Local Guide
 The 8 best places to see cherry blossoms in Hamamatsu. Information on cherry blossom viewing times and cherry blossom festivals.

Hamamatsu City has a number of spots where you can enjoy cherry blossoms. The harmony of the castle tower and cherry blossoms of Hamamatsu Castle, the tree-lined avenues along the river that resemble a tunnel of cherry blossoms, and parks where several types of cherry trees bloom at different times of the year also attract people. Here are 8 cherry blossom viewing spots in Hamamatsu City.

A splendid collaboration of the castle and cherry blossoms

Hamamatsu Castle is known as "the castle of the rising Tokugawa 300 years of history." Under the castle tower, a Japanese garden and a lawn square are spread out. In addition to someiyoshino cherry trees, about 350 weeping cherry trees and mountain cherry trees are planted in this park, which creates a beautiful scene in harmony with the castle tower and stone walls.
The cherry blossoms are usually in full bloom from late March to early April, when about 500 lanterns are lit and the cherry blossoms can be enjoyed at night.

Best time to visit: Late March to early April.
Someiyoshino cherry trees, weeping cherry trees, mountain cherry trees, and Oshima cherry trees

▼2025 Hamamatsu Castle Park Cherry Blossom Festival
Date: March 20 (Wed) - April 6 (Sun), 2025

Special nighttime opening of the castle tower: March 21 (Fri.)-22 (Sat.), March 28 (Fri.)-30 (Sun.), April 4 (Fri.)-5 (Sat.)
Extended until 18:00 (last admission 17:50)
Location: Hamamatsu Castle, Hamamatsu Castle Park

Local Guide Comment
Various stores will be open during the festival. It is a great way to appreciate the cherry blossoms while eating delicious food!
 (Photo courtesy of Hamamatsu Hamanako Tourism Bureau)
(Photo courtesy of Hamamatsu Hamanako Tourism Bureau)
Hamamatsu Castle Park
  • Address 100-2 Motoshiro-cho, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction 20 minutes walk from Hamamatsu Station
  •   Direction From Hamamatsu Station, take Entei bus line 1 or 13, get off at "Shiyakusho Minami" and walk 6 min.
  •  Business hours Hamamatsu Castle 8:30-16:30 (admission until 16:20)
  •  Closed Hamamatsu Castle December 29-31
  •  Admission Fee Park Free to stroll
    Hamamatsu Castle Adults 200 yen *Junior high school students and younger free
  •  TEL 053-457-0088
  •  Parking Free of charge

Enjoy walking through a gorgeous tunnel of cherry blossoms

 A magnificent row of cherry trees along the river / Photo courtesy of Hamamatsu Convention & Visitors Bureau
A magnificent row of cherry trees along the river / Photo courtesy of Hamamatsu Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Miyakoda River flows through the city of Hamamatsu into Lake Hamana. Along its embankment around Hikifune Bridge, about 300 Someiyoshino cherry trees bloom for about 1.5 km, creating a tunnel of cherry blossom trees. Usually from the blooming in late March until early April, the cherry blossoms are lit up with chochin (18:00-22:00), beautifully illuminating the nighttime cherry blossoms along the river.

Best time to see the cherry blossoms: Late March to early April every year
Type of cherry trees: Someiyoshino (Somei Yoshino)

Don't miss the Hamamatsu City Princess Road Trip, a springtime tradition in Hamamatsu City

 The princesses' procession in glamorous Edo-style costumes
The princesses' procession in glamorous Edo-style costumes

Also, as an annual event during this season, the "Hamamatsu City Princess Procession" is held, in which a princess procession with more than one hundred people, including samurai, koshimoto, and yakuza, parades from Kiga Sekisho, Hamamatsu City to the Miyakoda River Sakura-zutsumi. The procession of princesses dressed in Edo costumes under the rows of cherry trees is truly a sight to behold.

Hamamatsu City Hime-sama Road Trip
Date: March 29 (Sat), 2025
Venue: Kiga Sekisho, Rural Space Museum Parking Lot, Festival Plaza
The procession will be held from Kiga Sekisho to Miyakoda River Sakura-tei
Remarks: Hamamatsu City Hime-sama Michu Executive Committee
URL: https: //himesama.himekaido.com/

Local Guide Comment
The historical picture scrolls that unfold against the backdrop of cherry blossoms in full bloom are well worth seeing.
Miyakoda River Cherry Blossom Bank
  • Address Kiga, Hosoe-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction 5 min. walk from Tenryu Hamanako Railway Kiga Station
  •  Parking Free *No parking during the "Hamamatsu City Princess Road" event. Park at the Rainbow Hamanako Transportation Education Center (500 yen) and take the round-trip shuttle bus to the venue (approx. 5 minutes).

An overwhelming scale of 1,000 rows of cherry trees

 The colors of the cherry blossoms, the surface of the water, and the surrounding greenery are popular.
The colors of the cherry blossoms, the surface of the water, and the surrounding greenery are popular.

About 1,000 cherry trees bloom along the lakeside of Akiba Dam, which stretches about 10 km along the east bank of the Tenryu River. The best time to view the cherry blossoms is usually from late March to early April. The emerald green of the dam's surface, the deep green of the mountains, and the pink of the cherry blossoms create a magnificent contrast. The "Akiba Dam Cherry Blossom Festival" is held every year during this period, and local specialties such as konnyaku, oden, and gohei-mochi (rice cakes) are sold.

Best time to view the cherry blossoms: Late March to early April every year.
Someiyoshino cherry trees, etc.

Akiba Dam Cherry Blossom Festival
Date: March 16 (Sun.) - March 30 (Sun.), 2025 (tentative) *Lighting up is from 19:00 to 21:00
Location:East bank of Akiba Dam lakeside
Remarks: "Akiba Dam Cherry Blossom Marathon" will be held on March 23 (Mon) in conjunction with the festival.

 Photo courtesy of Hamamatsu Convention & Visitors Bureau
Photo courtesy of Hamamatsu Convention & Visitors Bureau
Senbonzakura (Thousand Cherry Trees) at Akiba Dam
  • Address 445-1 Togura, Tatsuyama-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction Approximately 60 minutes from JR Hamamatsu Station by car
  • Bus Direction From Nishikajima Station of Enshu Railway, take the bus bound for "Mizukubo-machi" (about 45 minutes), get off at the bus stop "Nishikawa" and walk about 10 minutes.
  •  Parking Free of charge

A colorful competition between cherry blossoms and tulips

 The contrast between cherry blossoms and tulips is spectacular.
The contrast between cherry blossoms and tulips is spectacular.

In the botanical garden, about 3,000 kinds of flowers and trees are planted in an area of about 300,000 m2, where visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers throughout the year. early cherry blossoms start blooming in early February, followed by someiyoshino and yae-zakura from the end of March to April. From the end of March to mid-April, about 500,000 tulips of various types and colors bloom, creating a spectacular colorful scene interwoven with the cherry blossoms.

Best time to visit: Late March to early April.
Someiyoshino, Yaezakura, Yamazakura, etc.

Local Guide Comment
The cherry blossoms will be illuminated at night when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
 Photo courtesy of Hamamatsu Convention & Visitors Bureau
Photo courtesy of Hamamatsu Convention & Visitors Bureau
Hamamatsu Flower Park
  • Address 195 Tateyamaji-cho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction Approximately 30 minutes by car from JR Hamamatsu Station
  •   Direction Approx. 40 min. by bus from the North Exit of JR Hamamatsu Station to the "Kanzanji Hot Spring" bus stop, and alight at the "Flower Park" bus stop.
  •  Hours of Operation March-September: 9:00-17:00
    October-November: 9:00-16:30
    December-February: 10:00-16:30
    Admission until 30 minutes before closing
    The park may be open at night for some events.
  •  Regular holidays No holidays
    Closed on December 29-31 for Property inspection.
  • Admission FeeFebruary-June: Adults (high school students and older) 600-1,000 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 300-500 yen
    July and August: Free for both adults and elementary/junior high school students
    September-January: Adults 500 yen, free for elementary and junior high school students
  •  TEL 053-487-0511
  •  Parking 200 yen per visit

Popular for the variety of cherry trees and the vast space for cherry blossom viewing

 A 6-km-long parkway has been developed where visitors can walk while listening to the chirping of kingfishers and shorebirds.
A 6-km-long parkway has been developed where visitors can walk while listening to the chirping of kingfishers and shorebirds.

Located west of downtown Hamamatsu, this park is built around Lake Sanariko, the second largest lake in Shizuoka Prefecture after Lake Hamana. About 700 different kinds of cherry trees are planted in the park, which is about 50 hectares in area, and they usually bloom from early March in the order of Kawazu-zakura, Kan-hizakura, Somei-yoshino, and Yae-zakura.
Recommended viewing spots for Kawazu-zakura, of which there are about 90, are near the "Lake Sanariko Rowing Course" on the southwest shore, and for Kan-hizakura, near the "North Shore Administration Building". The most popular viewing spots for Someiyoshino cherry trees are the rows of cherry trees around "Tomizuka Hanami-dai" and "Hyotan Pond" on the west bank. When the cherry trees are in full bloom, a tunnel of cherry trees forms along the road on the east bank, providing a magnificent view.
The "Sanariko Park Cherry Blossom Festival" is usually held from late March to early April, and during the festival, from 10:00 to 15:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, food stalls line up near Hyotan Pond and Tomizuka Hanami-dai, making the area even more lively.

Flowering season: Usually from early March to mid-April.
Kawazu cherry blossoms and scarlet cherry blossoms usually bloom in early March.
Someiyoshino, yamazakura, weeping cherry Usually from late March to early April
Yae-zakura usually in mid-April
Kawazu-zakura, Kanhizakura, Oshima-zakura, Someiyoshino, Yama-zakura, Shidare-zakura, Yae-zakura, etc.

▼ Sanakko Park Cherry Blossom Festival
Period: March 22 (Sat.) - April 6 (Sun.), 2025

Sanaruko Park
  • Address 5147-4 Tomizuka-cho, Naka-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture (North Coast Administration Building) and others MAP
  •  Direction Approximately 15 minutes from JR Hamamatsu Station by car
  •   Direction Take a bus from JR Hamamatsu Station, get off at "Sanariko Iriguchi" bus stop and walk for a short time, or get off at "Tomizuka Garage" bus stop and walk for about 5 minutes (North Shore Administration Building), or get off at "Rowing Facility" bus stop and walk for about 5 minutes (Sanariko Rowing Facility)
  •  TEL 053-476-0210 (North Shore Administration Building)
  •  Parking Free of charge

Cherry blossoms reflected in the water mirror can be seen from the floating pier.

 On a clear day, you can see the reflection of cherry blossoms on the surface of the water.
On a clear day, you can see the reflection of cherry blossoms on the surface of the water.

This natural park extends from the entrance to Hokoji Temple in Kita-ku, Hamamatsu City to the three-story pagoda. Surrounded by mountains, about 1,000 cherry trees including Someiyoshino and Yamazakura bloom on the slopes of the park in early April. A particularly popular hanami spot is the 75-meter-long "Dream Floating Bridge" floating in the park's pond. Visitors can cross the swaying floating bridge and view the cherry blossoms as if they were peering over the surface of the water. The cherry blossoms are illuminated when they are in full bloom, and the contrast of the three-story pagoda and the cherry blossoms floating in the night sky is a sight to behold at least once.
It is recommended to visit when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, but it is also popular when the blossoms are beginning to fall. The falling petals cover the surface of the water, creating a pink flower raft.

Blooming season] Usually from late March to early April.
Best time to see the cherry blossoms: Usually early April.
Someiyoshino cherry trees, yamazakura cherry trees, yaezakura cherry trees, etc.

Okuyama Park
  • Address 1576-17 Okuyama, Hikisa-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction 20 minutes by car from Okachi Station of Tenryu Hamanako Railway
  •   Direction From JR Hamamatsu Station, take a bus. 5 min. walk from Okuyama Bus Stop.
  •  TEL 053-522-4720(Okuhamanako Tourist Association)
  •  Parking Free of charge

Kawazu cherry blossoms, one of the best in the prefecture, blooming for about 1 km

 Many visitors come every year to enjoy the contrast between the Kawazu cherry blossoms and rape blossoms.
Many visitors come every year to enjoy the contrast between the Kawazu cherry blossoms and rape blossoms.

The Hanakawa River, which winds between residential areas northwest of downtown Hamamatsu and flows into Lake Hamana, is famous for its Kawazu cherry blossoms. About 400 Kawazu cherry trees, lovingly nurtured by local volunteers, bloom along a 1 km stretch on both sides of the embankment, making it one of the largest in western Shizuoka Prefecture. The "Todaiyama Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival" is held during the blooming season, attracting many cherry blossom-viewing visitors from inside and outside of the prefecture. At about the same time along the Hana River, rape blossoms also bloom, creating a beautiful contrast of pink and yellow.
A short time after the Kawazu cherry blossom season ends, about 130 Someiyoshino cherry trees come into bloom. This is also a famous hanami spot in Hamamatsu City.

Kawazu-zakura usually bloom from mid-February to early March.
Kawazu-zakura usually blooms in early March,
Kawazu Cherry Blossoms, Someiyoshino Cherry Blossoms

▼Todaiyama Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival
Date: February 15 (Sat) to March 9 (Sun), 2025, from 9:00 to around 16:00 *The festival may be canceled in case of rain

Hana River bank (Kawazu cherry blossoms in Higashidayama)
  • Address 2291 Oyama-cho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction Approximately 15 minutes from JR Hamamatsu Station by car
  •   Direction Take a bus from JR Hamamatsu Station, get off at Sakuradai Shopping Center, and walk about 1 minute.
  •  Parking Free of charge

A hidden hanami spot where you can view rare flowers in addition to cherry blossoms

 Almond blossoms look just like cherry blossoms. The center of the flower is slightly redder than the cherry blossoms.
Almond blossoms look just like cherry blossoms. The center of the flower is slightly redder than the cherry blossoms.

This agricultural park grows 16 kinds of fruits on an area equivalent to about 9 times the size of the Tokyo Dome. Normally a spot to enjoy picking grapes, pears, apples, and other fruits, it is actually a popular cherry blossom viewing spot where rare flowers can be admired.
Particularly rare are the approximately 300 almond trees planted on the slopes of the approximately 1,500 tsubo mountain. They begin blooming a little earlier than the cherry blossoms, filling the branches with blossoms that resemble cherry blossoms. The "Almond Plaza" in the east area is a grassy lawn where visitors can spread out leisure sheets and leisurely enjoy cherry blossom viewing. In late March every year, the "Almond Festa" is held with nut foods and seedlings for sale.
About 100 Someiyoshino cherry trees and 270 other varieties of cherry trees are planted mainly around the "Sakura Garden" and "Oike" area. The area is relatively empty among the cherry blossom spots in the city, so it is recommended for those who wish to enjoy the cherry blossoms at a leisurely pace.

Flowering season] Usually mid-March to mid-April
Almonds usually in late March, cherry blossoms usually in early April.
Almonds, Someiyoshino, Yaezakura, apples, pears, etc.

▼Almond Festa 2024
Period: March 23 (Sat) and 24 (Sun), 2024, 10:00-15:00
Location: Almond Festa limited products for sale West Area (front plaza after entering the park entrance gate)
Almond Blossom Viewing East Area "Almond Plaza
Remarks: https://hamamatsu-fp.co.jp/eventinfo/detail/66

Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika
  • Address 4263-1 Miyakoda-cho, Kita-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture MAP
  •  Direction 8 min. walk from Fruits Park Station on the Tenryu-Hamanako Line
  •  Business Hours 9:00-17:00 *Varies according to the season.
  •  Closed No holidays
  • Admission Fee 730 yen for adults and high school students, 360 yen for junior high and elementary school students, free for preschool children
  •  TEL 053-428-5211
  •  Parking Free of charge
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.