[Saitama ]3 popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Saitama City in early spring.
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2025-02-20
The custom of viewing cherry blossoms has become firmly established as a springtime tradition in Japan. Countless numbers of cherry blossom viewing spots are scattered throughout Japan. Saitama City in Saitama Prefecture also has numerous cherry blossom viewing spots. Among them, we will introduce three spots that are popular among citizens as cherry blossom viewing spots: Omiya Park, Iwatsuki Joshi Park, and Yono Park.
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Table of Contents
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Omiya Park
"Omiya Park, one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan "
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Omiya Park is the most visited place in Saitama City for cherry blossom viewing. "It is one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan ". About 1,000 cherry trees are planted in the park, including someiyoshino, weeping cherry, turmeric cherry, yae cherry, kanhizakura, satozakura, and others. The blossoms usually open simultaneously from late March to early April, turning the entire park into the colors of early spring.
The longest-established prefectural park in the prefecture
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Omiya Park is a prefectural urban park located approximately 1.5 km northeast of Omiya Station. It stretches over a vast area of approximately 67.8 hectares. The park was originally created under the name of Hikawa Park in 1885 during the Meiji era (1868-1912) by a proclamation of the Grand Council of State, and was administered by the prefecture in 1898. Later, the landscape architect Shizuroku Honda, known as the father of Japan's "parks ", added his hand to the park, creating the original form of today's Omiya Park. It has the longest history as a prefectural park in the prefecture.
Freedom Square, where the cherry blossoms are densest.
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A wide variety of plants and trees grow in the park, but the most densely populated area with cherry trees is the free open space in the center of the park. Looking up overhead at the plaza, it seems as if a natural roof of light red has been created. The green of the evergreen's slender leaves and the light red of the cherry blossoms' soft curves create a cuddly outline.
When the cherry blossoms are at their best, Omiya Park is crowded with visitors day and night. Every year, around 130,000 people visit the park. The Jiyu Hiroba is transformed into a banquet hall, where visitors can lay out leisure sheets and enjoy eating and drinking. Since fires are strictly prohibited, barbecues and the like are not allowed, but since you will not see many people doing karaoke, it is likely to be a quiet place to enjoy cherry blossom viewing. A wide variety of stalls line the plaza, leaving no space between them. It is not unusual to see more than 100 stalls. Yakitori, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, takoyaki, Turkish kebabs, Thai food, and soups such as pork miso soup are all available, just like in the gourmet district in the city center. Even rental booths sometimes appear, so even if you come here empty-handed, you can sit down in the plaza.
The park is lined with a relaxing and open promenade. The boardwalk becomes a tunnel of cherry blossoms as they bloom overhead. At the Funyuu Pond on the north side of the park, cherry blossoms blooming along the water's edge are reflected in the surface of the water. The plaza bordering the west side of the pond seems to be relatively empty, so if you can't find a spot at Jiyu Plaza, you may be able to find a space here.Illuminated nighttime cherry blossoms
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Cherry blossoms against the blue sky during the day are beautiful, but nighttime cherry blossoms are also very attractive. Omiya Park is illuminated at night from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., when the lanterns surrounding Jiyu Hiroba are lit. The nighttime cherry blossoms clearly appear in the dark, creating a fantastic atmosphere.
Omiya Park is enveloped in seasonal colors throughout the year, but it also has facilities for children to enjoy all year round. Admission to the small zoo on the east side of the free plaza is free. Although not large in size, it is home to several species of monkeys, black bears, goats, deer, wild cats, and raccoons, as well as rare birds in the aviary. Adjacent to the zoo is the Children's Sports Land, a small amusement park with a variety of playground equipment and rides, including a flying tower and battery cars, that even small children can easily and safely ride. The park is also dotted with a Japanese garden and sports facilities such as a soccer field and baseball field.
In addition, Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine is located south of Omiya Park. Visitors can visit the shrine before or after cherry blossom viewing. According to the shrine's history, the shrine was founded around 473 B.C., more than 2,000 years ago, and is one of the oldest shrines in Saitama Prefecture, having been recommended by Izumo Taisha Shrine. It serves as the head shrine of approximately 280 Hikawa shrines built mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The main shrine, located behind the hall of worship, enshrines three deities: Susano-no-mikoto, Inadahime-no-mikoto, and Oonamuchi-no-mikoto. It is one of the most popular Hatsumode (New Year's visit) spots in Saitama Prefecture, attracting more than 2 million worshippers every New Year.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name Omiya Park
Address: 4, Takahana-cho, Omiya-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama
Phone number 048-641-6391
Admission Time Free of charge for the whole day
Gardening material No material
Access JR "Omiya Station "approx. 20 min. walk from East Exit / Tobu Urban Park Line "Omiya Koen Station "or "approx. 10 min. walk each from Kita-Omiya Station "
Iwatsuki Castle Park
Iwatsuki Joshi Park, developed on the site of Iwatsuki Castle
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Iwatsuki Joshi Park is a park built on the ruins of Iwatsuki Castle, where castle facilities were built in the Kamakura period (1185-1333). About 600 cherry trees are planted on the site, which is located on a plateau on the west bank of the Moto-arakawa River. Usually from late March to early April, the light red flowers bloom and color the park with the colors of early spring.
Yatsuhashi bridge over the iris pond decorated with cherry blossoms
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The most significant feature of Iwatsuki Joshi Park is the jagged Yatsuhashi (eight bridges) that cross over the calm surface of the iris pond in the center of the park. A vermilion-lacquered bridge with eight corners connects the two banks of the pond. Crossing the bridge and viewing the cherry blossoms spreading out in a 360-degree panorama is a spectacular sight. The bright vermilion of the bridge and the light red of the cherry blossoms gently blend together in a balance of shades.
The iris pond over the Yatsuhashi Bridge is surrounded by cherry blossoms, which paint the surface of the water a light red. The swaying cherry blossoms on the surface of the water also add a unique emotional touch.
A lawn area is maintained around the pond. Visitors can spread out leisure sheets under the cherry trees and spread out their lunch boxes. Usually on the first Saturday and Sunday of April, "Iwatsuki Joshi Park Cherry Blossom Festival "is held. Various types of stalls appear on the lawn square, adding to the cherry blossom viewing mood.Ruins of a circle bordered by cherry blossoms in the shape of a line
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Iwatsuki Joshi Park is located on a small plateau on the west bank of the Motoarakawa River that flows through Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City. It is said that castle facilities were built in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and Ota Dokan (1457) made it his residence. Unfortunately, only the black gate and the back gate remain today as remains. The Iwatsuki Castle Ruins Park is the site of the Degemaru (Demaru) Circle, which was called Shinkurinawa (New Circle) and Kajikurinawa (Kaji Circle). The ruins of the curving rings surrounding the park are bordered by a line of cherry trees.
The park also has other facilities such as a wanpaku plaza, multipurpose plaza, sports facilities, and a shukei pond. At the Wanpaku Hiroba, a wide variety of playground equipment is available, so small children can enjoy playing while viewing the cherry blossoms.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name Iwatsuki Joshi Park
Address: 3-4 Ota, Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama
Phone number 048-757-9122 (Iwatsuki Castle Site Park Management Office)
Admission Time Free of charge for the whole day
Gardening material No material
Access Tobu Urban Park Line "Iwatsuki Station "23 min. walk from East Exit
With the Wild Park
Yono Park, developed on the grounds of three shrines
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Yono Park is a park developed on the grounds of Tenzo Shrine, Ontake Shrine, and Daikoku Shrine, all of which have shrine buildings in Chuo-ku, Saitama City. About 60 cherry trees, including Someiyoshino and Yaezakura, are planted in the park. They usually bloom simultaneously in early spring from late March to early April, enveloping the park in light red colors. A bright vermilion bridge stands beside Benten Pond in the center of the park, alongside a small torii gate. The reflection of the cherry blossoms on the surface of the pond during the peak blooming season is also very emotional, but the scenery of cherry petals covering the surface of the water after the peak blooming season is a unique experience.
Inside the park where you can enjoy eating and drinking while viewing cherry blossoms
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Yono Park covers an area of approximately 51,000 square meters and is planted with a variety of plants and has easy walking paths throughout the park. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll while admiring the cherry blossoms and other plants and trees. When the cherry blossoms are at their best, lanterns are hung in the park, creating a Japanese atmosphere. The park attracts many visitors on holidays, but it is unlikely to be crowded on weekdays. Bring your own leisure sheets and lay them out where you like and enjoy eating and drinking while viewing the cherry blossoms. A few stalls, though not many, appear near the east entrance.
The west side of the park is bordered by the Shin-Omiya Bypass, above which runs the elevated Metropolitan Expressway Saitama-Omiya Line; along the two roads are the rows of cherry trees in Yono Park. The cherry trees along the two roads are a seasonal reminder not only to visitors to the park, but also to drivers of cars on the highway.Park highly acclaimed for its roses
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Yono Park has been widely known since the Edo period (1603-1867), and was designated as the third prefectural park in Saitama Prefecture in 1877. It is currently "also selected as one of the 100 best natural sites in Saitama ". The park is highly regarded not only as a cherry blossom viewing spot but also as a rose viewing spot. In the rose garden on the west side of the park, around 3,000 roses of about 180 varieties are planted. Spring roses usually bloom from mid-May to early June, and fall roses from late October to mid-November, adding color to the garden with their unique flowers. A return visit in the season after the cherry blossom season will give a very different impression of the same park.
"Facility Information "
Facility Name Yono Park
Address: 1 Honmachi Nishi, Chuo-ku, Saitama-shi, Saitama
Phone number 048-711-2290 (Saitama City Parks and Greenspace Association)
Admission Time Free of charge for the whole day
Gardening material No material
Access 15 min. walk from JR Saikyo Line "Yono-honmachi Station "
summary
In this article, we introduced three cherry blossom viewing spots in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture: Omiya Park, Iwatsuki Joshi Park, and Yono Park. All of these spots are filled with numerous cherry trees in full bloom and offer visitors a glimpse of spring. Each of them has its own unique charm, so you will never get bored even if you visit more than one spot on different days.
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