2017 Kagawa Cherry Blossom Information

As spring gets closer, everyone is excited about sakura (Cherry blossoms) blooming across Japan and hanami (Cherry blossom viewing picnic party)! Life Takamatsu brings you the best hanami spots in Kagawa. The blooming season starts from the end of March and lasts until the middle of April. How about going to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom with your family, friends and loved ones and enjoy one of the most beautiful seasons of Japan!

Ritsurin-Garden Park

Takamatsu is home to one of Japan’s most famous daimyō (feudal lord) gardens, designated as a special place of scenic beauty. This strolling garden has about 290 cherry trees (mainly Yoshino cherry trees). The spectacular views of these cherry blossoms and pine trees reflected on the surface of ponds scattered across this historical garden are breathtaking and the exquisite balance of the park’s scenery is a must see.

Best Viewing Period: From around the end of March to the middle of April
Time: March (6:30AM to 6:00PM), April (5:30AM to 6:30PM)
Holidays: open all year round
Admission: 410 yen for Adult and 170 yen for Child
Website: http://www.my-kagawa.jp/ritsuringarden
Address: 1-20-16, Ritsurin-cho, Takamatsu-city, Kagawa, Japan 760-0073/香川県高松市栗林町1-20-16
Access: About a 3-minute walk from JR Ritsurin Koen Kitaguchi Station. About a 5-minutes walk from Kotoden Ritsurin Koen Station. You can also take the bus from Takamatsu station and get off at Ritsurin Koen Mae Bus Stop.
LIGHT UP: March 31st – April 4th, 2017.

Kinbuchi Forest Park

The park provides young people’s nature educational activities for young people and a recreation place for guests, facilities such as an open lawn space, forest learning exhibition hall, campground, kids square, Gimbuchiikoinoie Shop (restaurant), and more.
You can see the Seto Inland Sea and the city of  Takamatsu from the top of NIKOZAN mountain rising to 180 meters.
From spring to early summer, camellia, cherry blossoms, tulips, buttons, rhododendrons, hydrangea, hydrangea, etc. bloom one after the another.

Best Viewing Period: From around the end of March to the middle of April
Time: Park open All day/Everyday, Park facilities are open from 8:30 AM to 5:00PM.
Holidays: Open all year round
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.k-green.or.jp/kinbuchi/index.html
Address: 1210−3 Teramine, Higashiueta-cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa, 761-0446/香川県高松市東植田町1210-3
Access: About a 40-minute drive from JR Takamatsu station. About a 10-minute drive from Kotoden Nagaosen Takada Station (Nagao Line)
LIGHT UP: First Sunday of April

Marugame Castle

The ishigaki (stone wall) supporting Marugame Castle, which was chosen as one of the 100 best castles in Japan, exceeds 60 meters of height, making it the highest castle stonewall in Japan. You will find 700 Yoshino cherry trees are in full bloom and a beautiful stonewall known for having the curve of a Japanese hand fan with the pink of the cherry blossoms strewn across it. About 400 bonbon (a Japanese round paper lamps) are lit up every evening to illuminate the scenery.

Best Viewing Period: From around the end of March to the middle of April
Time: Park is always open but the castle is open from 9:00 AM to 4:30PM.
Holidays: Open all year round
Admission: Park entry is free; Castle entry fee is 200 yen for high school student and older and 100yen for Elementary and Junior high school students
Website: http://www.marugame-castle.jp
Address: Ichiban-cho, Marugame, Kagawa Prefecture, 763-0025/香川県丸亀市一番丁
Access: About a 10-minute walk from JR Marugame station
LIGHT UP: April 1st – 14th, 2017.

Kotohiki Park

Kotohiki Park has been chosen as one of the best 100 cherry blossom sights in Japan. The park is also one of the Seto Inland Sea National Parks that is designated as place of national scenic beauty. The white sands and the green pine trees on Ariake Beach and the view from the summit of the Kotohama Mountain are a must see. About 450 Yoshino cherry trees shed striking colors across the garden in the spring.

Best Viewing Period: From around the end of March to the middle of April
Time: Park is always open.
Holidays: open all year round
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.city.kanonji.kagawa.jp/soshiki/21/1467.html
Address: 3-36 Ariake-cho, Kanonji-city, Kagawa 768-0062/香川県観音寺市有明町3-36
Access: About a 5-minute walk from Kotohiki park bus stop using NORIAI bus departs from JR Kanonji station/ About a 5-minute drive from JR Kanonji station
LIGHT UP: Yes.

Shiudeyama

Photo provided by the tourism association of Mitoyo-city

If the weather is clear, you can enjoy the panoramic views of the Chugoku area and Shodoshima Island from the observation decks on the mountain from an altitude of 352m. In spring, there will be about 1,000 cherry blossoms blooming and the spectacular harmony of the Seto Inland Sea and beautiful cherry blossoms attract many a visitor every year.

Best Viewing Period: From around the end of March to the middle of April
Time: Park is always open.
Holidays: Open all year round
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.mitoyo-kanko.com/?p=830
Address: 451-1 Oohama, Takuma-cho, Mitoyo-city, Kagawa, 769-1104/香川県三豊市詫間町大浜乙451-1
Access: Take the bus from JR Takuma station and it’s about a 60-minute walk from Shiudeyama Tozanyamaguchi Bus stop. Or about a 60-minute walk from the Hako Bus Stop. Shuttle bus during Cherry blossom season: http://mitoyo.org/news/2017-紫雲出山%E3%80%80桜鑑賞ガイド%E3%80%80-2017-mt-shiude-sakura-guide/
LIGHT UP: March 24th – April 20th, 2017, from sunset till 9:00PM

Kompira-gu Shrine

“sakurabara” is the most famous cherry blossom spot in Kompira-gu Shrine and there are also about 3,500 cherry blossoms blooming in the inside grounds of the Shrine. The color change brought by the cherry blossoms of ZOUZUSAN, the mountain that shelters Kompira-gu Shrine, represents the arrival of spring in the Sanuki region. A cherry blossom festival is held every year, where a priest with a cherry blossom crown and lines of shrine maidens holding ceremonial cherry branches walk from the large front gate to the main shrine while the court musician’s perform.

Best Viewing Period: From around the end of March to the middle of April
Time: From April to September 6:00AM to 6:00PM
Holidays: open all year round
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.konpira.or.jp
Address: 892-1 kotohira-cho, Nakatado-gun,Kagawa, 766-0001/香川県仲多度郡琴平町892-1
Access: About a 20-minute walk from JR Kotohira station
LIGHT UP: Not available.

Kikaku Park

Kikaku Park has been selected as one of Kagawa’s 100 nature spots and is one of the best cherry blossom sights in the eastern area of this prefecture. The road of cherry blossoms planted between Kamejima to Usa Shrine with a width of 20m and a length of 300m creates an incredible tunnel of blooming cherry blossoms.

Best Viewing Period: From around the end of March to the middle of April
Time: Park is always open.
Holidays: Open all year round
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.city.sanuki.kagawa.jp/sightseeing/sights/kikaku
Address: 1673-1 Nagaomyo, Sanuki-city,Kagawa, 769-2303/香川県さぬき市長尾名1673-1
Access: About 15 minutes by Taxi from Kotoden Nagao station
LIGHT UP: Yes, Scheduled during the blooming season

Tamamo Park (Takamatsu Castle Ruins)

The park was established in the ruins of Takamatsu Castle and is designated as a national historical site. This park houses buildings of important cultural property as well as seawater fish such as red snappers and flatfish swim in the moat filled with seawater.
In the inner moat, you can enjoy feeding the red snappers and make a wish to them to make your dreams come true.

Best Viewing Period: From around the end of March to the middle of April
Time: Open hours vary depends on the season. Please check their website for more info.
Holidays: open all year round
Admission: 200 yen for Adults, 100 yen for Children
Website: http://www.takamatsujyo.com
Address: 2-1 Tamamo-cho, Takamatsu-city, 760-0030/香川県高松市玉藻町2-1
Access: About a 3-minute walk from JR Takamatsu station (About a 10-minute walk to the East gate). About a 1-minute walk from Kotoden Takamatsu Chikkou station (About a 8-minute walk to the East gate).
LIGHT UP: March 31st – April 9th, 2017, 17:30-20:00

Toryo Park

The park is located at Momoyama, Tadotsu-cho. From the observation deck, you can see the Seto Inland Sea and Tadatsu Town. The town’s flowering tree with approximately 2,000 cherry blossoms blooms is one of the premier sights in Kagawa prefecture.

Best Viewing Period: Beginning of April to the middle of April
Time: 24/7
Holidays: Open all year round
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.town.tadotsu.kagawa.jp/itwinfo/i2136/
Address: Momoyama, Tadotsu-cho, Tadotsu-gun, Kagawa 764-0000/香川県仲多度郡多度津町桃山
Access: About a 25-minute walk from JR Tadotsu station.
LIGHT UP: Yes, Scheduled light up during the blooming season.

Takinomiya Park

Takinomiya Park was chosen as one of the Sanuki’s best 100 scenic locations. About 200 Yoshino cherry trees are in full bloom. The sight of the cherry blossoms lit up by lanterns during the evening is truly impressive.

Best Viewing Period: Beginning of April
Time: 24/7
Holidays: open all year round
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.my-kagawa.jp/point/9/
Address: 1577-1 Takinomiya, Ayagawa-cho,Ayauta-gun,Kagawa, 761-2305/香川県绫歌郡绫川町1577-1地先
Access: About an 8-minute walk from JR Kotoden Takinomiya station.
LIGHT UP: Yes, Scheduled light up during the blooming season.