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The cherry blossoms in Osaka Castle Park are truly beautiful! We introduce the best blossom viewing times, as well as information on the night illumination and upcoming spring festival.
Osaka Castle Park is home to about 3,000 cherry trees and is one of the top cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. There are a variety of species, so visitors can enjoy the unique beauty of each and every cherry tree.
In this article, we feature the best season for enjoying the cherry blossoms at Osaka Castle Park, optimal viewing times, how best to enjoy them, and event information.
1. Osaka Castle Park: Kansai's Famous Cherry Blossom Spot
2. The Best Time to See Blossoms at Osaka Castle Park
3. Top 3 Cherry Blossom Spots at Osaka Castle Park
4. Osaka Castle Park: Enjoy the Spring Festival
5. Spring Festival: Information on Food Stalls
Osaka Castle Park is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in western Japan with about 3,000 Somei Yoshino cherry trees.
When the cherry blossoms are reaching full bloom, many people from all parts of the country converge on the park for cherry blossom viewing parties known as o-hanami.
The vast park grounds are not just filled with cherry blossoms, but also with colorful seasonal flowers! At the castle's Tamatsukuri Gate there are late-blooming Yaezakura cherry trees so you can enjoy the beautiful sakura for an extended period of time.
Also, the tree that's used for officially announcing the first cherry blossoms of the year in Osaka is located inside Nishinomaru Garden.
The peak season for cherry blossoms in Osaka Castle Park is typically from late March until mid-April.
In 2024 the blooming season officially began on March 30 and blossoms were in full bloom on April 4. In 2023 they were in full bloom starting from March 27. So, as you can see, this date can differ significantly depending on the temperature and climate.
It's best to see the blossoms as soon as possible because shortly after reaching their peak, the cherry blossoms soon fall and turn into green leaves.
Osaka Castle Park is very crowded during the cherry blossom season on both weekdays and holidays. So we recommend using public transit to go there.
Next, we introduce three spots worth visiting inside Osaka Castle Park that are especially attractive when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
The cherry blossoms (sakura) here are particularly beautiful, as the name "Sakuramon Gate" implies. It was named after the beautiful rows of cherry trees. This koraimon-style gate was designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Osaka Castle's keep rises majestically―front and center―before the Sakuramon Gate (see photo above). This is a stunning sight when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Osaka Castle Park has several gates but Sakuramon Gate is a spot located just past the remains of the Taiko-yagura Turret.
From Morinomiya Station head east through the Tamatsukuri Exit to reach Sakuramon Gate. Or from Tanimachi 4-Chome Station, you can enter from the west side through Otemon Gate and Tamon-yagura Turret to Sakuramon Gate.
About 300 Somei Yoshino cherry trees surround Osaka Castle. The collaboration between the castle keep and the cherry blossoms is beautiful so we also recommend it as a photo spot.
Nishinomaru Garden has an admission fee so let's buy a ticket and go inside. During the cherry blossom season, the area is illuminated. At Geihinkan, a former guesthouse inside Nishinomaru Garden, you can enjoy a slightly extravagant lunch. So it's perfect for dates and other special occasions.
Nishinomaru Garden's evening illumination is a popular event that people line up for, so it's best to purchase a ticket beforehand.
The South Outer Moat area is a sprawling area that includes a lawn. So it's also popular as a cherry blossom viewing spot.
During the o-hanami season, people of all ages enjoy the cherry blossoms. The blossoms in Osaka Castle Park are stunningly beautiful regardless of the spot. But the area around the South Outer Moat is completely covered in blossoms all along the outer moat.
On sunny days be sure not to miss the sight of cherry blossoms reflected on the water! We recommend the early morning or when the sun is rising because these times make for the best photo opportunities.
Photo by CANVA
Every year a spring festival is held when the plum and cherry blossoms in Osaka Castle Park reach full bloom (dates for 2025 have yet to be announced).
This event typically starts sometime between January and March and can be enjoyed up until mid-April during the peak blossom season. It coincides with the blooming of plum and cherry blossoms, and features an evening illumination and even a barbecue event.
In conjunction with the 2025 spring festival, there will also be unique events that normally can't be enjoyed at Osaka Castle Park including a special exhibition of Osaka Castle's keep! Many international visitors also come to see the rare cherry blossom species and the colorful weeping cherry trees (shidarezakura) at night.
Photo by AC
Coinciding with the blooming cherry blossoms, food stalls will be in operation from late March in Osaka Castle Park.
A variety of food stalls will also be set up in 2025, including local Osaka delicacies such as takoyaki, as well as popular food stall menu items such as baby castella (mini sponge cake) and potatoes! The number of stalls gradually starts increasing from late March and reach their peak from the first week of April until mid-April.
These food stalls are set up in various locations in Osaka Castle Park, but in 2024 many of them were located near Aoyamon Gate. Depending on the spot, food trucks also make an appearance, so we recommend enjoying some gourmet food as you take in the beautiful rows of cherry trees.
The best time to see the blossoms in full bloom is usually from late March until mid-April.
Somei Yoshino, Yamazakura, Oshimazakura, Satozakura, and Shidarezakura cherry trees are found here.
Osaka Business Park Station (Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line) is about eight minutes on foot from the park. Osakajokoen Station (JR Osaka Loop Line) is a 10-minute walk away.
No, there aren't any garbage cans in the park. Also, during the cherry blossom season, garbage cans are removed from nearby train stations (JR Osakajokoen Station, JR Morinomiya Station and Osaka Metro Morinomiya Station).
Osaka Castle Park is one of the Kansai Region's top cherry blossom viewing spots so it's visited by many people every year.
The three recommended spots introduced in this article offer stunning cherry blossom scenery during the peak season. During this time of the year it gets very crowded. But the contrast of the cherry blossoms with the castle keep is extremely beautiful so please stop in for a visit!