Ueda Castle, famous for twice repelling Tokugawa forces, becomes a festive hanami destination each April when roughly 1,000 cherry trees burst into bloom around its remaining turrets and stone ramparts. The annual festival includes a costumed samurai parade re-enacting the castle's defiant history, open-air food and craft stalls, and traditional performing arts on a temporary stage. The combination of historic architecture and cherry blossoms makes it a favourite for photographers. Evening lit-up sessions illuminate the trees and castle walls after dark.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Cherry Blossom
- Season
- Spring
- Month
- Early–Mid April
- Region
- Chubu
- Prefecture
- Nagano
- City
- Ueda
Highlights
- ◆Cherry blossoms framing authentic Edo-period castle turrets
- ◆Costumed samurai parade celebrating Ueda's battle history
- ◆Approximately 1,000 Somei Yoshino trees in bloom
- ◆Evening illuminations of castle walls and blossoms
- ◆Lively yatai (food stall) village on castle grounds