Hirakawa’s flower festival, with cherry blossoms, pond scenery, and spring events at Saruka Park
Hirakawa Cherry Blossom Festival
The 2026 edition of Hirakawa Cherry Blossom Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/04/18 〜 2026/05/06Ended
- Season / frequency
- Mid-April to early May / Every year
- Location
- Saruka Park
- Area
- Aomori Prefecture・Hirakawa City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h–3 h 30 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Participation fee
- Free (activities such as canoeing cost 500 yen per 10-minute session)
- Last updated
- 2026/10/23
A cherry blossom festival at Saruka Park in Hirakawa City, featuring about 330 cherry trees and spring events.
About Hirakawa Cherry Blossom Festival
The Hirakawa Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring event held every year at Saruka Park in Hirakawa City to celebrate the cherry blossoms.
About 330 cherry trees, including Yoshino cherry, weeping cherry, and double-flowered cherry varieties, brighten the park. You can also enjoy views of the blossoms reflected in the pond and the red bridge.
Craft events, a photo contest, and food vendors are featured during the festival, and the cherry blossoms are illuminated at night.
Source: 平川さくらまつり 2026｜イベント｜【公式】青森県観光情報サイト Amazing AOMORI / 第45回平川さくらまつり【R8-4/18～5/6】 | 平川市観光協会
Festival highlights
Highlights include the approximately 330 cherry trees blooming in Saruka Park, their reflection in Kagami Pond, and the scenery framed by the red bridge.
The park has several varieties of cherry trees, including Yoshino cherry, weeping cherry, and double-flowered cherry trees, which you can enjoy as you stroll.
The cherry blossoms are illuminated at night, letting you capture the park in a different atmosphere from the daytime.
A cherry blossom photo contest will also be held.
Hirakawa’s flower festival, with cherry blossoms, pond scenery, and spring events at Saruka Park
What to expect
In 2026, craft workshops and food vendors were announced as planned, mainly on weekends and public holidays during the festival.
Daily events are also planned, including a spring Neputa parade, Plus Marche, the Koikoi Festival, and a cherry blossom sweets fair.
Activities such as canoeing, SUP, Big SUP, slacklining, and aqua tubing, as well as lotus root harvesting, are also listed.
You can also enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms from a boat.
How to take part
In 2026, activities such as canoeing are planned at 500 yen for each 10-minute session.
Spring craft workshops, a photo contest, and lotus root harvesting are also listed.
To enter the grand prize drawing, you must have a shopping receipt from a participating store or vendor, a raffle ticket, or a stamp from a participating event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Saruka Park, Saruka Ishibayashi, Hirakawa City, Aomori Prefecture
- Train and bus
Konan Railway Konan Line: about a 25-minute walk from Tsugaru-Onoe Station / 3-minute drive from Tsugaru-Onoe Station
- By car
About a 10-minute drive from Kuroishi IC on the Tohoku Expressway
- Parking
Yes.
On weekends and public holidays from April 18, 2026 to May 6, the road in front of Saruka-so parking lot will be closed to traffic from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Use the hilltop parking lot, north parking lot, or temporary parking lots (Saruka Koryukan and the Onoe General Branch of Hirakawa City Hall).
Source: 平川さくらまつり / 青森県 -【JAPAN 47 GO】
Address Saruka Ishibayashi, Hirakawa City, Aomori Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
The festival was announced as scheduled to run from April 18, 2026 (Sat) to May 6 (Wed, public holiday).
開催時間は9:00～17:00です。
ライトアップは日没～21:00まで実施予定です。
Daily events during the festival include a spring Neputa parade, a market, the Koikoi Festival, and a cherry blossom sweets fair.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Aomori Prefecture / Hirakawa City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The use of open flames, including personal barbecues, is prohibited in the park.
The parking lot in front of Saruka-so will be closed on weekends and public holidays in 2026. If you’re driving, use the hilltop, north, or temporary parking lots.
Event details may change without notice.
Nearby attractions
Saruka Shrine is located within Saruka Park, the event venue, and visitors are invited to try harvesting lotus roots at Kagami Pond in the park.
Nearby places of interest include Saruka Park and Munakata Shrine.
Enjoy the cherry blossoms and pond views at the same venue as the festival.
盛美園
青森県の公園・庭園のスポットです。
写真：663highland / CC BY 2.5(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Hirakawa Cherry Blossom Festival
The Hirakawa Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual cherry blossom festival held each spring at Saruka Park.
It was held for the 45th time in 2026 and has shared the cherry blossom season with the community through local events for many years.
The detailed history of its origins and establishment, as well as how it has changed over time, is not explained.
Official information
The organizer is the Hirakawa City Tourism Association, a general incorporated association.
The official information lists the event dates, activities in the park, illumination, and parking conditions.
Hirakawa Cherry Blossom Festival at a Glance
The Hirakawa Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring event at Saruka Park in Hirakawa City, where you can enjoy cherry blossoms and pond views.
From April 18 to May 6 in 2026, cherry blossom illumination, craft events, a photo contest, a market, and more are planned.
A spring Neputa parade and various activities are also scheduled, with a wide range of events mainly on weekends and public holidays.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/23
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