7 Must-Visit Cherry Blossom Spots for a Spring Trip to Kumamoto

The predicted bloom and full bloom dates for 2026, announced on February 12, 2026 by a weather information company via “Sakura Navi,” are as follows.
The best viewing period is expected to be around April 1 to April 8.

Kumamoto Castle is a famous castle built by Kato Kiyomasa in 1607.
It was constructed using the most advanced techniques and tremendous labor of its time, and later became the stage for many key moments in Japanese history.
The main keep was destroyed by fire during the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, but it was rebuilt into its current form in 1960.
It later suffered severe damage in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, but restoration of the main keep was completed in March 2021.
Around 800 cherry trees are planted around Kumamoto Castle, and they bloom all at once in spring.
The contrast between the monochrome tones of the castle and the pale pink blossoms feels both solemn and vibrant—pure spring atmosphere.
During peak season, you can also see the castle and cherry blossoms beautifully lit up at night.
If you want to see cherry blossoms in Kumamoto, this is a spot you can’t miss.

This strolling garden makes use of spring water, and its origins trace back to when Lord Tadatoshi, the first lord of the Hosokawa clan, built a teahouse here where underground water from Aso springs up.
Inside the garden are buildings such as Izumi Shrine, which enshrines the Hosokawa clan, a Noh theater stage, and Kokindenju-no-Ma, relocated from the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Pine trees, stepping stones floating across the pond, and an artificial hill modeled after Mt. Fuji all preserve the atmosphere of the Edo period.
When cherry blossoms reach their peak, the beautiful Japanese garden is vividly colored by around 150 cherry trees.
Strolling through the garden in the warm spring air, you can fully enjoy cherry blossoms enhancing its varied scenery and classic Japanese ambiance.
Limited-time illuminations are also held, and the garden opens at night. Cherry blossoms lit up in the evening garden are even more beautiful.

“Hebigaeri Park” is a park in Tamana City, about a 10-minute walk from Tamana Onsen.
Surrounded by lush greenery, this large park spans Approx. 20 hectares and is fully equipped with sports facilities such as tennis courts.
With plenty of open spaces and playground equipment like roller slides, it’s also great for families.
In spring, around 1,500 cherry trees bloom in full, filling the park with color.
You can view the blossoms up close, making it an excellent photo spot as well.
Walk along the promenade covered like a cherry blossom tunnel, and you’ll strongly feel the atmosphere of spring.
After sunset, the cherry blossoms are gently illuminated by lanterns, creating a solemn mood.

Kikuchi Park, located in Kikuchi City, is a relaxing local hangout with large playground equipment, a lawn plaza, tennis courts, and more.
The park has around 3,000 cherry trees, and every year it gets crowded with many hanami visitors during peak season.
It’s known as one of the top cherry blossom spots in Kumamoto Prefecture, and it’s also popular as a photo spot for camera lovers.
Classic Somei Yoshino cherry trees can be seen throughout the park, and on clear days, the white and pink blossoms stand out beautifully against the blue sky. The combination of rapeseed flowers and cherry blossoms is also a must-see.
Although many people visit for hanami, the park is spacious and the cherry trees are spread out, so it’s also nice to take your time and enjoy the blooms.
Kikuchi Park also offers nighttime illuminations, where you can enjoy dreamy cherry blossoms glowing against the pitch-black sky.

The 5 km-long road lined with cherry trees near the Yatsushiro Sea, also known as the Shiranui Sea, is called the “Yunoko Cherry Line” and is located in Minamata City.
It’s popular as a scenic drive where you can enjoy cherry blossoms with the sea in the background, with around 500 cherry trees lining the road.
It’s rare to find a spot where you can take in both cherry blossoms and the ocean at the same time, and the fresh view of blue water with blossoms tinted pink and white is not something you see every day.
Nearby, there are hanami spots where you can park your car and enjoy the cherry blossoms, so be sure to visit those too.
If you go a bit farther, there’s also an observation deck where you can enjoy even more sweeping views.
During peak season, sightseeing boats for viewing blossoms on the water also operate from Yunoko Onsen, letting you enjoy cherry blossoms in a one-of-a-kind setting.

“Isshingyo no Oozakura” is a single cherry tree in Minamiaso Village, Aso District, and it’s a Yamazakura estimated to be over 400 years old.
It stands Approx. 14 m tall, with a trunk circumference of over 7 m.
It’s one of the largest in all of Kyushu and is a symbol of Minamiaso Village.
During the Sengoku period (1467–1590), Minamiaso Village was called “Minemura,” and the lord of Kakuyoku Castle, built in this area, died in a battle elsewhere.
It’s said that the lord’s wife and children returned to Minemura and planted a young cherry tree to console the spirits of the lord and his clan.
Because they devoted themselves to single-minded practice (earnestly offering prayers), it came to be called “Isshingyo no Oozakura.”
Another highlight is the rapeseed flower fields that spread out around it.
Since rapeseed flowers reach their peak at nearly the same time as the cherry blossoms, you can see the magnificent cherry tree standing among delicate yellow blooms.

Along the shores of Ichifusa Dam Lake in Kuma District, around 10,000 cherry trees bloom.
Aiming to become “Japan’s No. 1 cherry blossom village,” the village of Mizukami, where Ichifusa Dam Lake is located, carries out daily care and maintenance of the cherry trees.
Beyond the blossoms, you’ll see beautiful mountains and the lake’s surface stretching out, offering grand and varied natural scenery.
If you go a bit farther, there’s also a facility called “Sakura Zukan-en,” where you can encounter Approx. 70 varieties and around 100 cherry trees, from classic to rare types. Be sure to visit here as well.
During the Yumaya Onsen Sakura Festival, the area is also illuminated, so you can experience a different kind of beauty from the daytime blossoms.
With its sheer number of trees and beautiful scenery, it’s known as one of Kumamoto Prefecture’s leading cherry blossom spots.