Name: Shizuoka Festival
Start: 2026-04-03
End: 2026-04-05
Location: Sunpu Castle Park and the surrounding city streets

This spring festival in Shizuoka City unfolds in Sunpu, a place associated with Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu, with a splendid Great Lord’s Cherry Blossom Viewing Procession and dances by local residents.

About Shizuoka Festival

Shizuoka Festivalの記録写真：File:Sunpu castle during Shizuoka Matsuri.jpg — Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Halowand File:Sunpu castle during Shizuoka Matsuri.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.

Shizuoka Festivalの記録写真：File:Shizuoka Matsuri 20230402q.jpg — Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 江戸村のとくぞう File:Shizuoka Matsuri 20230402q.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.

Shizuoka Festival is a community celebration that brings spring to Sunpu, rooted in the story of Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu going cherry blossom viewing with his retainers.

The Great Lord’s Cherry Blossom Viewing Procession, the Sunpu Castle Procession, Night Sakura Ranbu, and other events take place in central Shizuoka City.

Another major feature is that spectators, participants, and supporters all come together to create the festival.

Source: 静岡まつりとは | 静岡まつり

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the Great Lord’s Cherry Blossom Viewing Procession, in which the Great Lord, portrayed by someone dressed as Lord Ieyasu, and his retainers make their way through the streets of Sunpu Castle town.

Night Sakura Ranbu takes place along the city’s main streets, where processions in period costumes and dances by local residents bring the streets to life.

Japanese drumming, matchlock demonstrations, handheld fireworks, and more are also presented at Sunpu Castle Park, with different events to enjoy at each venue.

Source: 第70回静岡まつり～駿府大御所時代絵巻～［静岡市葵区］｜静岡新聞アットエス / まつりの会場 | 静岡まつり

A spring festival of cherry blossoms and historical pageantry in Sunpu, associated with Lord Ieyasu

What to expect

The festival begins with a ceremony to form the group of retainers, followed by a procession of people heading for Sunpu Castle and then a cherry blossom viewing procession accompanying the Great Lord.

During Night Sakura Ranbu, which livens up the cherry blossom viewing banquet, local residents dance in the main streets.

Handheld fireworks and other events round out the festival, bringing the procession to the castle, cherry blossom viewing, dancing, and fire displays together in one story.

Source: 静岡まつり - Wikipedia

How to take part

General visitors can watch the festival from along the route or at the various venues.

There are opportunities to take part in different events, including the community-participation Yozakura Ranbu and Castle Entry Procession, as well as participant recruitment for the Great Lord’s Cherry Blossom Viewing Procession.

Yozakura Ranbu has a group called “Takechiyo-ren” that you can join on the day without having signed up with a group in advance.

Recruitment methods differ by event, including Yozakura Ranbu, the Castle Entry Procession, the Great Lord’s Cherry Blossom Viewing Procession, and volunteering.

For the 70th festival, announcements were posted about recruiting participants for the Great Lord’s Cherry Blossom Viewing Procession, the Castle Entry Procession, and groups taking part in Yozakura Ranbu.

For planning volunteers, instructions were provided for applying either by sending an application form by fax or through a dedicated online form.

Source: 静岡まつり出店者・参加者・ボランティア等募集のご案内 | 静岡まつり

Check participation details

Location and access

Venue and address

Sunpu Castle Park and the surrounding city area.

The address is 1-1 Sunpu Castle Park, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City.

Train and bus

The venues, centered on Sunpu Castle Park and Aoba Symbol Road, are a 7–8-minute walk from the north exit of JR Shizuoka Station.

Highway bus services to Shizuoka Station from various cities are also listed.

By car

As traffic restrictions will be in place on nearby roads, visitors are advised to avoid driving into the city center.

Parking

There is no dedicated parking lot provided by the venues or the festival organizing committee.

Use of public transportation is recommended.

Source: Venue · 交通案内 | 静岡まつり / 第70回静岡まつり：静岡市公式ホームページ

Address 1-1 Sunpu Castle Park, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

The 70th Shizuoka Festival in 2026 was held over 3 days, from April 3 (Friday) to April 5 (Sunday).

April 3 was the eve-of-festival event, while the Great Lord’s Cherry Blossom Viewing Procession and other events took place on the 4th and 5th.

The venues are Sunpu Castle Park and the surrounding city streets.

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Shizuoka Prefecture / Shizuoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Tips for your visit

The festival area stretches from Sunpu Castle Park to the city center, so if you want to watch the procession or dancing, it’s best to check the locations and times of each venue and plan your route.

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Photo and data sources

写真：by Monado / CC BY-SA 2.5

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Origins and History of Shizuoka Festival

Shizuoka Festival began in 1957, growing out of the Hatsuika Festival at Shizuoka Sengen Shrine.

Hatsuika Festival was an annual festival held during the Edo period. When it was revived in 1895, after the Meiji Restoration, its timing shifted to April, when the cherry blossoms bloom.

After being suspended during the war, it was transformed in 1957 from a festival centered on religious rites into “Shizuoka Festival,” an event that brought the community together. Night Sakura Ranbu and the Sunpu Castle Procession were added in 1994.

Source: 静岡まつり企画ボランティアスタッフ募集 | 静岡まつり

Official information

Information about the 70th Shizuoka Festival is available on the Shizuoka City official website.

Information on festival venues, transportation, participant recruitment, and more is also available on the Shizuoka Festival Executive Committee’s official website.