If you can only visit one location for cherry blossoms this spring, Osaka Castle Park is your best option. Aside from the ticketed Nishinomaru Garden with its cherry blossom illumination, the Ninomaru area near the main enclosure also comes alive with a vibrant month-long event. The free Osaka Castle Spring Festival combines food, music, Japanese culture and, of course, cherry blossom viewing to celebrate the arrival of spring.
In addition to the food trucks that are stationed there from 9.30am to 6pm, you’ll also find a host of cultural activities and workshops on selected days – and they are free to join. You can check out the calligraphy experience on Thursday March 19, learn how to make soba on two separate Fridays, March 20 and April 10, discover a chigiri-e (paper collage) art workshop on Thursday April 2, and partake in origami lessons on Thursday April 9.
If you prefer to just kick back and enjoy the sights, make sure to visit on Wednesday April 1 for the traditional Japanese music performance, held in conjunction with the 1st anniversary of the Toyotomi Stone Wall Museum. Later, on Saturday April 18, there will be an energetic taiko drum show by the Hido group from Higashinari Ward.
For the exact times of the workshops and performances, check the festival website.
