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Winter “Cherry Blossom” Illuminations

冬に咲くさくらライトアップ

Fantastical “cherry blossoms” that bloom on midwinter nights

With approximately 2,600 cherry trees of about fifty types, mainly the Somei Yoshino variety, Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki City is famous as one of Japan’s most magnificent spots for viewing cherry blossoms. During the Golden Week holiday in May, when the cherry blossoms reach peak bloom, the park becomes packed with both domestic and international visitors. But did you know that spring isn’t the only season when the cherry trees of Hirosaki Park reach “full bloom”? You can also see beautiful “cherry blossoms” in a completely different season, midwinter.


Hirosaki residents’ love for cherry blossoms has resulted in an event known as the “Winter Cherry-Blossom Illuminations.” In this event, which has been held in Hirosaki Park since 2017, cherry trees with snow-covered branches are lit up after dark to recreate rows of cherry trees in “full bloom” along the moat of Hirosaki Park at night.


The best time to view these “winter cherry blossoms” is when snow falls and covers the branches of the cherry trees. The snow on the branches reflects the lights, producing a beautiful pink color that makes it look just like rows of cherry trees are in full bloom along the nighttime moat. This uniquely fantastical scenery cannot be experienced anywhere else. The scenery also changes according to the weather, so that visitors can always encounter new surprises. For example, on snowy days, a “cherry-blossom blizzard” dances through the air, and when the water in the moat is frozen, a snowy “raft of petals” appears, as if fallen cherry blossoms are drifting on the surface of the water.


During the annual event, cherry trees are lit up for several hours after sunset each day along about 500 meters of the outer moat, mainly near the Otemon Gate of Hirosaki Park. The starting time of the illuminations is adjusted according to the timing of sunset, but the period beginning 30 to 60 minutes after sunset is particularly recommended, as the bluish color of the sky makes the pink snow stand out even more.


Come to Hirosaki Park to experience the uniquely fantastical nighttime scenery of “winter cherry blossoms,” sure to become an unforgettable memory of your trip.

General Information

Date
Sunday, December 1, 2024, to Friday, February 28, 2025
Time
*Lit up daily from sunset to 9:30 p.m.
Venue
Hirosaki Park
*Approx. 500 meters of the outer moat of Hirosaki Park near the Hirosaki City Government Main Office Building
Address
青森県弘前市大字下白銀町1
Contact
Winter Cherry-Blossom Illumination Executive Committee
Prices
Free
Directions
◆ An approx. 30-minute walk from the Central Exit of JR Hirosaki Station
◆ Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Hirosaki Station
◆ Approx. 15 minutes from JR Hirosaki Station via Konan Bus (Dote-machi Loop Bus); get off at “Shiyakusho-mae” and walk approx. 4 minutes.
Website
Winter Cherry-Blossom Illuminations (jimdofree.com) (Japanese)

Basic Information

  • Multilingual
    Staff
  • Multilingual
    Signs
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Contactless
    Payments
  • Tax Free
  • Parking Lot
  • Barrier-Free
    Toilet
  • Barrier-Free

COVID-19 Prevention

  • Face Masks
    Required
  • Sanitizing
    Stations
  • Temperature
    Checks
  • Physical
    Distancing

MAP

Nearby sightseeing spots

Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden
Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden
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Hirosaki City Tourist Center
Hirosaki City Tourist Center
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Former To-o Gijuku Missionary Residence
Former To-o Gijuku Missionary Residence
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Former Hirosaki City Library
Former Hirosaki City Library
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