Ōzu Castle, faithfully reconstructed in 2004 using traditional carpentry techniques, stands on a rocky bluff above the Hiji River surrounded by cherry trees each spring. The castle grounds host informal hanami gatherings against a backdrop of the Shikoku mountain range and the winding river below. The surrounding Ōzu historic district, with its preserved machiya merchant houses and the Garyū Sanso villa, makes this a fuller cultural day trip. A nighttime illumination of the castle and blossoms is held on selected evenings during peak bloom.
- Type
- Experience
- Category
- Cherry Blossom
- Season
- Spring
- Month
- Late March to Early April
- Region
- Shikoku
- Prefecture
- Ehime
- City
- Ōzu
Highlights
- ◆Historically reconstructed castle using traditional timber joinery
- ◆Hanami picnic area with mountain and river panoramas
- ◆Evening sakura illuminations on select nights
- ◆Paired with the nearby Garyū Sanso traditional villa and gardens
- ◆Cormorant fishing (ukai) season begins shortly after cherry bloom