki-kanko.or.jp/web/edit.html?id=cat02_spring_sakura

Hirosaki Park is the grounds of Hirosaki Castle, and about 2,600 cherry trees of 52 varieties grow along its moats and inside its walls, most of them Somei Yoshino. In 1882 Kikuchi Tatee, a former retainer of the Hirosaki domain, donated 1,000 Somei Yoshino trees. The festival began in 1918 as the Kanokai, a cherry-viewing party, and took its present name later. The trees are looked after with what is called the Hirosaki method, which borrows from the way apples are grown. When the petals fall, they cover the outer moat in a layer of pink called hanaikada, "flower rafts", which the tourism association says is at its fullest about three days after full bloom. During the festival a stretch of the outer moat bank that is normally closed is opened so that people can see it close up. In the evening the trees are lit from sunset to 22:00. Late in the festival the lighting turns to the Hirosaki Shichizakura, seven double-flowered varieties chosen from the park's trees and named as a group. The castle keep was moved off its base in 2015 so that the stone wall beneath it could be repaired. The plan is for it to be back on its original base around mid-November 2026. The festival is organised by the City of Hirosaki, the Hirosaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Bureau and the Hirosaki City Products Association.

## Where it happens
- Hirosaki Castle

## FAQ

### When is Hirosaki Sakura Matsuri in 2027?

From Friday 16 April to Wednesday 5 May 2027, according to the Hirosaki Tourism and Convention Bureau. The dates can move if the trees bloom early or late: in 2026 the festival opened on 10 April.

### Is Hirosaki Sakura Matsuri free?

Most of Hirosaki Park is free. In 2026 the Honmaru and Kita-no-Kuruwa cost 320 yen for adults and 100 yen for children, and a combined ticket with the botanical garden and the Fujita Memorial Garden cost 520 yen and 160 yen.

### When can I see the hanaikada on the moat?

The petals cover the outer moat as the Somei Yoshino trees shed them, and the tourism association says the moat is at its fullest about three days after full bloom. During the festival part of the outer moat bank, normally closed, is opened for viewing.

---
Source: [Hirosaki Sakura Matsuri — Japan Voyage](https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/festivals/hirosaki-sakura-matsuri)
Last updated: 2026-10-30