6 best places to see cherry blossoms in Osaka in 2024

The view of Osaka Castle set against a backdrop of blushing cherry blossoms is as iconic as it gets. The sprawling park surrounding the castle is home to Nishinomaru Garden, where you’ll find approximately 300 gorgeous cherry trees. Fun fact: the sakura tree used to determine Osaka’s official spring blooming date is found on the park grounds.

For a breathtaking view, we recommend that you visit after sunset to see the majestic castle light up along with the pink blossoms. Entry into Osaka Castle Park is free but it costs a mere ¥350 to get into the gardens.

If you only visit one park while you're in Osaka for spring, make sure it's the Kema Sakuranomiya Park. This expansive slice of inner-city greenery stretches for 4km along the Ogawa River, with the banks flanked by a whopping total of 4,500 cherry trees. There’s ample lawn space for that quintessential hanami picnic, too. 

For a change of scenery, hop on a boat trip and cruise down the river under rows of blooming sakura trees. The park is also near the Osaka Mint Bureau, another popular cherry blossom spot in the city – so you can easily hit both in one outing. Oh, did we mention the park is free?

You don’t have to be a numismatist to visit the Osaka Mint Bureau. Come spring, the government agency opens its gates to the public for just a week to share the beauty of its 300-plus cherry trees. If you're late to the flowering season, this is a great spot as the premises hold late-blooming sakura varieties such as the yae-zakura trees. Be prepared for the crowds though as the Osaka Mint Bureau grounds are free to visit.

Osaka’s Expo ’70 Commemorative Park may have had its heyday more than 50 years ago when it hosted the World Exposition, but it still is a popular place to visit when spring rolls around. Take in the park's 5,500 cherry trees and try to see if you can identify the nine different varieties from the classic Yoshino to weeping cherry trees. If you’re looking to enjoy a hanami picnic, the park offers plenty of open space for you to do so, especially around the park’s iconic Tower of the Sun statue by artist Taro Okamoto. Entry into the park will only set you back ¥260 and it’s worth every yen as the sakura trees are illuminated in the evening.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of central Osaka, Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park is a sprawling sanctuary home to a botanical garden, windmill and plenty of seasonal flowers. For that jaw-dropping view of sakura, make a beeline for the scenic pond, which is surrounded by hundreds of cherry trees, and park yourself down for a beautiful picnic. After which, it’s worth stopping by the park’s colourful rose garden and the traditional Japanese Zen garden on your way out. All this and there’s no entry fee.

Sitting right next to the Mausoleum of Emperor Nintoku, Osaka’s massive Unesco World Heritage Site, Daisen Park is a wonderful place to enjoy spring’s most beloved flower. The park features roughly 400 sakura trees dotted around the Dora Pond and is ideal for families with children thanks to the spacious open grass lawn. Granted, Daisen Park is a bit of a trek away from central Osaka, but the journey will take you less than a hour. The park charges a ¥200 entry – a small fee to pay if you’re looking to get away from large crowds.