Ohori/Ropponmatsu Area | Festival,History & Culture,Nature & OutdoorsThe 2024 Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival [Maizuru Park] ~ Featuring Plenty of Events and 1,000 Sakura Trees, and the “Castle of Illusions” for the Duration of the Event!

Dates:27 Mar 2024 - 09 Apr 2024

The event has been extended until Tuesday 9 April.

Duration

🌸Fukuoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival: Wednesday, March 27 - Sunday, April 7, 2024
Special Paid Illuminations: 18:00 - 22:00 (*entry by 21:45)
🌸Kyushu Sakagura Biraki Sake Booths: 18:00 - 22:00
🌸Sakura Gourmet Area: 11:00 - 22:00 (*Orders stop at 21:30)
🌸Fukuoka Castle and Korokan Stamp Rally: 11:00 - 17:00 (exchange time)
🌸Special Open House of Historical Buildings of Fukuoka Castle 
Saturday, March 30 - Sunday, March 31, 2024

Beneath the boughs of the radiant Sakura trees, spring in Fukuoka begins. 
The Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival will be held both day and night. This year the Castle of Illusions will also make its appearance! 

The Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival is held yearly at Maizuru Park, and is one of the best places to view the Sakura, or cherry blossoms in the city. The trees and neighboring historical sites are illuminated at night to provide a different view of the park from the daytime. Exclusive pay-to-enter illuminations and a wide selection of sake tasting booths near the Tamon Turret that will be installed in collaboration with the “Kyushu Sakagura Biraki” event will further round out the festivities, in addition to a variety of other activities!

Additionally, the mysterious Castle of Illusions will make a special appearance during the event. This is a unique opportunity so please don’t miss out! We hope that locals and residents alike will mingle beneath the castle’s Sakura trees and enjoy the event.
 

🌸Exclusive Paid Illuminations and the Castle of Illusions
At night the blossoms and the castle ruins will be illuminated, creating a totally different impression from the daytime. For a fee, three normally closed-off sections of the castle will be made accessible to curious spectators. Complete with a suitably dreamy atmosphere, this is a rare opportunity to see the castle in a new light. 

Light-Up Area and Costs
Scheduled to take place from 18:00 ~ 22:00. Entry is until 21:45. 
Entry to one area is 600 yen, 1,500 for a ticket covering all three areas. 
Free for high school students and younger.

The three areas are as follows: 
-    The Castle Keep and Sakura Orchard
-    The Otaka Residence
-    The Tamon Turret

🌸Sake Tasting Booths from the Kyushu Sakagura Biraki by the Tamon Turret

Kyushu Sakagura Biraki is the name of the popular event held annually in front of Hakata Station, in which sake producers from around Kyushu come to showcase their new sake lineups (The Kyushu Sakagura Biraki is scheduled to be held for five days from March 20th). This year, the event will be joining the Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival with several booths scheduled to appear, with some sake to be offered exclusively during this event. 

Date/Time: 18:00 - 22:00 during the Sakura Festival
*After 18:00 entering the Tamon Yagura area will incur a fee of 600 yen.
 

🌸Sakura Gourmet Area
In addition to standard Japanese festival food there will be plenty of cuisine that can only be enjoyed at the Sakura Festival, including a wide variety of sweets and drinks. Local flavors and unique dishes from various regions will fill your stomach and warm your heart. 

A separate Cherry Blossom Fair will also be held in the entrance area (former site of Fukuoka High Court), which opened last fall.
Duration: During the Cherry Blossom Festival
Hours: 11:00 - 22:00 *Orders stop at 21:30
 

🌸Sakura Festival BBQ Square
Why not barbecue while taking in the blooming flowers?
In addition to the Maizuru Park BBQ GARDEN, the Sakura Festival BBQ Square will be open for the duration of the the Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival!

*Please bring your own ingredients for barbecuing. Additionally, please note reservations must be made via the Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival Homepage. Reservations by phone will not be accepted. 

 

Various other events will be available as well, including…

🌸The Fukuoka Castle and Korokan Stamp Rally 
Learn about the history of Fukuoka Castle and the nearby Korokan building for foreign dignitaries while collecting stamps. If you manage to visit all 11 locations featured on the rally you will receive a unique prize.

Duration: For the duration of the Sakura Festival 
Participation: Take the stamp that is located at each of the 11 locations and press it into your stamp collecting booklet.
Prize: The reward for collecting all 11 stamps is a Softbank Hawks Free Admission Ticket Voucher + BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA 20% Off Coupon set.
Prize Collection: at the Information Booth, open from 11:00~17:00.

Points of note:
*Participation is limited to one stamp card per person during the event period.
Prizes and giveaways cannot be exchanged or returned.
In the event of unavoidable circumstances, the prizes and giveaways are subject to change. We ask for your understanding in this matter.
 

🌸Special Open House of Historical Buildings of Fukuoka Castle
The interior of Tamon Yagura, designated as a National Important Cultural Property, and other historical buildings will be open to the public.
Date: Saturday, March 30, 2024 - Sunday, March 31, 2024
Locations: Tamon Turret, Shimonohashi Gate, Shiomi Turret

🌸Sakura Street Performance
Japan's leading street performers will appear in Maizuru Park where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom! Enjoy the amazing performances!
Duration:During the Cherry Blossom Festival
Locations: Korokan Square, San-no-Maru Square, etc.


For details and the latest information on each event, please visit the official Fukuoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival website

 

Admission Fee

On the whole, admission is free, but certain areas charge an entry fee.
Admission fee for special light-up area: 600 yen for 1 venue, 1,500 yen for 3 venues as a set

Kyushu Sakagura Biraki Collaboration Booth (Tamon Tower Area) Admission Fee: 600 yen
There will be other events with an entry fee as well.
 

Notice from Fukuoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival

You are not allowed to save seats for those who are not currently with you. 
The use of fire starting or ignitable items in the park is prohibited except in designated areas.