Cherry Blossoms in Japan 2024—13 Amazing Osaka Hotspots

Maido! Osaka Bob here.

It’s spring. And when it’s spring the cherry trees will bloom. Although the season is short, it’s one of the most sought after seasons for travelers visiting Japan. It’s a time when parks fill with families, friends, and business associates, all outdoors to do one activity—watching the cherry blossoms as they bud, blossom, and eventually fall to the ground creating a blanket of pale pink petals.

Cherry blossom season is such a special time in Japan! Of course there are many ways to enjoy the cherry blossoms—take a cruise down a cherry-tree lined river, walk through town to see all the different cherry trees, or have a traditional hanami (cherry blossom-viewing) picnic. Chances are, you’ll want to see the flowers more than once.

So here’s a rundown of 13 of the best places to see the sakura in Osaka, including information on blooming times.

■2024 Sakura Forecast. When do the cherry blossoms usually bloom in Osaka?

Cherry trees in Osaka generally start blooming around March 27. After the first blossoms appear, the trees are between 50–70% open within 5–7 days. Full bloom is usually 7–9 days after the first buds open. And because the flowers are easily blown away by winds or pulled down by rains, there is only about one week to really enjoy the cherry blossoms.

Cherry Blossom Forecast for Osaka 2024

According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation, as of February 29, the Somei Yoshino Cherries in Osaka are expected to begin blooming on March 24. And the flowers should reach full bloom on April 1, which is a little bit earlier than the average year.
In fact, cherry blossoms around the country are a few days earlier than the normal average for sakura blooms.

If you want to know the best places to see cherry blossoms in Osaka, scroll down for my list of the best cherry blossom locations in Osaka. There’s a lot of variety out there, so I’ve tried to break them into categories like popular spots and lesser known locations. So take a look and find the best location to fit your style of cherry-blossom viewing.

■Popular Hanami Spots

Topping the list are the most popular and well-known places in the prefecture.

1. Osaka Castle Park

Visit Osaka Castle Park for a close look at Japanese history and gorgeous views of the castle and its surroundings. Beautiful any time of year, it’s especially stunning in spring when some 3,000 cherry trees are in bloom.

The perfect symbols of Osaka—The castle keep surrounded with cherry blossoms!

The park is big so there is plenty of room to spread out a picnic blanket, throw around a frisbee, or play a game of badminton. It’s a very popular sakura spot, so if it starts to feel crowded, you can always enter the Nishi no Maru Garden (¥200 entrance fee) and relax on the spacious lawn in close proximity to the castle. The garden has approximately 300 Yoshino cherry trees that are lit evenings during peak season.
Osaka Castle Park is usually #1 or #2 on the list of most-visited hanami spots in the Kansai region.

2. Kema Sakuranomiya Park

This park is located just a few minutes walk from Sakuranomiya Station on the JR Osaka Loop Line. You’ll be able to see the cherry trees from the train windows as you pass over the park. Sakura line both banks of the river stretching from the tip of Nakanoshima all the way up to Yodogawa. In total there are approximately 4,800 trees!

Great spot for a romantic riverside stroll!

The park has wide open spaces where you can spread out a picnic blanket and a few  benches where you can relax and take in the beauty of nature right in the heart of the city. Plus this area is great for walking under the cherry trees. Walking and cycling paths pass through Kema Sakuranomiya Park and will lead you further north along the river bank or in the direction of Tenmabashi and Hachikenyahama Pier. Cruise boats, which depart from nearby locations, also have special cherry blossom courses that will take you up and down the river to view this pink seasonal wonder.

Walk along the riverside under beautiful cherry blossoms. Usually there are food stands set up along the river during hanami season.

3. Expo ’70 Commemorative Park

This is another one that’s almost as famous as Osaka Castle Park for its amazing cherry blossoms.
The main hanami spot in northern Osaka.
This park is always in the top 100 places for cherry blossoms in Japan!
Called Banpaku Koen in Japanese, this is the place to go if you want to see nature and beautiful flowers in Osaka.

In spring, the park is open late for the Cherry Blossom Festival when the cherry trees are especially beautiful at night.

■Historic Charms Shine Brighter in Pink

The classic beauty of traditional architecture combined with cherry blossoms make hanami extra special.

4.Shitennoji

This is the place to be if you’d like to be surrounded by temple architecture and bursts of pink flowers. Not only is Shitennoji one of the most famous temples in Osaka, it also has beautiful sprawling grounds dotted with cherry trees, making for pretty pictures and relaxing scenery.

When you visit, I recommend the Kiyujima Bentendo area of the temple grounds. There’s a small pond and beautifully placed pagoda surrounded by cherry trees. Scenery at Shitennoji combines the elegance of temple architecture and the charms of spring.

5. Katsuōji Temple

An unforgettable temple landscape accented with cherry blossoms, Katsuōji is located up in the mountains on sprawling temple grounds. It is absolutely stunning!
The weeping cherry located next to the main temple gate makes for gorgeous pictures.

This is a cherry blossom spot that should top your Osaka list.

The temple boasts a variety of cherry blossoms like multi-layered cherry blossoms and mountain cherries. Plus the cherries here bloom later in the season due to the temple’s altitude, so if you’ve missed the sakura in the city, you may still be able to catch them at Katsuōji.
The view over Benten Ike Pond is one of my favorites.

Kishiwada Castle

This one is on the opposite side of the prefecture from Katsuōji, way down south in Kishiwada. The picturesque combination of pink blossoms surrounding the white castle tower walls is like a poem come to life.

The paths around the castle moat make for a perfect springtime stroll!

Take a stroll, bring your camera, sit under the trees, or find a bench with a perfect view of the main castle tower. There are so many ways to enjoy the cherry blossoms at Kishiwada Castle.

The scenes you’ll see here look just like the sets in a period drama.
Kishiwada is famous for the danjiri (festival parade floats), but there are lots of beautiful scenic places too.

■Cherry Trees Surrounded by Nature

Venture out of the city center and into the greens and pinks of spring in the great outdoors!

7. Hattori Ryokuchi Park

This park is full of attractions like the horseback riding courses, waterpark, Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses and more. It has a variety of plants, trees, and flowers in landscaped and wild gardens. Exploring Hattori Ryokuchi Park makes for a pleasant day, and you’ll find cherry trees scattered throughout the grounds.

The open park areas are great for families!

The park features a large playground and open areas where you’ll find families playing catch and groups of friends engaged in a pleasant round of badminton. And seasonal flowers are always blooming in the central round flower garden.


Plus the park has a picturesque bamboo grove!

8. Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park

The official name for this park is Flower Expo Commemorative Park because the International Garden and Greenery Exhibition was held here in 1990, but most people just call it Tsurumi Ryokuchi. The park is gorgeous with pavilions left over from the expo showcasing landscaping and aesthetic styles of countries from all over the world. Plus there are wide open spaces surrounded by sakura, some that bloom early in the season and some that bloom later. In total, the park has approximately 1,100 cherry trees of over 100 varieties.

Still located within city grounds this park is the opposite of what you would expect of a busy urban metropolis like Osaka. The wide blue sky unfolds before you and the many park paths wind through the green landscape. This is a favorite spot for nature-lovers in Osaka!

Relax at a picnic table or stroll along the huge central pond.

9. Fukakita Ryokuchi Park

In addition to the rental tennis courts and baseball field, this park offers free facilities like a skate plaza, basketball courts, and BMX track. There’s even a sports gym and a dog park. It’s a favorite recreational place for people who like to stay active.
In spring, the park’s 300 cherry trees draw in picnickers to enjoy the pink scenery.

BBQ while you enjoy the cherry blossoms!

The green lawn is an enticing feature of this park for picnickers. Everyone comes here to experience the charms of spring.

One of the most appealing points is the BBQ space. You can rent a grill and purchase food here or bring your own. There’s nothing like a BBQ hanami picnic!

■Underground Spots

Once you’ve hit the major spots, dig a little deeper!

10. Kōzugū Shrine

You may remember this shrine from the Maybe all you need is a little luck! 6 spots to improve your love life♡ post. But there is more to it than romantic luck. People familiar with Kōzugū Shrine know it’s an attractive sakura spot.
The stone steps lined with cherry trees create picturesque scenery and I’ve heard it’s especially beautiful at night when the cherry blossoms are lit up (although I haven’t had a chance to visit at night, yet).


This is a great place to combine a shrine visit with sakura viewing.

11. Akuta River Sakurazutsumi Park

Located in the city of Takatsuki, the midpoint between Osaka and Kyoto, this park runs along the banks of the Akuta River. A popular spot for riverside walks and jogging, it is also perfect for hanami!

Feel the spring breeze while among the riverside cherry blossoms.

Cherry blossoms bloom along this 1 kilometer stretch on the Akuta River. In late April, during the Koi-nobori Festa, this same river is decorated with approximately 1,000 carp streamers overhead. The cherries bloom about 1 month before the carp streamers go up, so there’s reason to visit this park at least twice.

12. Nagai Park

Home to one of Osaka’s soccer teams—Cerezo Osaka!
The name Cerezo even comes from the Spanish word for cherry blossom. Their home stadium is Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Nagai Park and the park floods with fans wearing their signature uniform color, bright pink. It’s like the park is filled with cherry blossoms during every game.
The Osaka Derby matches between Cerezo and the other Osaka team hailing from Suita—Osaka Gamba—are always a big deal.

Cherry blossoms at the home of their namesake Cerezo Osaka.

And there are plenty of real cherry blossoms at Nagai Park!

Nagai Park always has lots of runners and visiting the various park facilities, but it’s actually an underrated cherry-blossom viewing spot. There are lots of cherry trees, but it usually isn’t crowded.

There’s also a beautiful botanical gardens at Nagai Park, where you can find over 400 cherry trees, especially around the central pond.

■Something to See After the Yoshino Cherries, Late-blooming Varieties

Cherry blossom season is known for being short and the petals fleeting. When you’re planning an international trip months ahead of time, this can make it hard to get the timing just right. But the late-blooming cherries are here to extend the season, if even just a little bit, with a taste of their own unique beauty.

13. Japan Mint

Every year, the Japan Mint opens its grounds to the public, for a limited time, to see the cherry blossoms. Unlike the popular Somei-yoshino cherries, the trees at the Mint are mostly yaezakura (multi-layered cherry blossoms), which bloom later in the season, usually mid-April. Even if you miss the Somei-yoshino cherries, there is still plenty of time to see the yaezakura.

Open for only one week in April!

The tradition of opening the Mint’s cherry blossom promenade to the public began in 1883, under the guidance of the then director Kinsuke Endo. The 560m walkway is lined on both sides by cherry trees forming a sort of sakura tunnel. It is usually very popular, so guests are invited to walk one-way through the pathway. Pop-up food stands on neighboring streets sell street food and refreshments.

Please be aware, prior reservations are required for this special event.

■Cherry Blossom Trivia: How much do you know about sakura?

Cherry blossoms are a symbol of beauty and purity. They represent the fleeting impermanence of life and must be appreciated during the short time they are in bloom. Each specific variety of sakura is associated with symbolism. Read on to find out more about the significance of the different types.

🌸Somei-yoshino ソメイヨシノ

Purity and outstanding beauty— The flowers are delicate and graceful.

🌸Weeping Cherry シダレザクラ

Elegant and deceptive— This tree appears to be graceful and refined, however it also seems to be hiding something beneath its drooping branches.

🌸Yae-zakura (multi-layered cherry blossoms)ヤエザクラ

Refined and well-educated— Blooms usually coincide with the start of schools and the new year for businesses.

🌸Yama-zakura (Mountain Cherry)ヤマザクラ

Smiling— This variety grows wild in the mountains and anyone who comes upon its inconspicuous beauty is sure to smile. It is also associated with purity, nobility, sincerity, and beauty.

Each kind of sakura is slightly different, but they are all extremely beautiful and an important part of Japanese culture. I hope you enjoy spring wherever you are this year. And when you visit Osaka, please visit the 13 spots I’ve just recommended. Happy sakura season!