Don't Miss Sakura in Full Bloom! The 15 Best Hanami Spots in Osaka
Osaka is a very popular tourism spot for travelers domestic and international alike thanks to the area's local cuisine like okonomiyaki and takoyaki, comedy culture, beautiful scenery, and more. During the cherry blossom season of March and April, there are many places where you can enjoy beautiful sakura blossoms in Osaka. During cherry blossom festivals you'll likely also find many food stalls so you can enjoy the sight of the flowers as you try Osaka's delicious local street food.
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1. Osaka Castle Park, Osaka
Osaka’s famous tourist location, Osaka Castle, is also famous for sakura, or cherry blossoms. It’s a popular hanami (flower viewing) spot and every year in hanami season, both locals and visitors from afar visit. About 3,000 sakura trees, including Yoshino cherry, Yamazakura, Yaezakura varieties, are in full bloom in area around Osaka Castle and Nishinomaru garden.
There are sakura trees all over in the garden to enjoy while experiencing the elegant, Japanese atmosphere here. The garden is spacious so you can enjoy strolling around and searching for a spot just for you.
During the sakura season, this area lights up from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, giving you a view of the illuminated sakura trees backdropped by Osaka Castle. The magical atmosphere in the fresh spring evening air here is an unforgettable experience. If you visit Osaka in the spring, you should definitely make the effort to visit Osaka Castle park. You’ll quickly understand the charm of the sakura blossoms.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Late April
About Osaka Castle Park
Opening hours: 24 hours
Closed: Never
Price: Free
Access: 10 minute walk from Tanimachi 4 Chome Station
Address: Osakajo, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (English): osakacastlepark.jp/foreinger/english.html
Website (Traditional Chinese): osakacastlepark.jp/foreinger/chinese_traditional.html
Website (Japanese): osakacastlepark.jp/
2. Osaka Mint Bureau Sakura Tunnel, Osaka
The Osaka Mint Bureau Sakura Tunnel is a spot that is open for about one week every year during the sakura flowering season. You can enjoy the 56 metre long row of sakura trees running alongside the former Yodogawa river grounds only during this time. There are about 350 blossoming sakura trees of about 130 varieties including Yoshino, Shidarezakura (weeping cherry), Yaezakura (double cherry) and more. It’s a highly visited spot amongst Osaka’s hanami spots.
Visitors are not permitted to eat, drink, or have parties in the Sakura Tunnel, but there are stalls set up around the Mint Bureau which lends a festival atmosphere. Be sure to keep in mind that the tunnel is a one way path only, running from the Mint Bureau South Gate (Tenmabashi side) to the North Gate (Sakuranomiyabashi side).
During the opening season, the area is lit up with paper lanterns until 9:00 pm so you can enjoy sakura trees with a different feel to the daytime. You'll also be able to see some very rare types of sakura here, including the Benitemari and Otemari varieties.
Opening dates: Early April
About Osaka Mint Bureau Sakura Tunnels
Opening hours: Weekdays: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm, Weekends: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Closed: Never
Price: Free
Access: 15 minute walk from Temmabashi Station
Address: 1-1-79 Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (English): www.mint.go.jp/category/eng
Website (Japanese): www.mint.go.jp/
3. Expo Commemoration Park, Suita
Suita City, situated in the Northern part of Osaka City, is about 30 minutes by train from the heart of the city. In this area, Expo Commemoration Park is a famous area for sakura, having been chosen as one of Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. There are nine varieties of sakura including Yamazakura (mountain cherry), Yaezakura (double cherry), Yoshino cherry and more, with over 5,500 trees blossoming throughout the spacious grounds.
During the sakura festival at Expo Commemoration Park, the sakura trees at Shizen Bunke-en (National Culture Park) and Higashioji are illuminated in the evenings from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
Expo Commemoration Park doesn’t only have sakura, there are also several traditional Japanese gardens to enjoy. Also, there is a springy net trampoline, unique bicycles and a range of playground equipment for kids, making it an ideal spot for the whole family.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Late April
About Expo Commemoration Park
Opening hours: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm, 9:30 pm during the sakura festival (Last entry 8:30 pm. From 4:30 pm onwards, you can only enter via the Central, East and Japanese Garden gates.)
Closed: Wednesdays, New Years (Always open during the sakura festival)
Price: Adults: 250 yen, Elementary school students: 70 yen
Access: Just outside of Banpaku Kinen Koen Station or Koen-Higashiguchi Station
Address: Senri Banpakukinenkoen, Suita-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (English): www.expo70-park.jp/languages/english/
Website (Simplified Chinese): www.expo70-park.jp/languages/chinese
Website (Japanese): www.expo70-park.jp/
4. Kema Sakuranomiya Park, Osaka
Kema Sakuranomiya Park lies over a 4.2 km area on the river bank which runs from Kemaaraizeki to Tenmabashi in the heart of Osaka City. This area is famous for its sakura tree promenade. During hanami season, there are about 4,800 trees in bloom, with varieties like Yamazakura (mountain cherry), Satozakura, Yoshino and more. You can enjoy historical buildings, bridges including Tenmanbashi and Sakuranomiyabashi (Ginbashi), and lots of different kinds of scenery here.
You can stroll along the riverside or take your time, sit down and drink sake while enjoying the beautiful trees. Also, there are lots of different events that are held during the Minato Osaka Kawabiraki Hachikenya Ohanami Festa including the Minato Osaka Kawabiraki Parade, an Okawa River sakura cruise, and more, so be sure to check what’s happening before you go!
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Kema Sakuranomiya Park
Opening hours: None
Closed: Never
Price: Free
Access: Just outside of Sakuranomiya Station
Address: Tenmabashi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.osakapark.osgf.or.jp/kema_sakuranomiya/
5. Kishiwada Castle Area, Kishiwada
This castle is about an hour away from the center of Osaka by train. Kishiwada is in the southern part of the prefecture, and it's famous for Kishiwada Castle and the dramatic Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri festival, in which floats are pulled through the streets by groups of men running at top speed. During sakura season, about 170 Yoshino cherry trees bloom around the castle. It's said that Kishiwada Castle was built in the 14th century by Nigita Takaie, a relative of Kusunoki Masashige, a samurai that is known as the ideal of samurai loyalty. You can enjoy both sights of the elegant castle and beautiful sakura trees here.
During the Kishiwada Castle Ojo Matsuri festival, the grounds are lit up with paper lanterns from sundown to 11:00 pm, giving you a chance to reflect on the artistic sight of the night sakura around the castle.
During the Kishiwada Castle Ojo Matsuri every April, various events are held like the Senshuu no Bussanten in which traditional crafts, local sake, and other regional products from Senshuu (the southwestern part of the prefecture of Osaka, including Kishiwada and Sakai) are exhibited and sold. This park is not very large, but it's a great lesser-known spot for cherry blossoms and a beautiful Japanese castle.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Kishiwada Castle Park
Opening hours: Kishiwada Castle 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (Festival dates: 8:30 pm, last entry 8:00 pm)
Closed: Kishiwada Castle closed every Monday
Price: Castle entrance: 300 yen, Free for children under 13
Access: Around a 7-minute walk from Takojizo Station
Address: 9-1 Kishiki-cho, Kishiwada-shi, Osaka (Google Maps)
Website (Japanese): www.city.kishiwada.osaka.jp/soshiki/36/kishiwadajyo.html
6. Daisen Park, Sakai
Sakai, in the southern part of the prefecture, is a city that flourished as a merchant town. It's reachable from the center of Osaka by train within 30 minutes. Daisen Park has about 400 sakura trees of different varieties, including Yoshino, Oshima, and mountain cherry. You can enjoy a pleasant hanami experience by walking around the Dada Pond in the center of the park.
This park was picked as one of Japan's top 100 historical parks, and is situated between Daisen Kofun and Misanzai Kofun, two ancient burial mounds built between the 3rd and 7th centuries.
Within the large 330,000 square meter grounds, there's a Japanese garden (200 yen for adults and 100 yen for children), a forest called Jido no Mori, a grassy field, and small historical burial mounds here and there. This park combines cherry blossoms with an experience of Japan's nature and history.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Daisan Park
Opening hours: None
Closed: Never
Price: Free
Access: Around a 5-minute walk from Mozu Station
Address: 2-204, Mozusekiun-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.city.sakai.lg.jp/kurashi/koen/shokai/shokai/daisen.html
7. Motoibarakigawa Ryokuchi Park, Ibaraki
Ibaraki is a city located around a 30 minute train ride from the center of the city of Osaka. This park was created alongside the construction of the 5 km long Motoibaraki River. It was chosen as one of Osaka's top 100 greenery areas, so it's a spot that's loved by locals. During sakura season, around 1,500 Yoshino cherry trees bloom here, which makes for a lovely riverside walk.
You should definitely check out the Shimin Sakura Matsuri festival held for 10 days during peak season! Stalls are set up so you can enjoy delicious food while checking out the sakura along with other trees like camphor, flowering dogwood, and evergreen oak. The park is also lit up at night.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Motoibarakigawa Ryokuchi Park
Opening hours: None
Closed: Never
Price: Free
Access: Around a 10-minute walk from Ibaraki-shi Station
Address: 2, Yokoe, Tanaka-cho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.city.ibaraki.osaka.jp/shisetsu/kouen/35853.html
8. Satsukiyama Park, Ikeda
Ikeda is about 20 minutes from the center of Osaka by express train. Mt. Satsuki is a mountain 315 metres tall in the center of the city, and Satsukiyama Park on the mountain is a popular spot famous for azaleas and autumn foliage. During the sakura season, the Yoshino and mountain cherry trees bloom beautifully.
Inside the park is the free zoo Satsukiyama Doubutsuen, hiking courses, and an observatory where you can gaze at the city of Ikeda and the Ina River. This area is beloved by locals. Please find your favorite spot in the park on your walk.
During the hanami season, the roads by the Kouyou Ohashi bridge are lit up between sundown and 10:30 pm, so you can enjoy night sakura as well. The Ikeda Satsukiyama Sakura Matsuri festival is also held at the nearby Ikeda Shiroato Park, so please check that out.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Satsukiyama Park
Opening hours: None
Closed: Never
Price/fee: Free
Access: Around a 15-minute walk from Ikeda Station
Address: 2-55-3, Ayaha, Ikeda, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.ikedashi-kanko.jp/recommend-spot01.html
9. Settsukai Park, Takatsuki
This park is in a very accessible area just 15 minutes away from the center of Osaka by express train. Settsukai Park is a popular hanami spot with about 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees.
The sakura plaza in the south part of the park has about 230 sakura trees that you can enjoy. There is also playground equipment such as a roller slide and a Tarzan rope, so it's a park the whole family can enjoy.
The Akuta River runs through the east side of the park, and it's a popular scenic spot. You can enjoy not just hanami but also camping or fishing here, so it's great for people who like being active outdoors.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Settsukai Park
Opening hours: None
Closed: Never
Price: Free
Access: 20 minute bus bound for Ue no Kuchi from Takatsuki Station. Alight at the last stop, walk 10 minutes.
Address: Hara, Takatsuki-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.city.takatsuki.osaka.jp/kurashi/kiban/koen/daihyo_koen/1328775617547.html
10. Oizeki Park, Izumisano
Izumisano is south of Kishiwada, and takes about 50 minutes to reach by train from the center of Osaka. Oizeki Park and Roji Canyon are verdant areas chosen in the top 100 greenery areas of Osaka. When the sakura are in full bloom, many people go to visit to see the canyon covered in blossoms.
If you look up from beneath the trees during the day, you can enjoy a mysterious world of pink backed by the blue sky. This is a scenery you can only see in areas where the sakura are plentiful. During the Oizeki Sakura Matsuri festival, the trees are decorated with strips of paper and lanterns, creating an even more gorgeous scene.
It's a popular spot for drives, and nearby are places like Hine Shrine and the pagoda that's registered as a national treasure at Jigenin Temple, so it's great for people that want to enjoy Japanese traditional culture as well.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Oizeki Park
Opening hours: None
Closed: Never
Price: Free
Access: 20 minutes by bus from Izumisano Station, alight at Toujou bus stop
Address: Kaminogo, Izumisano-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.kankou-izumisano.jp/iyashi/ooisekipark.html
11. Katsuoji, Mino
Katsuoji is a temple famous for kachi-daruma (a type of good luck charm) and as a place to pray for winning luck, so it's visited by people all year round. Throughout the 800,000 sq. m. grounds are weeping, mountain, and Taiwan cherry trees. The peak is rather late, between late March and early May. The main temple gate and bridge are bright red and create a stunning scenery with the pink flowers.
Not only do they have the graceful weeping cherry, they also have a rare yellow sakura. The shrine is also famous for good luck in love, so please stop by and pick up a good luck daruma if you're interested!
For more about temples and shrines in the Osaka area, our article, Osaka’s More Than Food and Tourism! A Look into Its Mystical Shrines and Temples, might be useful to check out!
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early May
About Katsuoji
Opening hours: Weekdays: 8:00 - am 5:00 pm, Saturdays: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm, Sundays and holidays: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Closed: Never
Price: Adults: 400 yen, Children: 300 yen
Access: Express bus from Senri-Chuo Station or Mino Station to Katsuoji bus stop (Weekends and holidays only)
Address: 2914-1, Aomatani, Minoo-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (English): www.katsuo-ji-temple.or.jp/katuouji_e/index.html
Website (Simplified Chinese): www.katsuo-ji-temple.or.jp/katuouji_c/index.html
Website (Japanese): www.katsuo-ji-temple.or.jp/
12. Domyoji Tenmangu, Fujiidera
This area is reachable from the center of Osaka in 40 minutes, and this temple was chosen as one of Osaka's top 100 green areas. Every Februray to March, about 800 trees of 80 varieties of red and white plum blossoms bloom, making it one of Osaka's foremost plum blossom spots. Also, during sakura season, you can enjoy about 200 Yoshino and ukon cherry trees.
This is a temple famous for enshrining the deity of education. It's near the station, and is a hanami spot beloved by locals since ancient times.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Domyoji Tenmangu
Opening hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed: Never
Price: Free
Access: Around a 3-minute walk from Domyouji Station
Address: 1-16-40, Domyoji, Fujiidera-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.domyojitenmangu.com/
13. Eiraku Dam, Sennan
Sennan is a district at the very south of the prefecture, and it's a little far from the city, taking around an hour and ten minutes to get there from the center. However, Eiraku Dam is well worth the visit! The 1,000 Yoshino and mountain cherry trees are a wonderful sight. The dam itself is inside the Okuyama Ameyama Natural Park, and it's a lush area that has been chosen not just as one of Osaka's top 100 greenery areas, but also as one of the top 100 Suigen no Mori, a forest that acts as the perfect mediator between humans and water sources.
You can see a beautiful, almost spiritual sight of the sakura being reflected in the water, as well as a part of the trees being lit up by lanterns during the peak period. Right next door is the Eiraku Yume no Mori Park, and you can also enjoy hanami there as well. However, since it isn't very easy to get to, this is best for nature lovers who love getting off the beaten path.
If you like getting out of the city, we have some other great suggestions in our roundup of 8 Exciting Day Trip Stops from Osaka.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Eiraku Dam
Opening hours: None
Closed: Never
Price/fee: Free
Access: Around a 20-minute walk from Naraikuchi bus stop
Address: Kubo, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.town.kumatori.lg.jp/town_syoukai/syoukai_kankou/shizen/1297844847754.html
14. Hirokawadera, Minami-Kawachi
This district is about an hour away from the center of the city of Osaka via bus and train. Hirokawadera is the temple famous for being where Saigyo, a famous poet, died, and during hanami season you can enjoy around 1,500 trees of different varieties including mountain, Yoshino, double-flowered, and weeping cherry. There is even a flowering crab apple tree over 350 years old that Osaka City has designated national monument.
Within the grounds is a Saigyo Memorial Hall where you can find many documents related to Saigyo, so it's great for people who have an interest in Japanese culture and history. It's a little far from the city, so it's recommended for people with a little extra time on their hands who would like to venture into the deep mountains.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early May
About Hirokawadera
Opening hours: Honbo Garden: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Closed: Never
Price/fee: Honbo Garden and the Saigyo Memorial Hall: Adults: 500 yen, Children: 200 yen
Access: Take the bus bound for Kawachi from Tondabayashi Station to the last stop, and walk 5 minutes
Address: 43, Hirokawa, Kanan-cho, Minamikawachi-gun, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.town.kanan.osaka.jp/kananchotte/kankogaido/terajinja/1394613320825.html
15. Yamanakadani, Hannan
Hannan is situated to the south of Osaka, taking about 1 hour to get there via train from the center. Every year in sakura season Yamanakadani starts bustling with people. This area has about 1,000 sakura trees, including Yoshino cherry and Yamazakura, that bloom along the river. From the train window, you can also see the sakura blooming on both sides of the approximately 1km long Yamanaka riverbank just outside the JR Yamanakadani Station.
At nights, the area is lit up from sunset to 10:00 pm, so you can enjoy an almost-magical cherry blossom atmosphere. Visitors can also enjoy hanami at nearby areas such as Wanpaku Oukoku and Jifukuji Temple. Every year, there are various events held for the Yamanakadani Sakura Matsuri so be sure to check the details! However, it takes a bit of time to get here, so this is another good spot for those with some extra time.
Peak cherry blossom season: Late March - Early April
About Yamanakadani
Opening hours: None
Closed: Never
Price/fee: Free
Access: Yamanakadani Station on the JR Hanwa line
Address: Yamanakadani, Hannan-shi, Osaka (Google Map)
Website (Japanese): www.city.hannan.lg.jp/kakuka/shimin/shoko/spot/sakura.html
Conclusion
There are many beautiful hanami spots in Osaka. There are many people who go to visit during sakura season, so if there are any places that you’re interested in, try to get there a little early in the morning for a more peaceful hanami experience!
If you're planning a trip to Japan for cherry blossom season, we've got everything you need to know in our 2020 Cherry Blossom Forecast! Find out the best places in Japan to see cherry blossoms and just when they're expected to be at their peak in our complete guide.
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The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.
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