Start planning your trip
{{ inputValue.start }} - {{ inputValue.end }}
With:
Cherry Blossoms in Kyushu 2023: Top 10 Spots in Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and More!
This service includes sponsored advertisements.
Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Oita, and other areas in Kyushu boast splendid cherry blossom locations. We introduce 10 amazing places, both famous and lesser-known, along with travel tips for enjoying the blossoms in Kyushu.
Latest update :
Cherry Blossoms in Kyushu
The Kyushu region is in the southwestern part of Japan. It is known for its warm climate and abundant nature that allows visitors to enjoy a wide variety of scenery during the cherry blossom season.
March 25 update: In 2023, the cherry blossoms are expected to reach full bloom on March 27 in Fukuoka, March 29 in Miyazaki, March 30 in Nagasaki, March 31 in Kumamoto and Saga, and April 3 in Oita and Kagoshima.
Table of Contents
The First Cherry Blossoms and Full Bloom Dates around Kyushu
1. Fukuoka: Beautiful Illuminations at Maizuru Park
2. Kumamoto: The Impressive Kumamoto Castle
3. Kagoshima: Grand Landscapes at Sengan-en Garden
4. Nagasaki: Rose-Like Cherry Blossoms at Omura Park
5. Saga: A Magical View at Mifuneyama Rakuen
6. Oita: A Sea of Blossoms at Isshinji Temple
7. Miyazaki: Flowers and Historic Ruins at Saitobaru Burial Mounds
8. Kumamoto: Magnificent Blossoms From the SL Hitoyoshi
9. Kumamoto: A Cherry Blossom Tree in a Sea of Flowers
10. Miyazaki: A Long Cherry Blossom Tunnel at Darumizu Park
Book the JR Pass or the JR Kyushu Rail Pass to conveniently explore Kyushu!
2023 Forecast: The First Cherry Blossoms and Full Bloom Dates around Kyushu
In 2023, the cherry blossoms are expected to bloom around the following dates:
| Start of Bloom (Annual Average) | Full Bloom (Annual Average) | |
| Fukuoka | March 21 | March 27 |
| Kumamoto | March 21 | March 31 |
| Kagoshima | March 24 | April 3 |
| Nagasaki | March 22 | March 30 |
| Saga | March 22 | March 31 |
| Oita | March 22 | April 3 |
| Miyazaki | March 20 | March 29 |
*Information from: https://tenki.jp/sakura/9/
Read on to learn more about the best cherry blossom viewing locations by area in Kyushu.
1. Fukuoka: Beautiful Illuminations at Maizuru Park
Photo by Pixta
Maizuru Park is one of Fukuoka’s most famous cherry blossom spots. The park was built around the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. You can also enjoy other flowers and plants in the park during other seasons.
Fukuoka Castle has a 400-year-old history, but the surrounding area is used for relaxation and leisure by locals today. During the spring, the Fukuoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival is also held, allowing visitors to admire the cherry blossoms blooming within the stone walls.
During this time period, there are also illuminations and food stalls opened for business, creating an exciting atmosphere in the park.
2. Kumamoto: The Impressive Kumamoto Castle
Picture courtesy of Pixta
Kumamoto boasts magnificent natural landscapes such as Mt. Aso. The region's iconic Kumamoto Castle was built approximately 400 years ago. It played an important role in Japanese history following its construction.
Kumamoto Castle alone is impressive with its majestic form towering over the vast grounds. However, the pink of the cherry blossoms when in full bloom on the grounds in spring shines and contrasts beautifully against the monotone castle.
3. Kagoshima: Grand Landscapes at Senganen Garden
Picture courtesy of Senganen Garden
Kagoshima is well-known in Japan for its active volcano called Sakurajima. Its name may include “sakura,” which means "cherry blossom" in Japanese, but it is not famous for cherry blossoms. There are theories that it was named as such because cherry blossom petals were found floating on the sea surrounding Sakurajima when it erupted long ago.
We recommend Senganen Garden for viewing the cherry blossoms in Kagoshima! This garden is where the villa of the Shimazu family, the feudal lords who once governed over this area, was located. Gorgeous nature spreads across a vast ground of 50,000 square meters with a view of Sakurajima.
Restaurants and souvenir shops are also found inside the garden. Visitors can also observe Satsuma Kiriko, a type of traditional Kagoshima glasswork, being made in the workshop adjacent to the garden.
Fees: Entrance into the garden, Shoko Shuseikan Museum, and mansion is 1,300 yen for adults (high school and up) and 650 yen for children (elementary and junior high school students). Entrance into only the garden and museum is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children
Official Website: https://www.senganen.jp/en/
4. Nagasaki: Rose-Like Cherry Blossoms at Omura Park
Picture courtesy of Pixta
Omura Park is one of Nagasaki’s best cherry blossom spots. The entire park transforms in spring when the 2,000 cherry trees of 21 different varieties go in bloom. One type of sakura that can be enjoyed here is the government-designated natural monument, Omura Zakura.
The Omura Zakura flowers bloom in two layers and have many petals and sepals. This variety has ten sepals compared to the five sepals in typical cherry blossoms. They also grow a minimum of 60 petals and can even have up to 200. The flower has an appearance similar to that of a rose, making it a rare cherry blossom that even the Japanese don’t usually see.
Approximately 300 Omura Zakura trees are planted within Omura Park, allowing visitors to admire these elegant blossoms.
5. Saga: A Magical View at Mifuneyama Rakuen
Mifuneyama Rakuen, located in Saga, is a park spreading over 50 hectares where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Spring brings the blooming of 2,000 cherry blossom trees as well as 200,000 azalea trees that create a magical, picturesque landscape of various colors.
During the Flower Festival there are illuminations in the park. From the end of March to mid-April, the cherry blossoms will be lit up: from mid-April to early May, the azaleas, wisterias, and spring maples (a type of green maple seen during the early summer) are illuminated.
You can spend the whole day here or visit in the evening as there are restaurants and teahouses, as well as Chikurintei, a lodging facility, in the garden.
Chaya Tea Bar is adjacent to Chikurintei, allowing visitors to drink sake and other beverages while gazing at the garden from a tatami room.
Fee: 400 yen for adults, 200 yen for those elementary school and under
*Between March 17 and April 14, admission will be 600 yen for adults and 250 yen for children. From April 15 to May 7, prices are 700 yen for adults and 300 yen for children.
Official Website: https://www.mifuneyamarakuen.jp/en/
6. Oita: A Sea of Blossoms at Isshinji Temple
Picture courtesy of Isshinji Temple
The places introduced below are for people that often go flower viewing. These spots may be somewhat difficult to access, but they are worth the effort to see truly stunning cherry blossoms.
Isshinji Temple in Oita is in a valley filled with cherry blossoms in the spring, surrounded by mountains. The flowers in the valley are stunning and are often described as a sea of cherry blossom clouds.
Access to Isshinji Temple: Take the bus from the bus stop in front of JR Oita Station bound for Tokiwa Wasada Town for 20 minutes (330 yen), then exit at Tokiwa Wasada Town. From there, it will be 10 minutes by taxi (2,000 yen). Or 40 minutes by car from Oita Station.
Hours: 8:00-18:00
Entrance Fee: Adults 700 yen, elementary students 200 yen
Official Website: http://issinnji.jp/index.html (Japanese)
7. Miyazaki: Flowers and Historic Ruins at Saitobaru Burial Mounds
Picture courtesy of Pixta
Saito in central Miyazaki is the prefecture's leading agricultural area. It is also a town where much historical heritage dating from Japan's ancient times and middle ages remains.
The flowers are simply magnificent in this city! At the Saitobaru Burial Mounds, a special historical park, you’ll find rapeseed blossoms blooming brilliantly in the spring and cosmos in the autumn.
Of course, we can’t forget about the cherry blossoms. 2,000 cherry blossom trees and 300,000 rapeseed blossoms bloom around Goryohaka-mae, a spot within the burial grounds.
On evenings during Saitobaru Flower Festival held from late March to early April, you can view the cherry blossoms illuminated.
8. Kumamoto: Magnificent Blossoms From the Steam Locomotive Hitoyoshi
Picture courtesy of Hitoyoshi City
In Kumamoto, you can view cherry blossoms while riding an antique-looking steam locomotive. Visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms blooming on the riverside during the ride from Kumamoto Station to Hitoyoshi Station for approximately 2.5 hours. Ekiben, train bento boxes, and shochu with ice, an alcoholic beverage, are also sold inside the railcar.
Please make a reservation before coming as the train seats are all designated. A one-way ticket from Kumamoto to Hitoyoshi costs 2,640 yen for adults and 1,320 yen for children. To make reservations, make a phone call or go to any JR ticket office and inquire at the counter about reservations for the Hitoyoshi SL. You can book your seat as early as one month in advance. The train runs only a few times a day so be sure to purchase your return ticket too.
Please check the schedule on the SL Hitoyoshi webpage beforehand to see the days when the SL operates.
SL Hitoyoshi
Platform: Board from JR Kumamoto Station. It will take about 2 hours and a half to reach the final stop at Hitoyoshi Station.
Phone Reservation: 050-3786-3489 (JR Kyushu Phone Reservation Center)
9. Kumamoto: A Cherry Blossom Tree in a Sea of Flowers
Picture courtesy of Minamiaso Village
This single, giant cherry blossom tree amid rapeseed blossoms is unforgettable to those who see it in-person. The tree is estimated to be around 400 years old. Its unique shape, which resembles a bird spreading its wings, is from lightning and typhoons that have bent and moved its branches outwards.
Trains that travel nearby are not running currently due to the effects of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. You will need to travel by car from Higo-Ozu Station instead.
Access: 40 minutes by car from JR Higo-Ozu Station
Official Website: http://www.vill.minamiaso.lg.jp/map/oozakura.html (Japanese)
10. Miyazaki: A Cherry Blossom Tunnel at Darumizu Park
Picture courtesy of Miyazaki City North Regional Center
Around 3,500 cherry blossom trees are planted at Darumizu Park. Countless visitors enjoy Cherry Road, a two kilometer-long row of cherry blossom trees.
Every year festivals occur between late March and early April, when the park lights up with illuminations that last until 22:00. It is necessary to travel by car from Miyazaki Station, and no public transportation will take you nearby.
Rent a Car to See Blossoms in Kyushu
This article introduced cherry blossom spots in some areas only accessible by car. Also, depending on the spot, public transportation may be inconvenient to use even if it is available. We suggest using a rental car when going to view the cherry blossoms in Kyushu.
As an additional tip, the second most convenient transportation means in Kyushu is the highway and local bus network. Consider using the 4-day or 3-day SUNQ Pass, which allows unlimited bus rides in Kyushu for a reasonable price.
Enjoy Cherry Blossoms and Springtime in Kyushu
Kyushu is a very large region in Japan. As such, you cannot travel to all the destinations introduced in this article in one day. In some places, public transportation is limited, so we suggest including these spots in your travel plans only after you've decided on the details of your Kyushu trip.
These ten places, however, are worth making a trip out to visit. If you are currently planning a vacation to Japan, visit Kyushu for stunning and unique flower viewing!
Book the JR Pass or the JR Kyushu Rail Pass to conveniently explore Kyushu!
Read also
*This article is a revision updated for 2023 of an article originally published on February 17, 2016.
Main image by Pixta.
Written by
The MATCHA editorial department. Our articles feature useful travel information for visitors to Japan, from how-to guides to recommended places to visit.
Related Article
Special Features
More
