◆Murayama area

1. Yamagata City

・32nd Kajo Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Event

The Kajo Park Cherry Blossom Viewing Party is held at Kajo Park, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot.

Date
Checking

Venue
Kajo Park and its surroundings

Light up
Period : From the beginning of blooming to the beginning of falling
Hours: 18:00~21:30 (inside the park) & 18:00~22:00 (along the moat)

Events
・Yamamen cold soba presentation ceremony
・Yamamen cold soba tasting party
・Yamagata Maiko flower viewing garden tour
・Grand tea ceremony (outdoor) and koto performance
・Elegant Kajo town view
・Elegant flower viewing parade
・Entertainment by Mogami Yoshiaki’s military corps and more

2. Tendo City

・70th Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival (Human Shogi)

The main event at the Tendo Cherry Blossom Festival is the Human Shogi game.

Set against the backdrop of Mt. Maizuru, where 2,000 cherry trees are in full bloom, warriors and ladies-in-waiting dressed in armor and kimonos act as shogi pieces.

During the cherry blossom festival, various events will be held, such as the illumination of the shidare-sakura along the Kuratsu River.

Period
April 5 (Sat.) to May 6 (Tue.), 2025

Events
● Event opening ceremony [April 5 (Sat.)]
● Children’s Shogi Tournament [April 6 (Sun.)]
● Shidare-Sakura Evening [April 11 (Fri.) and 12 (Sat.)]
● 70th Human Shogi game [April 12 (Sat.) and 13 (Sun.)]
● Mt. Maizuru Lantern Light-up [April 5 (Sat.) to May 6 (Tue.)]
● Kuratsu River Shidare-Sakura Illumination [April 5 (Sat.) to May 6 (Tue.)]
● Tendo Hanakoma Dance Festival [April 20 (Sun.)]

3. Nakayama Town

・Odaruma-no-Sakura Festival

At Odaruma-no-sakura Park in Nakayama Town, beautiful flowers bloom every year, including the Edohigan cherry tree, which is estimated to be 750 years old, as well as weeping cherry trees, Somei Yoshino cherry trees, and double-flowered cherry trees.

The Odaruma-no-sakura Festival, held when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, features performances of the “Darumadera Rice Planting Dance” and “Toyama-ryu Iaido Sword Drawing Demonstration,” and at night the cherry blossoms are lit up, creating a fantastical view.

Please visit many times and enjoy this year’s cherry blossoms to the fullest.

Date
Checking

Venue
Odaruma-no-sakura Park

Events
・Stall opening
・Daruma Temple rice planting dance performance
・Toyama-ryu Iaido sword drawing technique
・Illumination of Odaruma-no-sakura
・Illumination of the cherry blossoms in front of Toyota Elementary School

4. Sagae City

・Sagae Spring Flower Festival

The Sagae Spring Flower Festival will be held at Sagae Park.

Events include a Japanese sweets market and a cherry blossom viewing walk.

Please join us.

Date
Checking

Hours
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Venue
Sagae Park Sakura Hill

5. Kahoku Town

・Sakura is the best!

Date
April 19 (Sat.), 2025

Hours
Checking

Venue
Kahoku Central Park (near the cherry blossom viewing area)

◆Shonai region

6. Sakata City

・45th Sakata Hiyoriyama Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Hiyoriyama Park is a place of relaxation for local residents, with approximately 400 cherry trees, including Somei-Yoshino cherry trees, in full bloom.

While the cherry blossoms during the day are beautiful, Hiyoriyama Park is also unique in that you can enjoy the sight of the cherry blossoms lit up by the setting sun as it gradually gets dark and the lanterns come to light.

During the Cherry Blossom Festival, there will be outdoor stalls and illuminations, as well as a concert by the Fire Department Band [Sunday, April 13th] and a Sakata Kitamae Taiko drum performance [April 12 (Sat.)].

Enjoy!

Period
April 4 (Fri.) to 15 (Tue.), 2025

Venue
Hiyoriyama Park

Contents
🌸 Lanterns lit up ・Sengokubune light-up period : April 4 (Fri.) to 15 (Tue.)
Hours : 18:30~21:00
🌸Street stall period : April 4 (Fri.) to 15 (Tue.)
Hours : 9:00~21:00

7. Tsuruoka City

・Tsuruoka Cherry Blossom Festival 2025

Tsuruoka Park was developed on the site of Tsurugaoka Castle, the former residence of the Sakai clan, lords of the Shonai domain.

The garden, which is home to approximately 730 cherry trees, including Somei-Yoshino, Yaezakura, and Weeping Cherry, has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots.

The illuminated cherry blossoms at night are mesmerizingly beautiful.

Period
Early to mid-April 2025 *Coinciding with cherry blossom season

Venue
Tsuruoka Park

Events
・Hanami lantern lighting
・Illumination of cherry blossoms in the front garden of Gokoku Shrine
・Hanami tea ceremony
・Open-air stalls

・Matsugaoka Cherry Blossom Festival 2025

The Matsugaoka Cherry Blossom Festival will be held around the Matsugaoka Reclamation Area.

There will be a variety of workshops, exhibitions and sales by handicraft artists, as well as an open-air market.

Enjoy the cherry blossom festival while feeling the pleasant spring weather.

Date
April 12 (Sat.) and 13 (Sun.), 2025

Hours
10:00~15:00

Venue
Around Matsugaoka Reclamation Area

Contents
Checking

・Oyama Park Sakura Festival

Sakura Festival at Oyama Park, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot.

You can enjoy the succession of cherry blossoms, including shidare-sakura, somei-yoshino, and double-flowered cherry blossoms.

Period
Checking

8. Shonai Town

・38th Shonai Town Tateyama Park Cherry Blossom Festival

The Cherry Blossom Festival is held at Tateyama Park, a famous cherry blossom spot that offers a panoramic view of the Shonai Plain.

Under the roughly 200 blooming Somei-Yoshino cherry trees, numerous stalls will be set up, including those selling the festival’s specialties, grilled herring and grilled pork.

Date
April 12 (Sat.) and 13 (Sun.), 2025

Hours
11:00~16:00

Venue
Tateyama Park, Karikawa, Shonai Town

9. Yuza Town Events

・Nakayama River Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Nakayama River in Yuza Town still has its old stone bank remaining.

The rows of houses with black roof tiles, blackboards and white walls typical of Shonai, Mt. Chokai covered in snow, and the rows of cherry blossom trees that resemble a nostalgic Japanese landscape even though it was my first time seeing it.

During the Cherry Blossom Festival, lanterns are lit up and carp streamers are carried across the river.

We also plan to sell tama konnyaku (konjac balls) on sunny days when the flowers are in full bloom.

Period
April 5 (Sat.) to 20 (Sun.), 2025

Events
🌸 Lanterns illumination
Hours : 18:00~21:00
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🎏 Carp streamers crossing the river

◆Okitama area

10. Nanyo City

・Akayu Onsen Cherry Blossom Festival

Eboshiyama Park is certified as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan.

Known as the Eboshiyama Senbonzakura, the sight of the entire mountain dyed pink is a spectacular sight.

During the Akayu Onsen Cherry Blossom Festival, various events are held and the area is bustling with people.

Period
April 4 (Fri.) to 30 (Wed.), 2025
*Ends once the cherry blossoms have fallen

Illumination
Period : April 4 (Fri.) to May 6 (Tue.)
*Ends once the cherry blossoms have fallen

Hours : 18:00~22:00
(Saturdays and Sundays: 18:00~24:00)

Venue
Eboshiyama Park

Events
● Hot Spring Town Stamp Rally
● Nanyo City Delicious Food Market
● “Let’s all dance” Akayu Folk Song Circle
● Akayu Junior High School Brass Band Concert
● Cherry Blossom Seedling Giveaway
● Magician Hamster Magic Show
● Wild Lion Drums
● Traditional Performing Arts Daikoku Mai
● Akayu Ryusakurakai Mikoshi Parade
● Nikko Saru Gundan Traditional Performing Arts “Monkey Show”

11. Shirataka Town

・Shirataka Classic Cherry Blossom Village Cherry Blossom Festival

Shirataka Town is dotted with six ancient Edo Higan trees, known as “classic cherry trees,” that are over 500 years old.

All of them are designated as natural monuments by Yamagata Prefecture.

During the Sakura Festival, cherry blossom-themed foods and sweets will be on sale, and six stores in the town will offer “Hanami Gozen” (cherry blossom viewing meals).

Why not take a leisurely stroll around Shirataka Town in spring?

Date
April 12 (Sat.) to 20 (Sun.), 2025

Hours
9:30~15:00

Venues
🌸 Cherry blossoms at Kamanokoshi Rural Park
🌸 Yakushizakura (approximately 1,200 years old)
🌸 Twelve Cherry Blossoms
🌸 Yamaguchi Scholarship Cherry Blossoms
🌸 Komorido Cherry Blossoms (approx. 1,020 years old)
🌸 Ushiroan Cherry Blossom (approx. 680 years old)
🌸 Yakushi Cherry Blossom in Akasaka (approximately 970 years old)
🌸 Yaotome Seeding Cherry Blossom (approximately 500 years old)
🌸 Cherry blossoms at Shomyoji Temple’s Amida Hall
🌸 Tonoirizakura (approximately 680 years old)
❖ Goiyo Sakura

Events
● Takatama Theater and more

12. Takahata Town

・Takahata Cherry Blossom Festival

A cherry blossom festival will be held at the former Takahata Station building, which has become increasingly popular as a photogenic spot.

There will be lots of events, including a mini Shinkansen bullet train, a Plarail installation experience, and a Nordic sports experience.

At night, the cherry blossoms and the station building are lit up, creating a fantastical world that you can enjoy.

Date
April 12 (Sat.), 2025

Hours
10:00~19:30

Venue
Around the old Takahata station

Events
・Mini Shinkansen bullet train ride experience
・Sakura Market
・Mölkky Experience
・Michinoku Fairy Tale Street Character Festival
・Plarail Installation Experience
・Zero Waste Walk ~Let’s all take a walk and pick up trash~
・Station History Mini Tour
・Sakura LIVE STAGE
・Illumination of cherry blossoms, etc.
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🌸 Cherry Blossom Illumination
Period : Early to mid-April
Hours : 17:00~19:30
*The schedule may change depending on the flowering situation.