REPORT

Cherry blossom season has arrived in Shinshu! Matsumoto Castle’s “Komatsunagi no Sakura” (pictured, right), which began blooming on 3/23 (Mon.), reached full bloom on 4/1 (Wed.), while the Somei Yoshino buds that first opened on 3/30 (Mon.) are now around 50 to 80% of peak. The “Matsumoto Castle Night Cherry Blossom Viewing” event takes place for eight days starting three days after the official bloom announcement, so this year it is ongoing from 4/2 (Thu.) to 4/9 (Thu.).
[Matsumoto Castle・Honmaru Garden]

During this period, the Honmaru Garden is open to the public free of charge from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The cherry trees along the outer moat are illuminated from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. as part of the “Cherry Tree Avenue Light Corridor,” and food stalls run by the Matsumoto Old Castle Society offer items such as onigiri, dango, ice cream, amazake, and Japanese tea. On 4/3 (Fri.), the weather was calm and sunny, and both domestic and international visitors began gathering from around 9:00 a.m.
[Matsumoto Castle・Matsumoto Castle Park]

Along the outer moat (photo), some branches extended out over the walkway, forming a tunnel of cherry blossoms. Looking into the moat, the rows of cherry trees reflected clearly on the water’s surface. With the cherry trees around the Metoba River and Nawate Street also reaching about 50 to 60% bloom, walking not only through Matsumoto Castle Park but also around town—stopping in at shops along the way—felt even more enjoyable than usual.
[Matsumoto Castle・Outer Moat]

In other areas, the “Takato Cherry Blossom Festival” began on 3/28 (Sat.) at the Takato Castle Ruins Park, where the Takato Kohiganzakura reached full bloom today. At Ueda Castle Ruins Park, the “Ueda Castle Senbonzakura Festival” is being held from 4/4 (Sat.) to 4/12 (Sun.) (※with weeping cherry trees and Kohiganzakura in full bloom, and Somei Yoshino at about 70%). The cherry blossoms of Joyama Park next to Zenkoji Temple and Garyu Park in Suzaka City are just beginning to bloom.
[Matsumoto Castle・Matsumoto Castle Park]

　
[Matsumoto Castle Night Cherry Blossom Viewing]
＊Location … 4-1 Marunouchi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture
＊Dates … April 2, 2026 – April 9, 2026
＊Admission … Free (Note: Visitors are not permitted to climb the castle keep)
　
＊To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs.
　
　reported by Snownavi