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If you’re already planning a list of sakura spots to visit this year, you’ll want to add this gorgeous castle in Niigata to your list. Takada Castle Site Park in Joetsu, Niigata prefecture is home to roughly 4,000 cherry blossom trees, which are illuminated at night along with 3,000 bonbori lanterns during the annual sakura festival.
This year, the event is celebrating its 98th year with festivities taking place between Wednesday March 29 and Wednesday April 12.
The park has long been regarded as one of Japan's top evening hanami spots, with one of the highlights being the 300m Sakura Road, just south of the castle. Here, you can stroll under a boulevard of blooming cherry blossom trees and see the bonbori lanterns illuminated from sunset until 9pm.
Aside from the cluster of blossoms near the castle, the inner and outer moat that surrounds the grounds and nearby Aota River are lined with even more sakura trees. It’s quite a sight to behold, especially with the reflection of the lit-up trees on the water.
For more information on the 98th Takada Castle Site Park Sakura Festival, visit the website.
This article was originally published on March 14 2022 and updated on March 9 2023.
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