The Sakura is a must-see for anyone visiting Osaka during the cherry blossoms season. Any Osaka tour will be regrettable without the Sakura viewing. However, when to see Sakura in Osaka 2024? How long does cherry blossom last in Osaka? Where to See Cherry Blossoms in Osaka? Here you will find the complete guide on the Osaka Cherry Blossom Season 2024. And if you hope to take a stroll around the Osaka Castle Park, have a Ninja Experience, ride the famous Donki Ferris Wheel, explore the lively Dotonbori district, savor the delicious Japanese street food, and have fun in Universal Studios Japan during your Osaka tour in cherry blossoms season, please contact our travel experts to create your trip while enjoying our Universal Studios Japan Express Pass.
Table of Contents
1. Osaka Cherry Blossoms Forecast for 2024
2. Ways to Celebrate 2024 Osaka Cherry Blossom Season
3. Favorite Places for Sakura Viewing in Central Osaka
4. Best Sakura Spots around Osaka Center
5. Cherry Blossoms Attractions in Osaka Neighborhood
1. Osaka Cherry Blossoms Forecast for 2024
When is the Cherry Blossom Season in Osaka? Osaka cherry blossoms season usually starts from the last week of March to the first week of April, but it depends on the weather of that year. According to the Japan Sakura Forecast in Previous Years, the prediction of the flowering date of Osaka Sakura season in 2024 may be on 25 March, and the full bloom date may be on 1 April, and it usually lasts for about 10 days. Therefore, the period of 25 March to 1 April is likely to be the best time to visit Osaka for Sakura Hanami according to the Japan Meteorological Agency cherry blossom forecast 2024. If possible, you are recommended to book a hotel in Osaka from March 20th to April 10th to maximize your chances of cherry blossoms Hanami in full bloom as it is a sought-after sight for visitors. Despite the weather's unpredictability, if you arrange your Osaka itinerary well, you may be lucky enough to admire the stunning beauty of the cherry blossoms. If you unfortunately miss the 2024 Osaka Cherry Blossom, the Sapporo Japan cherry blossom blooming at the beginning of May is also waiting for you to enjoy.
2. How to Celebrate the 2024 Osaka Sakura Season
Celebrating the cherry blossom season in Osaka is a memorable experience. Participating in Hanami parties and nighttime illuminations, tasting Sakura-themed food and drinks, visiting temples and shrines, taking Sakura boat cruises, and enjoying photographing are popular activities to celebrate the Osaka cherry blossom festival. Keep in mind that the timing of the Sakura season can vary from year to year, so it's important to check the forecast for Osaka. Also, respect the environment and local customs by disposing of trash properly and avoiding damaging the cherry trees to enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossom and the rich culture of Sakura in Osaka 2024.
3. Favorite Places for Cherry Blossoms Viewing in Central Osaka
Sakura viewing is one of the top things to do in Osaka while traveling in Osaka in spring, and it will be a memorable experience when you are soaking in the Japanese hot springs in the Spa World Japan after you enjoy the Osaka Hanami. You must wonder where can I see cherry blossoms in Osaka in 2024? Now we will share with you 6 favorite Sakura spots in Osaka for the 2024 cherry blossom season and any of them can be a highlight for your tour in Osaka. If your itinerary for the spring Japan tour includes Hokkaido, you can also learn more about the Best Cherry Blossoms Spots in Hokkaido.
Osaka Castle Park: Top Sakura Photography Spot with the Most Beautiful Atmosphere
Best Viewing Time: March 25 – April 1
Address: 1-1 Osakajo, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 540-0002, Japan
Nearby Station: Morinomiya or Osakajokoen station
Opening Time: Open 24 hours
Tel: +81 6-6755-4146
Osaka Castle, which is usually crowded with tourists, is a popular viewing spot during the Sakura season in Osaka, and also one of the hottest places to enjoy the Momiji in Japan in autumn. There are up to 3,000 cherry blossom trees planted in the park. If you think that the park is too large, you can head to the most famous viewing place of Osaka Castle cherry blossom: "Nishinomaru Garden", which is also a place for nighttime cherry blossom viewing. You can admire the best Osaka Castle Sakura in the Nishinomaru Garden, and it is combined with the nighttime illuminations, it will be able to make Osaka Castle into the most romantic picture.
Osaka Mint Bureau: A Popular Osaka Spot with Cherry Blossom Path Available only One Week
Best Viewing Time: March 30 – April 1
Address: 1-79 Tenma 1-chome, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, 530-0043
Nearby Station: Temmabashi Station
Opening Time: Closed at 4:45 PM
Tel: + 81 6-6351-5361
When it comes to cherry blossom season in Osaka, the Osaka Mint Bureau is one of the most popular viewing spots on the list. The Mint is one of the most famous free attractions in Osaka as it is usually open for people to visit museums and factories. During the cherry blossom period, the Mint is open for a week to allow people to enter the cherry blossom path (桜の通り抜け), and due to the large number of people during the period of Osaka Mint Bureau cherry blossom viewing, only the south exit can be accessed, and only the north exit can be accessed during the period. The 560-meter-long Cherry Blossom Road is planted with more than 300 cherry blossom trees, and in addition to enjoying the Osaka mint cherry blossom, the road is also bustling with many festival-like stalls. Late cherry blossoms are the main attraction here, so the best time to visit Mint Bureau Sakura in Osaka is in early April.
Kema Sakuranomiya Park: One of Osaka's Favorite Spots with Scenic River View of Sakura
Best Viewing Time: March 25 – April 1
Address: Nakanocho, Miyakojima Ward, Osaka, 534-0027, Japan
Nearby Station: Sakuranomiya Station
Opening Time: Open 24 hours
Tel: +81 6-6912-0650
Kema Sakuranomiya Park is located in the center of Osaka city, not far from Osaka Castle and the Mint. The cherry blossoms along the 4.2-kilometer-long Ohkawa River are the most important feature of the park, and the skyscrapers next to it emphasize the urban feel of Kema Sakuranomiya Park, which makes it a great place for an afternoon stroll, where you can enjoy the happiness of being surrounded by cherry blossoms in Osaka. You can take a cruise on the Meguro River during the Tokyo Sakura season. Here in Osaka, during the cherry blossom season, you can also take the Osaka Water Bus and see the famous flowering cherry tree in Japan along the Ohkawa River. When the Sakura trees are in full bloom, the park is also open at night for a week. Visitors can sit under the weeping cherry tree and enjoy the Osaka Hanami while drinking and singing in addition to taking a stroll in the park during Osaka Sakura season.
Shitennoji: One of Japan's Oldest Temples in Osaka
Best Viewing Time: March 25 – March 31
Address: 1 Chome-11-18 Shitennoji, Tennoji Ward, Osaka, 543-0051, Japan
Nearby Station: Tennōji Station
Opening Time: Closed at 4:30 PM
Tel: +81 6-6771-0066
Shitennoji Temple, located in Tennoji in Osaka, was built by Prince Sentoku, a member of Japan's famous imperial family. The combination of the magnificent temple and charming cherry blossoms gives it a kind of vintage and solemn feel. Many tourists also like to choose Shitennoji when they are making Japanese Temples and Shrines Tours. If you take a visit there in Sakura season, we recommend "Kameyushima Defense Paradise" on the east side of the temple, from where you can see the pink cherry blossoms bloom as if they were around a vermillion-lacquered Buddhist temple in the center of the pond. Note that the entrance fee is 300 yen.
Kozugu: A Shinto Shrine in Osaka
Best Viewing Time: March 26 – April 1
Address: 1 Chome-1-29 Kozu, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0072, Japan
Nearby Station: Nippombashi Station
Opening Time: Closed at 5:00 PM
Tel: +81 6-6762-1122
Finally, we would like to introduce you to a well-known place for Sakura viewing and that is Kozugu. Kozugu is near the popular sightseeing spot Osaka Castle, and it is a very beautiful shrine where the stone steps towards the main hall are surrounded by cherry blossoms. It is a 5-minute walk from Tanimachi 9-Chome subway station. During the cherry blossom season, the Kozugu Cherry Blossom Festival is held, and you can also enjoy the nighttime cherry blossoms Hanami there.
4. Best Sakura Spots around Osaka Center
Is there cherry blossom in Osaka where it is not so crowded? Of course, you are able to view Osaka Sakura in spring by avoiding the crowds in off-the-beaten-track Sakura spots, or you can consider Expo '70 Commemorative Park, Satsukiyama Park, Daisen Park, Kishiwada Castle, and Katsuo-ji Temple, which are less-crowded and outside Osaka city center.
Expo '70 Commemorative Park: Banpaku Memorial Park with Largest Area for Osaka Sakura Viewing
Best Viewing Time: March 27 – April 1
Address: Senribanpakukoen, Suita, Osaka 565-0826, Japan
Nearby Station: Banpaku Kinen Koen Station
Opening Time: Closed at 5 PM
Tel: + 81 6-6877-7387
Expo '70 Commemorative Park, also called Banpaku Memorial Park was the site of Japan's Universal Exposition in 1970, and the "Tower of the Sun," designed by Japanese architect Taro Okamoto, has become an important landmark of the park. The park is a popular cherry blossom spot in Osaka due to the planting of 5,500 cherry blossom trees, and there is a wide variety of Japanese Sakura cherry blossom tree, including nine varieties of Yoshino cherry blossoms, mountain cherry blossoms, and weeping cherry blossoms. Expo '70 Commemorative Park is a vast park with many amusement and cultural facilities, including Japan's largest shopping mall "LaLaport EXPOCITY" which is located directly across from the park. At night, there are also romantic night cherry blossoms Hanami. Therefore, you can arrange a full day itinerary of cherry blossom viewing here during your Sakura trip in Japan.
Satsukiyama Park: Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Attraction around Osaka
Best Viewing Time: March 27 – April 1
Address: 2 Chome-5 Ayaha, Ikeda, Osaka 563-0051, Japan
Nearby Station: Kinunobebashi Station
Opening Time: Open 24 hours
Tel: + 81 7-2751-3070
Located from the foot to the mountainside of Mt. Satsukiyama which is 315.3m above sea level, Satsukiyama Park is the symbol of Ikeda City, and it is famous for cherry blossoms, azaleas, and red leaves. With five hiking trails and observation decks, it is an excellent place to view the Osaka Plain and has been recognized as one of the "Top 100 Green Spaces in Osaka". The "Cherry Blossom Festival" is held on Saturdays and Sundays in early April at the park plaza and the zoo, which is a special feature of Mt. Satsukiyama during the Osaka Sakura season, and the Satsukiyama Zoo next to it does not require an entrance fee to visit, making Satsukiyama Park one of the most distinctive cherry blossom viewing spots in the vicinity of Osaka.
Kishiwada Castle: One of the Osaka Cherry Blossoms Spots with Ancient Japanese Palace Style
Best Viewing Time: March 26 – April 1
Address: 9-1 Kishikicho, Kishiwada, Osaka 596-0073, Japan
Nearby Station: Takojizō Station
Opening Time: Closed at 5 PM
Tel: + 81 72-431-3251
Kishiwada Castle is one of the ancient Japanese-style palaces like Osaka Castle. Every year during the Osaka cherry blossom season when the Sakura blooms, from the outside you can see the moat, the cherry blossoms, and the Tenshokaku all in one. And from the inside, you can walk along the paths of the traditional Japanese buildings, as if you were really back in the Edo period. There are also some Japanese vendors selling snacks in the vicinity. The Japanese-style castle was originally five-story, but was burned down and rebuilt as a three-story castle, making it rich in history. The cherry blossom trees here are not the most abundant, but with the backdrop of Kishiwada Castle, the effect is not inferior and it is also a worthwhile-visit spot for the Osaka Sakura season 2024. Pay attention that the cherry blossom festival at Kishiwada Castle is usually held from April 1st to April 15th.
Daisen Park: A Hidden Japanese Garden to Stroll Around under Sakura Trees in Osaka
Best Viewing Time: March 26 – April 1
Address: 2 Chome-204 Mozusekiuncho, Sakai Ward, Sakai, Osaka 590-0802, Japan
Access: 5-minute walk from Mozu Station on the JR Hanwa Line
Opening Time: Open 24 hours
Tel: + 81 72-241-0291
Daisen Park is the masterpiece of the famous Japanese garden designer, Master Kinsaku Nakane. The park has beautiful scenery all year round. If you visit in the spring during the Japanese Sakura season, you can admire more than 400 blooming cherry blossoms that are planted in the park at the same time, which decorates the park as if it were a dream. The park is also famous as a location for outdoor wedding photos in Osaka Prefecture, so you can often see couples holding Japanese-style weddings here. When making a Sakura tour there, you are suggested to plan a 1-day itinerary to fully enjoy the amazing pink flower viewing in the park.
Katsuo-ji Temple: A Famous Sakura Viewing Spot Where Can Pray for Good Luck in Osaka
Best Viewing Time: March 27 – April 1
Address: 2914-1 Aomatani, Minoh, Osaka 562-8508, Japan
Nearby Station: Senrichuo Station
Opening Time: Closed at 5 PM
Tel: + 81 72-721-7010
As we all know Kiyomizu-Dera is a famous temple that is one of the best places to see Sakura during Kyoto Cherry Blossoms Season. Katsuo-ji Temple is also a stunning Sakura viewing spot in Osaka. It is located in Minoh City, is a bit far from Osaka City, but it is a temple with a long history of good luck. As the first place where the god of the wild appeared in Japan, it is called the "Temple of Good Luck". People who hope to pray for various kinds of success or victory come to Katsuo-ji Temple to wish good luck. The most distinctive feature of the temple is the bright red mountain cherry blossoms during Japan Sakura Season as they are pinker than other kinds of cherry blossom trees in Japan. Because of its remote location, the cherry blossom tree here blooms a little later than other places in Osaka during the cherry blossom season. So, if you miss the full bloom of cherry blossoms in the city, you may be able to enjoy the freshly bloomed mountain cherry blossoms at Katsuo-ji Temple!
5. Cherry Blossoms Spots in Osaka Neighborhood
Mount Yoshino: One of the most Famous Cherry Blossom Spot in Japan
Best Viewing Time: March 28 – April 7
Address: Yoshinoyama, Yoshino, Yoshino District, Nara 639-3115, Japan
Nearby Station: Yoshino Station
Distance from Osaka: 76.8 KM
When it comes to the best Sakura viewing spots during Japan cherry blossoms season, Mount Yoshino is undoubtedly on the top list. Mount Yoshino is located in Nara but can be reached from Osaka and Kyoto. Most people choose to depart from Osaka as the distance between Osaka to Mount Yoshino is not so far away. Thousands of cherry blossom trees are planted here, and it is at this time of year when Mount Yoshino Sakura season starts in late March that it is at its most beautiful moment. And the prime spot for cherry blossom viewing in Nara Mount Yoshino is the Ichimoku Senbon Observation Deck inside the Yoshimizu Shrine, where you can photograph the best cherry blossom tree from Japan, and the scene of a large number of sakura trees in front of you will make you shocked, just like you will feel it amazing when you capture panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms at Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine during the Mount Fuji Sakura Season.
There is a donation box at the entrance of the shrine, and you can enter after putting in a certain amount of money with a donation. Inside the gate, on the right-hand side, there is the observation deck of Ichimoku Senbon, and you can see the cherry blossoms and greenery of the mountains from here, which is a rare sight in Japan. During the Mt. Yoshino Sakura season, it is a pink mountain with light pink, dark pink, and white cherry blossoms, making the whole picture full of layers, and it is a very beautiful world of cherry blossoms as the pink stretches across Mount Yoshino in Japan. Mount Yoshino sakura is very popular among tourists who enjoy the Nara Japan cherry blossoms, you are highly recommended to list it in your Kansai tour itinerary.
Himeji Castle: The First Castle in Japan with Spectacular White Walls and Gray Tiles
Best Viewing Time: March 26 – April 1
Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0012, Japan
Nearby Station: Himeji Station
Opening Time: Closed at 4:00 PM
Tel: + 81 79-285-1146
Distance from Osaka: about 95 km
Himeji Castle cherry blossom is also very popular among visitors who take a tour in Japan in springtime. The Himeji Castle Sakura is under the castle, with the Someiyoshino cherry blossoms clustered around the entire castle, making it look like a sea of cherry blossoms. When the wind blows, the sight of the Himeji Sakura petals sweeping over the eaves of the houses can be described as stunning and is perfect for taking photos. Words cannot describe the beauty of the Himeji cherry blossom. Here you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing while touring the No.1 castle in Japan. The entire complex of the castle, including towers, gates, bridges, gardens, and other buildings, shines brightly against the backdrop of cherry blossoms. It is well worth a visit at Japan Sakura season 2024.
Kimiidera Temple: An Ancient Buddhist Temple in Wakayama, Japan
Best Viewing Time: March 25 – March 1
Address: 1201 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-0012, Japan
Nearby Station: JR Kimiidera station
Opening Time: Closed at 5:00 PM
Tel: + 81 73-444-1002
Distance from Osaka: about 83 KM
Kimiidera Temple was founded in 770 by a Tang monk, Shimitsu Shonin, and has a long history. The name Kimiidera Temple is derived from a temple with three wells in Kishu. These three wells still produce water of purity, willow, and good fortune, and the water from these wells has been selected as one of the 100 Famous Waters of Japan. There are also solemn buildings such as the Sakuramon Gate, which was built in 1509, and the Tabata Pagoda, which was built in 1449. There are also about 1,200 cherry blossom trees planted on the grounds of Kimidera Temple, which is one of the famous cherry blossom viewing spots where the cherry blossoms bloom early, and many tourists come to visit Kimiidera Temple when it is the best time to visit Japan Sakura.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Osaka's cherry blossom season is a magical time of year when Osaka is covered by the enchanting beauty of pink petals. It is a time of celebration, reflection, and appreciation for the fleeting yet exquisite beauty of nature. At Osaka Sakura season, various Sakura celebration activities offer visitors an unforgettable experience, and even just simply taking leisurely strolls under the flowering cherry trees through parks or gardens can create cherished memories long after the petals have fallen. And it will be a fantastic journey if you take a dip in the Onsen in Osaka after viewing the beautiful cherry blossoms during the day. You have known the best time to visit Osaka cherry blossom, and we have listed 13 Sakura viewing spots for Osaka Sakura tours, which one will be your favorite? If you still have no choice, just check Japan Sakura Tours to make the ideal itinerary for your Osaka Sakura trip.
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