A night of tracing the scent of plum blossoms and Mito’s history by lantern light
Yozakura Festival
The 2026 edition of Yozakura Festival has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/03/07Ended
- Season / frequency
- Usually around February to March / Every year
- Location
- Kodokan and the Mito Castle Ruins
- Area
- Ibaraki Prefecture・Mito City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 10 min–1 h 30 min · limited express)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
- Highlights and activities
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Some activities are free.
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
On a night when Kodokan and the Mito Castle Ruins are bathed in light, the Yozakura Festival celebrates plum blossoms and Mito’s traditional culture.
About Yozakura Festival
Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 小石川人晃 File:The finale of the night ume flowers festival (Kairaku-en Garden .2019) in Mito, Ibaraki.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: Σ64 File:Yoru-ume-matsuri in Kairaku-en, Ibaraki 07.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.Photo credits and terms of use
Photographer: 小石川人晃 File:Traditional Japanese musical instruments performance event of the night ume flowers festival (Kodokan .2019) in Mito, Ibaraki.jpg / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Own work by the contributorDisplay size only adjusted.May differ from the event currently featured.The Yozakura Festival is an event where visitors can enjoy plum blossoms and historic buildings at night, with the Kodokan and Mito Castle Ruins in Mito as its setting.
Decorations featuring local traditions and craftsmanship, including Suifu lanterns, Japanese umbrellas, and andon lanterns, brighten the venue.
Through illuminations in the plum groves and nighttime strolls, the festival offers a chance to experience Mito’s history and the atmosphere of early spring.
Source: 夜梅祭 2026 - 水戸観光コンベンション協会 / いばらきの梅満喫特集2026／茨城県
Festival highlights
Highlights include illuminations in the Kodokan plum grove, a path lit by Suifu lanterns, and projection mapping on the Seicho and Ninomaru Corner Turret.
A Japanese umbrella photo spot is set up at Mito Castle’s Otemon Gate, while bamboo lanterns and andon lanterns add to the nighttime scenery.
There are also a calligraphy performance and a night walk around the Mito Castle Ruins and Kodokan, offering a combination of light and history.
A night of tracing the scent of plum blossoms and Mito’s history by lantern light
What to expect
At the venue, you can walk around the Mito Castle Ruins and Kodokan while enjoying illuminations of the plum grove and historic buildings.
The guided night walk departs from Mito Otemon Square and takes about 30 minutes per session.
At the Ninomaru Exhibition Hall, you can try making an original rakkan seal; the food stall village also offers meals from food trucks.
How to take part
General visitors can freely explore the illuminations, exhibits, projection mapping, food stall village, and more.
You can sign up for the night walk at the reception desk on the day, but each session is limited to around 10 people.
The Hakkedo Projection Mapping Game is limited to the first 30 participants, so spaces are limited.
You can visit the venue during event hours for general sightseeing and the various exhibits.
Sign-up for the night walk is available on the day at Mito Otemon Square; advance registration is not listed.
For activities with limited spaces, check the capacity and first-come, first-served conditions, and head to the reception early to be on the safe side.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Kodokan and the Mito Castle Ruins.
Kodokan is at 1-6-29 Sannomaru, Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture.
- Train and bus
A free shuttle bus is scheduled to run between Kairakuen UME The Lights and the venue on the day of the Yozakura Festival.
- By car
Traffic restrictions apply from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on routes including the stretch from in front of Sannomaru Elementary School to the Otemon Gate entrance.
- Parking
You can use the Ibaraki Prefectural Sannomaru Government Office parking lot or nearby paid parking lots.
Bring your parking ticket to the reception desk at the Kodokan entrance to have 3 hours of parking validated for free. The Sannomaru Government Office parking lot closes at 9:30 p.m.
Source: 水戸の梅まつり【2026】 | 観光いばらき公式ホームページ
Address Kodokan: 1-6-29 Sannomaru, Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
The 2026 Yozakura Festival was announced as scheduled for March 7 (Saturday), from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The venue is Kodokan and the Mito Castle Ruins, and the calligraphy performance begins at 5 p.m.
Some activities may be canceled due to the weather, so check the weather and the status of individual activities on the day.
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 Ibaraki Prefecture / Mito City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
Traffic restrictions are in effect around the venue from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., so allow extra time if you are driving.
The Sannomaru Government Office parking lot closes at 9:30 p.m., so check your return schedule as well.
Some activities may be canceled depending on the weather, and registration for the night walk and game closes once capacity is reached.
Nearby attractions
Kodokan and the Mito Castle Ruins themselves are historic highlights to enjoy alongside the Yozakura Festival.
At Kodokan, the plum grove is illuminated and the Seicho features visual effects; at the Mito Castle Ruins, the Otemon Gate and Ninomaru Corner Turret are decorated.
“UME The Lights 2026” is held at Kairakuen on the same day, and a free shuttle bus connecting the 2 venues is scheduled.
偕楽園
茨城県水戸市にある日本庭園
千波公園
水戸市の公園
常磐神社
茨城県水戸市にある神社
Kodokan
水戸藩の藩校
徳川ミュージアム
茨城県水戸市にある博物館
水戸市植物公園
茨城県の公園・庭園のスポットです。
水戸東照宮
茨城県水戸市にある神社
茨城県立歴史館
茨城県水戸市にある博物館
茨城県護国神社
茨城県水戸市の偕楽園桜山にある神社
茨城県近代美術館
茨城県水戸市にある美術館
Origins and History of Yozakura Festival
The first Yozakura Festival was held on March 10, 2006 to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Mito Plum Festival.
In its early years, the main venues were Kairakuen and Tokiwa Shrine, with activities such as plum grove illuminations, bamboo andon lanterns, and food stalls featuring locally produced ingredients.
Kodokan was added as a venue in 2015, and the 20th festival is scheduled for 2026 at venues including the Mito Castle Ruins.
Source: 夜梅祭 - Wikipedia
Official information
Details about the dates, venue, activities, parking, and traffic restrictions for Yozakura Festival 2026 can be found on the “Yozakura Festival 2026” page of the Mito Tourism and Convention Association.
The official Mito Plum Festival website also lists the dates and venue for Yoru-Ume-Matsuri 2026.
Yozakura Festival at a Glance
Yozakura Festival 2026 is a nighttime plum-blossom viewing event held at Kodokan and the Mito Castle Ruins on March 7.
The program features illuminations of the plum grove and Suifu lanterns, Japanese umbrellas, bamboo lanterns, projection mapping, and other effects that make use of the historic townscape.
There is also a night walk with same-day registration, rakkan seal-making, and a food stall village, so you can combine strolling with hands-on activities.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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