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Kumamoto Castle area

Competition of Kumamoto's symbols and cherry blossoms that can be enjoyed from various angles.

Kumamoto Castle is the most famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Kumamoto. There are approximately 550 cherry trees around the castle, including someiyoshino cherry trees, yamazakura cherry trees, and chihara cherry trees, which are unique to the area, and attract many visitors in spring. The highlight of the area is Miyukizaka, a slope leading to Kumamoto Castle. It is a slope leading to Kumamoto Castle, and is lined with someiyoshino cherry trees. For a closer view of Kumamoto Castle, we recommend "Tenshukaku-mae Hiroba" (square in front of the castle tower), and for a seated view, "Ninomaru Hiroba" (square in front of the castle tower) is recommended for cherry blossom viewing. You can enjoy cherry blossoms while strolling along Nagabei Street, a 242-meter-long promenade along the Tsuboigawa River that flows south of Kumamoto Castle.
The "Spring Kumamoto Castle Festival" is held every year in conjunction with the cherry blossom season. The festival is filled with various events such as performances by military commandos, taiko drum performances, and Kumamoto gourmet food stalls. Kumamoto Castle and Gyokoizaka are open at night, so visitors can enjoy the festival all day long.

Cherry blossom viewing season: Usually from late March to early April.
Someiyoshino cherry trees, yamazakura cherry trees, chihara cherry trees, etc.

Spring Kumamoto Castle Festival
Date：March 8 (Sat.) to 23 (Sun.), 2025 ※Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays during the period
Place：Ninomaru Plaza, etc.
Fee: Free of charge
Remarks：https://kumamoto-guide.jp/oshiromatsuri/

Nighttime Open House
Date：March 22 (Sat) to April 6 (Sun), 2025
Contents：Lighting up of the castle tower and the long wall, lighting up of the special tour pathway and other pathways, installation of lanterns along the walkways, lighting up of the cherry blossoms on Gyokoizaka, etc.
Time: Sunset - 20:00 (last admission 19:30) *Gyokoizaka and Nishi Otemon-mae Parkway open to the public until 21:00

Around Kumamoto Castle

• 1-1 Honmaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
• 10 minutes walk from "Kumamoto Castle/Shiyakusho-mae" streetcar station.
• Take a bus ("Shiromegurin", Kumamoto Castle excursion bus) from JR "Kumamoto" Station and get off at "Sakura-no-Baba, Josaien" ("Kumamoto Castle, Ninomaru Parking").
• 9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
• December 29 - December 31 (subject to change)
• Admission: High school students and older: 800 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 300 yen, preschool children: free
• 096-223-5011 (Kumamoto Castle Operation Center)
• Charged

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SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto

An urban oasis where you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing on a rooftop in the city center

Property is a commercial complex attached to the Kumamoto Sakura-machi Bus Terminal. On the rooftop is the "Sakuramachi Garden," a garden that realizes the concept of the Sakuramachi area's urban development, "Kumamoto Castle and Garden Continuity," and is a true urban oasis with trees and flowers blooming and water flowing in the four seasons.
In spring, a wide variety of cherry blossoms, starting with the early-blooming Kawazu cherry trees, followed by Someiyoshino cherry trees, weeping cherry trees, and Umineko cherry trees, adorn the Sakura-machi Garden, the "Street View Terrace" on the 2nd to 7th floors, and the 1st floor, among others.
The "Roof Top Park" in Sakura Machi Garden also has a small hill with a view of Kumamoto Castle, a tunnel, and playground equipment including a wide white slide, making it a great spot for cherry blossom viewing with children.

Cherry blossom viewing season: Usually from late February to early April.
Kawazu cherry, Yohko-zakura, Someiyoshino, Shidare-zakura, Umineko-zakura, etc.

SAKURA MACHI Kumamoto

• 3-10 Sakura-machi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
• 1 minute walk from "Karashimacho" tram stop.
• Direct connection from "Kumamoto Sakura-machi Bus Terminal
• B1F: 10:00 - 21:00 (some floors open from 11:00 - 22:00)
  1st to 3rd floor: 10:00 - 20:00
  3rd floor (food and beverage) 11:00-23:00
  *Subject to change without prior notice.
• No holidays
• 096-354-1111
• Charged

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Shirakawa riverside, around Daikou Bridge

Beautiful rows of cherry trees along the river, loved by Kumamoto citizens

Along the Shirakawa River, which runs through the center of Kumamoto City, there are cherry trees, which attract many people during the blooming period. The rows of cherry trees stretch from Suido-cho to Shinyashiki, which can be reached on foot from the city center, and the view from Taikobashi Bridge is particularly spectacular. The "green section" between Taikobashi Bridge and Meigobashi Bridge is also a great place to enjoy the cherry blossoms spreading along the riverbed.
On the fourth Saturday of every month, a night market called "Shirakawa Night Market" is held along the green section, where a wide variety of restaurants, stores, and music stages are set up. The night market in March is held just in time for the cherry blossom season on the riverbanks.

Cherry blossom viewing season] Usually from late March to early April.
Cherry blossom type】Someiyoshino cherry trees

▼Shirakawa Night Market
Date & Time: Saturday, March 22, 2025, 16:00-22:00
Location：Shirakawa "green section" (near Shirakawa Daikyo Bridge)
Fee: Free of charge
Remarks: https://shirakawabanks.site/shirakawa-night-market/

Along the Shirakawa River, around Daikou Bridge

• 9-25 Suido-cho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture (Daikobashi Bridge) MAP
• 3 minutes walk from "Suido-cho" streetcar station (Daikobashi)

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Suizenji Seishuen

Enjoy the luxury of cherry blossom viewing in a beautiful garden

A nationally designated scenic and historic site, the garden is a kaiyushiki garden where visitors can enjoy the beauty of nature and the garden in each of the four seasons. During the cherry blossom season, visitors can admire 150 to 160 cherry trees, including Someiyoshino and Yamazakura cherry trees, making it a perfect place for elegant cherry blossom viewing.
The cherry blossoms along the walking path from "Sakura-no-hiroba" to "Nohgakuden" are especially beautiful, and the combination of the cherry blossoms and the large hill is like a painting.
The "Kokin-denju-no-ma" room, which was moved from the Imperial Palace in Kyoto in 1912, offers a panoramic view of the garden, and viewing the cherry blossoms while enjoying wagashi (Japanese sweets) and powdered green tea is a rare treat.

Cherry blossom viewing season: Usually from late March to early April.
Someiyoshino cherry trees, yamazakura cherry trees, higanzakura cherry trees

Suizenji Seishuen

• 8-1 Suizenji Koen, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 3 min. walk from "Suizenji Koen" streetcar station
• 8:30-17:00 (last admission 16:30)
• No holidays
• 16 years old and over: 400 yen, 6-15 years old: 200 yen
• 096-383-0074
• None

5
Hana Okayama Park

A popular night view spot also known as a cherry blossom viewing spot

Hanaokayama is located north of Kumamoto Station at an elevation of 133 meters. It is a 20-30 minute walk from the station, but there is a paved road so it is also accessible by Direction. The summit of the mountain is an observation park, and there is a "Buddhist stupa" (a pagoda containing the stupa, the bones of Lord Buddha) donated by a former prime minister of India as a prayer for world peace. From the top, you can see Kumamoto Castle and the rest of downtown Kumamoto, and even Aso on a clear day. At night, it is also known as a classic night view spot with the lights of the downtown area looming up close.
In spring, the path to the top of the mountain and the cherry trees surrounding the stupa are in full bloom. The rare combination of the stupa and cherry blossoms can be admired. Another picturesque sight is the collaboration of the red torii gate near the summit and the cherry blossoms. Of course, a drive to see the night view and cherry blossoms at night is also recommended.

Cherry blossom viewing season: Early April
Type of cherry trees: Someiyoshino

Hana Okayama Park

• 4-1581 Kasuga, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture MAP
• 25 min. walk from JR Kumamoto Station
• Free of charge