Cherry blossoms in Osaka castle.
Cherry blossoms in Osaka castle.

At the end of the Lunar New Year every year, the cherry blossom season is about to bloom, people start to prepare their luggage to traveling to Japan to enjoy cherry blossoms in Taiwan, Korea, Thailand … But if you have a chance to come to Japan – the land of cherry blossoms to admire the cherry blossoms season is the desire that every “traveler” always want at least once in their life, right? So, are you looking for the best places to see sakura in Osaka (best places to see cherry blossoms in Osaka, best sakura spot in Osaka). Let’s check out our suggested 13 best hanami spots in Osaka, best place to see cherry blossoms in Osaka and cherry blossom Osaka 2024 forecast (Osaka cherry blossom 2024 season forecast) to find out the answer!

Cherry blossoms in Ryōan-ji Temple.
Cherry blossoms in Ryōan-ji Temple.
kyoto-cherry-blossom japan dates 2018
Cherry blossoms along Philosopher’s Walk (Tetsugaku No Michi), Kyoto
Cherry blossoms in Nara
Evening cherry blossoms in Japan
Osaka Castle, Osaka
Cherry Blossoms at Osaka Park | best place to see cherry blossoms in osaka

Cherry blossom Osaka 2024 forecast & What you need when traveling in Japan in Cherry Blossom Season?

The blooming of cherry blossom usually only lasts 1 to 2 weeks, so you should choose a time and place that really suits to your schedule and itinerary to have the perfect cherry blossom viewing experience! Also, do not forget to shop for the magical “things” below when traveling in the land of the rising sun:

kyoto-cherry-blossom japan dates 2018
Kyoto cherry blossom

hakodate-is-an-ideal-place-to-see-some-of-japans-beautiful-sakura-or-cherry-blossoms

kiyomizu-dera temple
Kiyomizu-dera temple in cherry blossom season
Japan cherry blossom 2024 forecast

 

Japan cherry blossom 2024 forecast by destinations and regions

PrefectureLocationFlowering dateFull bloom date
Hokkaido Region
HokkaidoMuroranMay 2May 7
HokkaidoHakodateApril 28May 2
HokkaidoSapporoApril 30May 4
Tohoku Region
AomoriAomoriApril 21April 25
IwateMoriokaApril 17April 23
MiyagiSendaiApril 6April 11
AkitaAkitaApril 16April 21
YamagataYamagataApril 11April 16
FukushimaFukushimaApril 2April 7
Kanto-Koushin Region
IbarakiMitoMarch 30April 6
TochigiUtsunomiyaMarch 29April 5
GunmaMaebashiMarch 27April 3
SaitamaKumagayaMarch 26April 2
ChibaChoshiMarch 31April 7
TokyoTokyoMarch 23March 30
KanagawaYokohamaMarch 24April 2
YamanashiKofuMarch 19April 29
NaganoNaganoApril 9April 14
Hokuriku Region
NiigataNiigataApril 7April 12
ToyamaToyamaMarch 31April 6
IshikawaKanazawaMarch 31April 7
FukuiFukuiMarch 30April 5
Tokai Region
GifuGifuMarch 24April 1
ShizuokaShizuokaMarch 25April 3
AichiNagoyaApril 10April 15
MieTsuMarch 27April 1
Kinki Region
ShigaHikoneMarch 30April 6
KyotoKyotoMarch 25April 2
OsakaOsakaMarch 26April 2
HyogoKobeMarch 27April 4
NaraNaraMarch 28April 4
WakayamaWakayamaMarch 26April 3
Chugoku Region
TottoriTottoriMarch 27April 1
Shimane MatsueMarch 26April 3
OkayamaOkayamaMarch 25April 2
HiroshimaHiroshimaMarch 22April 1
YamaguchiShimonosekiMarch 25April 3
Shikoku Region
TokushimaTokushimaMarch 28April 5
KagawaTakamatsuMarch 25April 3
EhimeMatsuyamaMarch 25April 4
KochiKochiMarch 20March 28
Kyushu Region
FukuokaFukuokaMarch 19March 29
SagaSagaMarch 25April 2
NagasakiNagasakiMarch 22March 31
KumamotoKumamotoMarch 22March 31
OitaOitaMarch 22April 3
MiyazakiMiyazakiMarch 21March 31
KagoshimaKagoshimaMarch 22April 2

Among the famous cities to see cherry blossoms such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Hiroshima … Osaka is also an equally ideal place to choose to start your journey, because cherry blossoms will bloom throughout Japan from the South to the North. Osaka has a warmer weather than the central and northern regions of Japan (suitable for those who can’t stand the cold), and less crowded than other famous tourist cities. This year, the cherry blossom season in Osaka is expected to start from March 26 and will be in full bloom from April 2!

Cherry blossoms in Osaka castle.
Cherry blossoms at Osaka castle.

Best place to see cherry blossoms in Osaka: Osaka Castle Park

osaka castle3
Osaka Castle

Osaka is famous for its castles, so taking photos at an ancient castle in the sakura setting is an indispensable feature when viewing flowers in Osaka. And the most famous place is Osaka Castle, located in Osaka-jo park with more than 3,000 blooming cherry trees. If you want to sit down to enjoy the cherry blossoms under the trees (hanami), don’t forget to drop by the Nishinomaru garden on the west side of the park with an admission fee of ¥350. There are about 300 cherry blossom trees that are characterized by Somei Yoshino species with 5 wings and a lovely pink-white color.

Osaka Castle, Osaka
Cherry Blossoms at Osaka Park
One of the best hanami spots in Osaka | Cherry blossom Osaka 2024 forecast

Osaka Castle, Osaka

| best place to see cherry blossoms in osaka

Osaka Castle, Osaka
| Cherry blossom Osaka 2024 forecast
  • How to get there: You can stop at JR Osakajoukoen Station (JR大阪城公園駅) or Morinomiya Station (森ノ宮駅) and then walk for 2 more minutes to get there
  • Opening hours: all day, all days of the week. The Nishinomaru Garden is open from 09:00 – 21:00, so you can admire the shimmering cherry blossom garden in the evening!
  • Admission: free (except Nishinomaru garden costs 350 yen)
  • Website: www.osakacastle.net

Best places to see sakura in Osaka: Kema Sakuranomiya Park

| best places to see sakura in osaka

Located between Temmabashi Bridge and Kema Araizeki, Kema Sakuranomiya Park is located on the banks of Okawa River that will make you fascinated with the cherry blossom scene blooming along the river banks. Kema Sakuranomiya Park is also very close to the Osaka Mint Bureau (Sakura Mint), so you can combine to visit both locations.

| best places to see sakura in osaka

In addition to leisurely strolling, carpeting while eating cake, sipping tea and watching flowers like the locals, you can also experience admiring flowers from Okawa River Sakura Cruise. If you’ve been walking all day and feeling very tired, try “watching the flowers lazily” a little, by taking a 25-minute cruise on the Okawa River to be able to admire the panoramic beauty of Thousands of cherry blossoms trees in full bloom on both banks of the river in a gentle and quiet way. Please note the operating time of the cruise is from 10:00 to 19:00 and there will be a trip in every 10 – 30 minutes, at a cost of ¥1.200.

| best place to see cherry blossoms in osaka
  • How to get to the park: walk 4 minutes from Sakuranomiya station (桜ノ宮駅)
  • How to get to cruise dock: to the left of Temmabashi Station, exit #2, #17
  • Opening hours of the park: all day, all days of the week
  • Cost: free admission
  • Website: http://www.osakapark.osgf.or.jp/kema_sakuranomiya/

Best sakura spot in Osaka: Osaka Mint Bureau / Zouheikyoku

| best place to see cherry blossoms in osaka

Normally, the road to the Osaka Mint Burea will be closed, but in every season, when the cherry blossoms bloom, this area is opened for a week to welcome tourists from all over the world to visit and admire the beauty of 134 cherry blossoms trees! This road is also voted as one of the 100 most beautiful cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan, so even though it is just over 500m long, it attracts more than 1,000,000 visitors in one day! So you should schedule to visit, and should go early and avoid coming on weekends to avoid crowded and chaotic.

Tourists enjoy the cherry blossom at Osaka Mint Bureau
Tourists enjoy the cherry blossom at Osaka Mint Bureau | best places to see sakura in osaka
| Cherry blossom Osaka 2024 forecast
  • How to get there: 15 minute walk from Temmabashi Station, or Osaka-Temmangu, or Osakajo-Kitazume
  • Opening hours: from 10:00 – 21:00 (weekdays); 09:00 – 21:00 (weekends). The opening date will be updated on the website in mid-March so please pay attention.
  • Admission: free of charge

Best places to see cherry blossoms in Osaka: EXPO Park

| best sakura spot in osaka

As one of the famous sights of Osaka city, EXPO park is even more prominent when the cherry blossom season coming because of the brilliant pink color that floods the 260,000m2 of the park. There are more than 5,500 cherry blossom trees of different types, so you can freely walk, enjoy and take photos without being too crowded! Besides, the park has many areas for you to explore, such as the Sun Tower – the unique symbol of the park, the museum, the natural gardens, the hot springs … so you can feel free to enjoy and spending a whole day to play at EXPO park.

| best places to see sakura in osaka
| best sakura spot in osaka
| best places to see sakura in osaka
  • How to get there: 5 minutes walk from Banpakukinen–koen station
  • Opening hours: 9:30 – 17:00 (closed every Wednesday)
  • Website: https://www.expo70–park.jp/
  • Admission: ¥250

In this article, the places for you to “sit-and-admiring-flower” (hanami) in the true style of Japanese people in Osaka city are:

  • Nishinomaru Garden in the castle park of Osaka
  • Kema Sakuranomiya Park
  • EXPO park

There are many other places to see cherry blossoms but they are just a bit further from Osaka central, so you can arrange to visit. Because it is far from the center, it will be less crowded and you will be able to easily find beautiful angles for yourself to enjoy sakura and take stunning photos:

Himeji Castle | Cherry blossom Osaka 2024 forecast
  • Daisen Park (50 minutes by train from central Osaka) – ¥200 ticket price
  • Settsukyo Park (1 hour by bus from central Osaka) – free
  • Kishiwada Castle (30 minutes from Osaka by train) – ticket price of ¥300
  • Himeji Castle (1.5 hours by train from Osaka) – ticket price of ¥1000
  • Nagaraku Dam
  • Hiryu San Meioji Temple
  • Katsuo Temple
  • Hirakata park
  • Satsukiyama Park
Hirakata park
Katsuo Temple | best places to see sakura in osaka
Settsukyo Park | places to see sakura in osaka
Daisen Park

Wish you will have a successful “bombardment” trip to Osaka and see the cherry blossoms very nicely.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Osaka you can refer to

osaka night

Are you looking for more Osaka travel guide and top things to do in Osaka: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Osaka travel blog — The fullest Osaka city guide for a wonderful trip to Osaka for the first-timers.