Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival 2026

Dates: April 15th (Wed) – May 5th (Tue/National Holiday), 2025

*A preliminary event will be held depending on the cherry blossom blooming status.

🚩Reference Information: Click here for last year’s ( 2025 ) cherry blossom viewing map (traffic restrictions and event information) ↓↓ *Please wait a little longer until this year’s (2026) pamphlet is completed. • [Reference Information] Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 Cherry Blossom Viewing Map (PDF 2.69MB)

Event details

*Event details are current as of March 9th. Details will be updated as needed. *Dates and content may change depending on the cherry blossom blooming status.

🌸Opening Ceremony

Date and Time: Wednesday, April 15th, 10:00 AM onwards Location: Special stage at Sakuranamiki 2nd Parking Lot (Festival Square)

🌸Light -up ceremony💡

Date and Time: Wednesday, April 15th, 7:00 PM onwards Location: Square in front of Kakunodate Cherry Bark Craft Museum *A light-up event using a power-generating bicycle will be held in conjunction with the lighting ceremony. (Cooperation: Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. Akita Branch)

🌸 Samurai Residence Street (LED Light-up)

Location: Square in front of Kakunodate Cherry Bark Craft Museum Date and Time: Wednesday, April 15th to Wednesday, May 6th (National Holiday) 17:30-22:00 🌸Hinokinai River Embankment (Light Bulbs) Date and Time: Wednesday, April 15th to Tuesday, May 5th (National Holiday) 17:30-24:00

🌸Hinokinai River Embankment, downstream of Yokomachi Bridge (LED light-up)

Date and Time: April 15th (Wed) to May 5th (Tue/Holiday), 17:30 to approximately 24:00

🌸 Food and drink stalls will be set up.

Date and Time: Every day from April 15th (Wed) until approximately 10:00 to 22:00 Location: Sakura Namiki 2nd Parking Lot (Festival Square) *Depending on the cherry blossoms’ condition, it may close earlier.

🌸 Oyama Hayashi Stage

Dates: April 18th (Sat), 19th (Sun), 25th (Sat), 26th (Sun), 29th (Wed/Holiday) Location: Special stage at Sakuranamiki 2nd Parking Lot (Festival Square)

🌸 Temporary police station / Temporary tourist information center

Date and Time: April 15th (Wed) – May 5th (Tue, National Holiday) Location: Sakura Namiki 2nd Parking Lot *The temporary police station may be closed earlier depending on the state of the cherry blossoms.

🌸Other related events… We will update this page as soon as they are decided.

Traffic restriction information (planned)

● Samurai Residence Street

Details: Pedestrian zone (no vehicle traffic) Dates: April 18th (Sat), 19th (Sun), 25th (Sat), 26th (Sun), 29th (Wed/Public holiday) Restriction hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM *Residents of the Samurai Residence Street will receive parking tickets for nearby parking lots from the Cherry Blossom Festival organizers.

● Right bank of the Hinokinai River (Kojōbashi Bridge ⇔ Yokomachi Bridge)

Details: Vehicles other than those belonging to residents will be prohibited from entering the area. Dates: April 18th (Sat), 19th (Sun), 25th (Sat), 26th (Sun), 29th (Wed/Public Holiday) Restricted hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM *Residents living on the right bank of the Hinokinai River will be issued a pass by the cherry blossom festival organizers.

● Uchikawa Bridge ⇔ Ochiai Sports Park

Details: No parking on the road or shoulder. Dates: April 15th (Wed) to May 5th (Tue/Public Holiday). Restricted hours: 10:00 to 16:00.

About parking

● Cherry Blossom Avenue Parking Lot

Operating days: Open every day during the period. Operating hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. *Depending on the blooming status, nighttime hours from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM may be extended. Fees: Standard cars ¥500, Medium-sized cars ¥1,000, Large cars ¥3,000. *From April 15th (Wed) to 30th (Thu), large buses will generally have priority, but depending on congestion, standard cars may be mixed in.

● Temporary parking lot on Samurai Residence Street

Opening days: Open every day during the period. Opening hours: 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. *Depending on the blooming status, evening hours from 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM may be extended. Fee: Regular cars (including motorcycles) ¥500

● Other free temporary parking (planned)

Kakunodate East Community Center, Ochiai Sports Park, JA Akita Obako Kakunodate General Branch (Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays only)

● About bicycles and motorcycles

You can park your bicycle for free at the cherry blossom tree parking lot, but during busy times, you may be asked to use the free temporary parking lot. Please use the temporary parking lot on Samurai Residence Street. Fee: ¥500

About the on-demand transportation service “Yobunoru Kakunodate”

This is a shared transportation service that operates upon customer reservations. Reservations can be made via the dedicated website (TOHOKU MaaS) or by phone. In the city center and Nakagawa area, you can get on and off at any desired location within the free boarding and alighting zone. *During the Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival, some locations may be inaccessible due to traffic restrictions. Please check ” Coming Soon! ” for details.

Regarding the use of the Hinokinai River and Tamagawa Riverbed (from Kojōbashi Bridge to Ochiai River Park)

• There will be no restrictions on entry.


• There are no restrictions on food and drink.


• Please use with caution and safety in mind.


• Please refrain from using open flames.

About temporary toilets

In addition to the permanent toilets in the city, temporary toilets will be set up at the following locations from Wednesday, April 15th to Tuesday, May 5th (holiday).

• Inside the parking lot along the cherry tree-lined street


• Inside the parking lot of JA Akita Obako Kakunodate General Branch


• Near the former Higashi-Shōrakuchō town hall site


• Temporary parking lot on Samurai Residence Street

For business owners → Regarding opening a food and beverage stall

(1) Businesses that do not require a business license under the Food Sanitation Act on private land, as well as food trucks and existing stores that have a business license under the Food Sanitation Act, may set up shop within the scope of their license. (2) For temporary businesses operating in temporary shops (so-called food stalls) applied for in conjunction with events held on private land, please obtain a permit from the public health center in accordance with the standards set out under the Food Sanitation Act. (3) However, in both (1) and (2), temporary shops cannot be set up in places restricted by other laws and regulations, such as traditional building preservation districts and adjacent areas, as before.

Precautions when using a drone

[Kakunodate Samurai Residence Street] Drone flights are prohibited as this area is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. [Hinokinai River Embankment] Drone flights are prohibited over the cherry tree-lined avenue (Uchikawa Bridge to Unosaki Bridge) as it is a nationally designated scenic spot. Generally, no notification is required for flights over rivers, but if you plan to take off or land at Hinokinai River Cherry Tree Park (the same applies to Kojōyama Park and Ochiai Park), you will need to notify the Urban Planning Section of the Construction Division. Urban Planning Section, Construction Division TEL: 0187-43-2295 MAIL: toshi@city.semboku.akita.jp For more details, click here ⇒ Application and notification procedures for popular aerial photography spots

others

• When the water level of the Hinokinai River rises, it becomes dangerous, so please do not approach the riverbanks.


• By ordinance, smoking and littering are prohibited on the streets of the samurai residence district.


• Smoking is prohibited on city-managed land, including parking lots.

Link Stage Event – Seeking general performers –Michinoku’s Three Great Cherry Blossom Spots

Contact Information

Kakunodate Tourism Event Executive Committee (located within the Semboku City Tourism Division) Tel: 0187-43-3352 E-mail: kanko@city.semboku.akita.jp

“Akita Flower Journey 2026” is being updated regularly!

🌸 Click here for the 2026 cherry blossom forecast for Kakunodate (updated regularly) ▼

Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Blooming Status 2026 [Information from a Weather Company]

 

Past flowering status ↓ Cherry Blossom Festival Period: Past Cherry Blossom Blooming Status