AprilInuyama Matsuri
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
Usually the first Saturday and Sunday of April (Saturday is the Shigaku-sai, Sunday the Honraku-sai)
Cherry Blossoms · Chubu & Hokuriku
Nagoya Castle
NagoyaCastle🌸 Typical peak: Late Mar – Early Apr✦ Night sakura
Overview
Overview
Nagoya Castle, famous for its golden shachi (mythical fish ornaments), is one of Nagoya’s top hanami spots, with about 900 cherry trees of about 10 varieties on its grounds. During the cherry blossom season, opening hours are extended for the “Nagoya Castle Spring Festival,” and after sunset you can enjoy the illuminated stone walls, turrets and night sakura.
- Address
- 1-1 Honmaru, Naka-ku, Nagoya, Aichi
- Time needed
- About 1.5–2 hours
- Official website
- https://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/guide/kaboku/spring/
Peak Time
When to See the Blossoms
Typical peakUsually late March to early April
February
March
April
May
The early-blooming Okan-zakura and Kanhi-zakura bloom around mid-March. Bloom dates shift with each year’s temperatures
Peak times are typical guides. Blooming and full bloom shift with each year’s temperatures.
Highlights
Highlights
About 900 cherry trees, mainly Somei-yoshino and weeping cherry, bloom throughout the castle grounds. The weeping cherries at Nishinomaru Square are a particular highlight, and early-blooming varieties can be enjoyed around Ninomaru from around mid-March.
📷 Best views
Nishinomaru Square
The place to see weeping cherries
Around the Honmaru
Cherry blossoms combined with the castle keep, turrets and stone walls
Ninomaru
An area where early-blooming varieties such as Kanhi-zakura flower
Illumination
Night illumination
- Period
- Usually after sunset during the Nagoya Castle Spring Festival
In 2026, opening hours were extended to 19:30 (gates close at 20:00) from Mar 20–Apr 5. Admission required
Hours
Opening hours
Spring Festival period (extended hours)9:00–19:30
Gates close at 20:00. Mar 20–Apr 5 in 2026
Hours can change during the cherry blossom season and for events. Check the official website before you go.
Admission
Admission
Admission (adults)¥500
Free for junior high school students and under
Prices may change. Check the official website before you go.
Tips
Tips for travelers
- ✓Admission is free for junior high school students and under
- ✓Early-blooming cherries can be enjoyed from mid-March, so it’s also good for hanami a little ahead of the Somei-yoshino
Access
Getting there
- Nearest station / bus stop
- Nagoyajo Station (Subway Meijo Line)5 min walk from Exit 7
- By car & traffic restrictions
- Main Gate parking lot (308 spaces) and Ninomaru East parking lot (123 spaces) (¥180 per 30 min). They fill up easily on weekends at peak bloom, so public transportation is recommended
- Getting back
- Subway Nagoyajo Station gets crowded right after the illumination ends, so consider leaving a little earlier or later
Crowds
Crowds & best times
- Busiest
- On weekends and holidays at peak bloom, the areas around the Main Gate and East Gate and the parking lots get crowded
- Quieter times
- Weekdays right after the gates open
Weather
Temperature & what to wear
- Typical temperatures
- Nagoya normals: March high 14.5°C, low 4.6°C; April high 20.1°C, low 9.7°C (JMA)
- What to wear & bring
- Even if the day is warm, it gets cold during night sakura hours, so bring a jacket you can layer
Where to Stay · Agoda
Places to Stay near Nagoya CastlePR
PR9.2ベッセルイン栄駅前
★★★★Check rates on Agoda12,175 reviews1.7 km from center
PR9.0三井ガーデンホテル名古屋プレミア
★★★★★Check rates on Agoda10,796 reviews2.0 km from center
PR9.1西鉄ホテルクルーム名古屋
★★★★Check rates on Agoda9,084 reviews1.5 km from center
PR8.8ホテル京阪 名古屋
★★★Check rates on Agoda12,178 reviews1.4 km from center
PR8.9相鉄フレッサイン 名古屋駅新幹線口
★★★Check rates on Agoda10,723 reviews2.6 km from center
PR8.8天然温泉 錦鯱の湯 ドーミーインPREMIUM名古屋栄
★★★★Check rates on Agoda11,071 reviews1.8 km from center
Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.
Events
Events & festivals in Nagoya
April
OctoberNagoya Festival
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
Usually a Saturday and Sunday in mid-October
2026 (72nd): Oct 17 (Sat) – Oct 18 (Sun), 2 days (no Nagoya Festival processions)
Attractions
Attractions in Nagoya
Theme parkGhibli Park
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagakute, Aichi
A park facility recreating the worlds of Studio Ghibli films, located inside Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture. It's divided into five areas, and all tickets are date-specific and must be bought in advance; you cannot buy admission at a ticket window on the day. Tickets go on sale at 14:00 on the 10th of the month two months before your visit, so plan your purchase early once your itinerary is set.
Advance, date-specific tickets required
ZooHigashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
A zoo and botanical garden run by Nagoya City, home to about 450 animal species and about 7,000 plant species on roughly 60 ha. It's a 3-minute walk from Higashiyama-koen Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line, easy to reach from the city center, and you can spend a full day enjoying the zoo, the botanical garden, and Higashiyama Sky Tower. Admission fees were revised on October 1, 2026.
Theme parkLEGOLAND Japan Resort
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
An outdoor theme park based on the world of LEGO bricks, located at Kinjo Pier in Nagoya Port. Aimed mainly at children aged 2–12 and their families, it has more than 40 rides, shows, and attractions. Together with the adjoining SEA LIFE Nagoya aquarium and hotel, it forms a resort.
ExperienceMuseum Meiji-mura
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Inuyama, Aichi
An open-air museum in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, where buildings from the Meiji era have been relocated, preserved, and opened to the public. The buildings are spread across the large village grounds, and you can walk through Meiji-era streetscapes while touring their interiors. You can also ride the SL (steam locomotive) and streetcar that run through the village.
AquariumPort of Nagoya Public Aquarium
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
A large aquarium at Garden Pier in Nagoya Port, made up of two buildings: the North Building, showing marine mammals such as orcas, belugas, and dolphins, and the South Building, themed on a journey to Antarctica. It's a 5-minute walk from Nagoyako Station on the Meiko Subway Line, and conveniently reachable from central Nagoya by subway alone.
ExperienceSCMAGLEV and Railway Park
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
A railway museum run by JR Central, displaying real Shinkansen, conventional line, and superconducting maglev vehicles. It's entirely indoors and about a 2-minute walk from Kinjofuto Station on the Aonami Line. With driving simulators and a large diorama, it's fun for families as well as railway fans.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendly
Cherry Blossoms
Cherry Blossoms in Chubu & Hokuriku
RiversideMatsukawa River Cherry Blossoms
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Toyama / Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
🌸 Typical peak: Late Mar – Early Apr
✦ Night sakura
Garden
CastleMatsumoto Castle (National Treasure)
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Matsumoto / Kamikochi
🌸 Typical peak: Early Apr – Mid Apr
✦ Night sakura
Park
CastleTakato Castle Ruins Park
Chubu & Hokuriku ・ Ina, Nagano
🌸 Typical peak: Early Apr – Mid Apr
✦ Night sakura
Famous single tree
Famous single treePeak periods, hours, prices and access are based on official sources such as the spot’s own website, local governments and tourism associations. Bloom conditions and event details can change, so check the official website before you go.
Last checked: 2026-10-06