Osaka Castle is, of course, one of Osaka’s leading tourist destinations, attracting visitors throughout the year. It is also one of the best places for cherry blossoms in Osaka. The 100-hectare park that surrounds the castle is filled with blossoms each spring, thanks to its nearly 3,000 cherry trees.

Osaka Castle Park is a 15-20 minute walk from JR Osakajokoen Station or Morinomiya Station. You can find cherry blossoms throughout the large garden, but the area near the moat on the south side of the castle tower is an exceptional viewing point.

The light pink of the Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms shines in exquisite contrast with the stunning stone walls of the castle and the green of the dry moat.

From late March to early April, the “Kano Nighter” is held in the Nishinomaru Garden on the castle grounds. At this event, you can revel in the sight of about 300 cherry trees, mainly Yoshino, and Osaka Castle lit up at the same time.

And a little bit of history for you - Nishinomaru Garden is the former site of the mansion where Hideyoshi Toyotomi's wife and his younger brother Hidenaga lived in turn. Come enjoy Osaka Castle’s fantastic spring scenery!

The Japan Mint is a classic cherry-blossom viewing site that often lands in the number one spot for cherry blossoms in Osaka. The Osaka Mint premises cannot be entered on a daily basis, but are open for a limited time during the cherry blossom viewing season. While walking along the Mint’s 560m promenade, you can see 338 cherry trees from 134 varieties; mainly Yaezakura.

The Osaka Mint is about a 15-minute walk from Osaka Tenmangu Station or Osakajokitazume Station on the JR Tozai Line and is about the same distance from Osaka Metro Temmabashi Station.

In order to familiarize visitors with the different blossoms, one variety is selected annually as the “Flower of the Year.” The reddish Benitemari was chosen in 2019, and it’s fun to search for the featured flower among the Mint’s countless blossoms each year.

The Cherry Blossom Pass is usually held from early April to mid-April. The promenade can only be entered via the south gate, and the event is crowded on weekends and at night. However, it seems to be relatively vacant during weekdays so that’s the best time to go if you want to take more time to appreciate the wide variety of blossoms.

Expo '70 Commemorative Park is known for its “Tower of the Sun,” created by artist Taro Okamoto, but is also considered one of Japan’s top 100 sakura (cherry blossom) sites. Higanzakura and Kanhizakura begin to bloom in the middle of March every year, and the Higashioji Street, which leads to the Tower of the Sun, is lined with approximately 5,500 cherry trees of nine different types.

Expo '70 Commemorative Park is conveniently accessible via Osaka Monorail Banpaku-kinen-koen or Koen Higashiguchi Stations. During the “Sakura Festival,” held every year from late March to early April, park hours are extended to 21:00 so visitors can fully enjoy the beauty of Higashioji’s cherry blossoms at night.

Kema Sakuranomiya Park spans 4.2km from the Kema overflow weir at the divergence of the Yodo and Okawa Rivers to Temma Bridge downstream. Located near the Kitahama financial district and the Osaka Securities Exchange, the park is something of an urban oasis.

In spring the row of cherry trees from Tenma Bridge to Sakuranomiya Bridge (Ginbashi) is overwhelmingly beautiful! This 1.3km stretch contains about 4,800 trees of the Yoshino, Yamazakura, and Satozakura varieties, which can be enjoyed late into the night during the sakura season from late March to mid-April.

Near the Sakuranomiya Bridge, early Meiji era buildings, such as the Mint and the oldest Western-style building in Osaka, Sempukan, are worth taking a look at along with your viewing of cherry blossoms in Osaka.

Osaka has long been called the “city of water” because of its many rivers and the boats that carried daily necessities throughout the city. A riverside stroll is great for seeing some of the best cherry blossoms in Osaka, but it’s also a wonderful idea to take a ride on a modern or traditional sightseeing boat to look at the rows of cherry blossoms from the river itself.

Nenpo Shinkyo Kongo Temple is adjacent to Flower Expo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi. This temple in Tsurumi-ku is the headquarters of Nenpo Shinkyo sect of Buddhism, founded in 1925.

The spacious temple grounds are filled with flowers, and in spring about 150 Yoshino cherry trees are in full bloom. Standing in the center, surrounded by trees, you’ll feel as if you’re in a sea of cherry blossom clouds.

From late March to April, when cherry blossoms in Osaka are in full bloom, around 2,000 tulips and 20 to 30 peach trees also bloom, making the path to the temple even more lovely. Here among the competing flowers, you can experience a moment of calm relaxation and a gentle breeze.

Hirakata Park in Hirakata City, nicknamed “HiraPa,” is an amusement park that’s year-round fun for visitors of all ages. From late March to early April, the park is painted pink with the blossoms of about 300 Yoshino cherry trees.

Located just outside the Keihan Railway’s Hirakata-Koen Station, HiraPa is one of the largest amusement parks in Kansai, boasting 1.2 million visitors per year (in 2017). There are more than 40 attractions on the 160,000 square meter site.

HiraPa’s biggest draw in spring is seeing the sakura while riding the park’s many rides and attractions. Among them, the Red Falcon roller coaster offers a slightly different viewing experience as it powerfully accelerates past the blossoms along its course.

Satsukiyama Park is located in central Ikeda City, about a 15-minute walk from Hankyu Railway Ikeda Station. This vast park rests on part of 315m Mt. Satsuki and is well known for cherry blossom viewing. About 35,000 Somei Yoshino and Yamazakura cherry trees are in full bloom from late March to April, and the observation decks scattered throughout the park also provide a superb view of the Osaka Plain!

The park also features a complex playground, and the adjacent 3,000-square-meter Satsukiyama Zoo is home to about ten wombats, bred in Japan. With fun ranging from cherry blossoms to rare animals, a family can spend an entire day in this large park.

Along the course of the Akutagawa River upstream from Takatsuki City, the Settsu Gorge is a scenic spot with interesting rocks and cliffs. The surrounding area forms Settsukyo Park, which has many hiking trails and campsites that can be used throughout the year.

From late March to April, about 3,000 Somei Yoshino cherry trees color the valley and delight visitors.

The annual Sakura Festival is held from late March to mid-April. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights during the festival, the blossoms are magnificently illuminated.

In addition, for two special days in early April, food vending booths fill the park in a lively celebration of the blossoms.

Katsuo-ji Temple, located in Mino City, was given its name by Emperor Seiwa in the Heian era and is dedicated to victory and good fortune in academics, sports, and business. There, many “winning daruma” (doll-like charms) have been purchased in hope for success.

Not only known for good luck, Katsuo-ji Temple is also a popular sakura spot. The vast 265,000 square meter grounds are home to both early and late blooming varieties, bringing the temple notoriety for its long viewing season.

The light-pink “weeping” Shidarezakura cherry blossoms in Osaka, which bloom from mid-April to May, provide a stunning contrast against a backdrop of mountain greenery and the vermilion temple.

Eiraku Dam is located in Kumatori-cho in southern Osaka Prefecture. Along with the adjacent Eiraku Yume no Mori Park, it’s renowned for its 1,000 cherry trees. Looking at the pink blossoms and green mountains and feeling the breeze blowing across the water brings a sense of healing to those who walk around the lake.

The park has a wide range of playground equipment, like a large slide and a skateboarding area, so it’s a great place for families.

The Eiraku Sakura Festival is held annually from late March to early April. During the event, visitors can enjoy lit-up cherry blossoms at night, snacks, and flower seedling sales in Eiraku Yumenomori Park.

To get to Eiraku Dam, ride the Nankai Bus bound for Tsubasagaoka Kitaguchi from JR Kumatori Station for about 20 minutes and get off at Nariaikuchi bus stop. From there it’s a 20-minute walk to this popular spot, where you can enjoy a day trip in nature.

Osaka’s popular cherry blossom viewing spots range from castles and temples to large parks and other natural locations. Be sure to check out a few different places to get a unique sakura experience at each!

* Photos taken before 2017.
* Event dates and schedules may change depending on when the flowers are in bloom. Please check official websites for details.