Cherry blossoms in Okinawa: where to find them

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Want to look for cherry blossoms in Okinawa?

Cherry blossoms, also known as sakura, are small pink or white flowers that grow on a specific group of trees and have unofficially become the national flower of Japan.

Found throughout the country, blooming sakura can be found during the spring season and they attract thousands of visitors to the region each year.

Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan, sees spring much earlier than the rest of the country, meaning the cherry blossoms bloom between January and February.

I’ve visited some of the best places to spot the cherry blossoms throughout Okinawa Island so you can plan your visit successfully.

Country:	Japan
Currency:	Japanese Yen / JPY
Do you need a visa to visit as tourists?	Check here

Don’t forget to get travel insurance to cover you if something bad happens. One company I have personal experience with is Safety Wing. Not everyone needs the same coverage, so make sure you get a personalised quote that suits you and your trip plans.

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North

Mt Yaedake

Location: 〒905-0223 Okinawa, Kunigami District, Motobu, 八重岳

Mt Yaedake is one of the tallest mountains on the island of Okinawa, and every springtime the mountain is covered with a sea of pink cherry blossoms. With crowds being drawn to the mountainside, you can enjoy a drive through the “sakura tunnel” and the stunning views of the pink sea of petals below.

With multiple tiny car parks along the mountain’s edge, there are plenty of places along the trail to safely stop and get out of your vehicle to get photos of this once-a-year phenomenon. Due to how high up the viewpoints of Mt Yaedake are, you’ll get to marvel at the landscape across the tropical island as far as the western coastline – a great view for all who love ocean views.

If seeing the cherry blossoms on Yaedake itself isn’t enough to satisfy your spring desires, you can follow the Sakura tunnel until you reach another prime cherry blossom spot in Okinawa, the Yaedake Sakuranomori Park (below). You can see the Sakura outside of the festival dates below, but the dates are the best time to see them!

Event dates: 18th January – 2nd February 2025 (please see the official site for up-to-date information)

Admission fee: Free

Opening hours: 24 hours a day

Yaedake Sakuranomori Park

Location: ９２１番地 Namizato, 本部町 Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0222

Yaedake Sakuranomori Park is located just below the Mt Yaedake viewpoints and has become one of the best places to see cherry blossoms on the island of Okinawa. With a long street that’s home to food and drink vendors and small flags with sakura on them every spring, this is where an annual festival takes place every year.

You’ll find a small children’s playground here, great views of the mountain right above you, and an exciting walking trail through the forest of cherry blossom trees that feel like you’re entering a pink wonderland. The hiking trail can take up to 30 minutes, although this can depend on fitness levels, as it has a few steep inclines along the way. There are big signs that pinpoint the entrances (the trail can be enjoyed from both directions) and there is ample parking, so you can easily drive to the trailhead without much stress.

If you have time to visit during the springtime, I highly recommend taking a stroll through the forest trail to fully immerse yourself in the cherry blossoms.

Festival dates: 18th January – 2nd February 2025 (please see the official site for up-to-date information)

Admission fee: Free to enter

Opening hours: 24 hours a day

Nakijin Castle

Location: 5101 Imadomari, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0428

Nakijin Castle is located in the town of Nakijin on the west side of Okinawa Island. Built in the 14th century, only parts of the castle are still standing today, and the structural remains offer a great glimpse into the past of the Ryukyu Kingdom once prevalent on Okinawa.

The castle (which is listed as a UNESCO heritage site) is open to visitors year-round. Still, during the Sakura season, the grounds are filled with pink cherry blossoms that stand out against the grey stone walls where an impressive property once stood.

Each year, the local authority holds a festival showcasing the cherry blossoms and people from all across Okinawa race to see them, along with tourists from further afield.

Festival dates: Saturday 25th January – Sunday 2nd February 2025

Admission Fee: 600 JPY (3.12 GBP)

Opening hours: 8 am – 8.30 pm

Click here to see more castles in Okinawa!

Nago Castle Site

Location: Nago Castle Ruins, 5511 Nago, Okinawa 905-0012

Although it is named a castle site, there is no longer a castle standing here, however, there was one here many years ago. Located just a few minutes away from the Nago Central Park cherry blossoms site, this is another popular location in Okinawa to spot the Sakura each spring.

Technically located in Central Park, I wanted to highlight this as a separate location to see the trees, as many people overlook the trees here if they’re too busy walking the trails elsewhere in the park. At the Castle Ruins location, you can walk up a tall staircase and enjoy the amazing views across the island and even see the cherry blossoms in the distance that are located in the other areas of this large Nago Park.

You’ll have multiple opportunities to stop for photo opportunities, and of course, being in the heart of Nago, which is a west-facing city, you’ll get to witness a beautiful sunset if you’re here into the early evening. Not a bad place to be!

Admission fee: Free

Opening hours: Open 24 hours

Nago Central Park Cherry Blossom Site

Location: Nago Central Park Cherry Blossom Site, 5511 Nago, Okinawa 905-0012

If you want to experience great city views in the heart of Nago with cherry blossoms on display, Nago Central Park has a long pathway that shows off the Sakura effortlessly. Located on the same plot of land as the Nago Castle Site, but a few minutes away by car, it’s easy to see the cherry blossoms here on the same day while exploring this part of Okinawa Island.

The park is split into different sections, so you might want to check on the map which area you want to visit. The Sakura are only found in 2 places. With many benches, vending machines and places to walk close to the Sakura trees, you’ll easily have a great experience enjoying the pink blossoms during the Okinawa spring season.

Each year between mid-January and mid-February, these trees bring many tourists to the park to enjoy the pink blossoms, and, as the hill is west-facing like many of the viewpoints across the city of Nago, it offers a great sunset view.

Admission fee: Free

Opening hours: Open 24 hours

Kakazu Takadai (Hilltop) Park

Location: 1 Chome-5 Kakazu, Ginowan, Okinawa 901-2226

Located in Ginowan, Okinawa, this park overlooks the city and has cherry blossoms lining both sides of a large staircase as well as two winding paths that take you to the observatory lookout. The park is separated into three sections: a children’s playground, a historical battleground and the cherry blossom pathways.

As the park is situated on top of a hill you’ll get panoramic views across Ginowan and can see as far as Naha to the south and American Village to the north.

If you’re a fan of history, you’ll get the opportunity to read about and visit various shrines and memorials from one of the many battles in Okinawa that are set up around the park, before you enjoy the calming stroll through the cherry blossom pathway.

Admission fee: Free to enter

Opening hours: Open 24 hours

Want more cherry blossom content? Check out these cities pretty in pink in SOUTH KOREA

• Cherry blossoms in Daegu, where to find them in spring?
• Korea’s biggest cherry blossom festival in Jinhae. What to expect?
• Cherry blossoms in Busan: The best places to see them
• Cherry blossoms in Jeju City – where can you find them?

South

Yaese Park

Location: Tomori, Yaese, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-0402

Yaese Park is the southernmost location on Okinawa Island to see cherry blossoms. Each year the park hosts a Sakura festival with food trucks, photo opportunities and activities for visitors to enjoy while surrounded by the pink cherry blossom trees.

The festival is very well organised, with free shuttle services and park staff to point everyone in the right direction. You’ll find music playing, a petting zoo and some fun games for children and families to play throughout the festivities.

Even outside of the festival dates, you might still be lucky enough to spot some cherry blossoms for a few days on either side. You’ll find people stopping to take photos the entire time they are in bloom!

Free parking: Not only is there parking right by the centre of Yaese Park but there is additional parking about 5 minutes away near Naha Golf Course.

You can easily find it on the map, but during the festival period, there are easy signs to follow too. If you park at the golf course, you can take the free shuttle bus to the Okinawa Yaese Park cherry blossom site.

Festival dates: 20th January – 2nd February 2025 (Please check out the official site for up-to-date information)

Admission fee: Free to enter

Manko Lake Park

Location: 3 Chome-23-1 Kohagura, Naha, Okinawa 900-0024

Located in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, and blooming cherry blossoms after the rest of the island has started to lose theirs, Manko Lake Park hosts a 2-day festival each year. Being a popular riverside public space, when the weather is nice, this park is filled with locals and tourists soaking up the sun. So you can imagine how busy it gets during the cherry blossom festival, as it’s the biggest one located in Naha.

The centre of the park is home to a large water fountain, which is typically recognised as the heart of the festival/. With food vendors and even small concrete tables with Sakura-shaped seats nearby, they take the cherry blossom theme seriously here.

You’ll find winding pathways through the park lined with pink tree,s and it’s a fantastic way to enjoy the typical Okinawa weather while enjoying some of Japan’s most loved trees.

Event dates: 15th & 16th February 2025 (please check the official website for up-to-date information)

Admission fee: Free to enter

Opening hours: Open 24 hours

There is parking available throughout the park with east and west car parks, however, these are not free and they don’t take cards. I recommend taking some cash with you!

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How to reach the cherry blossom sites in Okinawa

The best way to travel around Okinawa is by car. There is public transportation throughout the island, but it is not very consistent between cities.

If you have a full driving licence from the UK (or your home country) and you have the required added documentation such as an International Driving Licence, then you are in a fortunate position where you can likely rent a car during your stay. Two of the main sites I have used as a foreigner in Japan for renting are the following:

• Rental Cars
• Klook rentals

Both of these companies can book in advance, however, they can book up early, especially during the busy season, so I highly recommend trying to confirm a rental as early as you can. If these two are booked, there are some local Japanese rental companies; however, from my experience, some of them were hesitant to rent to me until I had exchanged my foreign licence for a Japanese one. This is not always the case, but it can be something to be mindful of, especially for those visitors who don’t speak the Japanese language as this can prevent local services from renting to you.