Okazaki Park, home to the restored Okazaki Castle—birthplace of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu—hosts one of Aichi Prefecture's most celebrated cherry blossom festivals each spring. Around 800 Somei Yoshino trees line the Oto River canal and castle grounds, creating a tunnel of blossoms above the waterway. Traditional wooden boats carry hanami passengers along the canal beneath the pink canopy, a much-photographed experience unique to this location. Evening illuminations and local food stalls selling Okazaki miso-katsu and other regional foods add to the festive atmosphere.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Cherry Blossom
- Season
- Spring
- Month
- Late March–Early April
- Region
- Chubu
- Prefecture
- Aichi
- City
- Okazaki
Highlights
- ◆Cherry blossom boat rides along the Oto River canal
- ◆800 Somei Yoshino trees around a historic castle
- ◆Illuminated castle and blossoms each evening
- ◆Connection to Tokugawa Ieyasu birthplace heritage
- ◆Local food stalls featuring Okazaki miso dishes