🏮 Matsumae Sakura Matsuri

松前さくらまつり

Matsumae, Hokkaido (Matsumae Park) · Every year on 29 April

MikoshiTraditional performing artsFood stalls

227 days to go
Rooms around Matsumae, Hokkaido fill up while the festival is on.

The Matsumae Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) is held in Matsumae Town, Hokkaido, from April 18 to May 10, with Matsumae Park and the central part of town serving as venues for this spring event. Now in its 78th year, the festival is long-established; if the cherry blossoms bloom early or late, roughly one week before or after is designated a quasi-festival period, and operations such as opening parking lots are adjusted to match the peak bloom. Highlights during the period include cherry blossom illuminations at spots such as Meoto-zakura and Minamidono Hiroba, a blossom-viewing stall area behind Matsumae Shrine selling oden and grilled seafood, and a sakura stamp rally. Traditional performing arts such as Kiyobe Kagura and the Matsumae Town Folk Performing Arts Grand Showcase are also presented, along with events including a mikoshi (portable shrine) procession and a Hana Matsuri chigo procession, held at places such as the Matsumae Castle Honmaru Hiroba. At the sister-city products fair, specialty goods from Date City in Fukushima Prefecture, Matsumae Town in Ehime Prefecture, and Omihachiman City in Shiga Prefecture can also be enjoyed.

Getting there

The nearest station is JR Matsumae Station. From the station to Matsumae Park is about a 15-minute walk. By car, it is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Hakodate; the Matsumae Tourism and Products Association opens temporary parking lots within the town.