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If you’re already putting together a list of cherry blossom destinations 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 sakura trees, which are illuminated at night along with 3,000 bonbori lanterns during the annual sakura festival.
This year, the event is celebrating its 101st year with festivities taking place between Friday April 3 and Sunday April 19.
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 after sunset.
Aside from the cluster of blossoms near the castle, the inner and outer moats that surround 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 Takada Castle Site Park Sakura Festival, visit the website.
This article was originally published on March 14 2022 and updated on March 16 2026.
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