The Ranzan Cherry Blossom festival was absolutely amazing before the pandemic. They had yabusame under the cherry blossoms AND even hanami hanabi (fireworks). But unfortunately neither have come back since the pandemic. And the festival was only on once between 2020 and 2025, in 2024. The festival is back in 2026, but sans sakura yabusame and sakura fireworks. They also won’t have light up this year. But, its not all bad news! Ranzan cherries have a new “canola path” in front of one section of the two-kilometer stretch of cherry blossoms since during the pandemic years!
Ranzan Cherry Blossoms
There are 252 cherry blossoms along the river. They stretch along two kilometers. It is very picturesque as in many places the view is unadulterated, thanks to the rural landscape. Moreover, in sections you can see the cherry blossoms with rapeseed (canola flowers). The sakura typically bloom the last week in March and first week in April. Most of the photos in this post are from 2019, but the featured photo and the photos under the “Canola Path” are from 2024.
Ranzan Cherry Blossom Festival 2026
For the first time in two years, the festival is back on in 2026. It is on from Saturday March 28th to Sunday April 5th. The main day, when they will have stage events, is Saturday April 4th. In addition, they will have between one and three food trucks at the site on the other days.
Fireworks at the Ranzan Cherry Blossom Festival
As above, the fireworks are not on in 2026 and haven’t been on since 2019.
Horseback Archery
Another highlight of the festival in a “usual” year is the horseback archery under the sakura tunnel. Again, this is the only cherry blossom festival that I knew of with horseback archery (yabusame) under cherry blossom trees in Saitama. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be on in 2026 either.
Canola Path
Sometime between 2020 and 2024 they added a canola path on the North east end of the cherry blossoms. It is right by Gakko Bridge, which marks the end of the cherry blossoms on that end. There is an actual path through the canola. Its not a particularly large canola field, but its big enough.
Even without the “usual” events on, Ranzan Cherry Blossoms are very picturesque. They are also relatively easy to get to and parking is available. Did you know Ranzan is also famous for lavender!? It has a lavender field that was formerly Japan’s largest. The cherry blossoms are close to Oomurasaki Butterfly Forest, home of the national butterfly of Japan.
Information
Event: Ranzan Cherry Blossom Festival 嵐山さくらまつり
Dates: from Saturday March 28th to Sunday April 5th 2026, the main day is Saturday April 4th.
Hours: the cherry blossoms are ‘open’ 24 hours! The festival is on from 10 am to 3 pm.
Cost: free – unfortunately the free parking doesn’t seem to be available in 2026. You can park at the campgrounds for 500 yen or at the Ranzan Barbecue site for 1000 yen.
Venue: Tokigawa Sakura Tsutsumi, 829 Sugaya, Ranzan, Hiki District, Saitama 355-0221
Access: On the main day of the festival you have to use either the parking at the Ranzan Barbecue field or at the Gakko Camping Ground (which is closer and cheaper). By public transport: the cherry blossoms are about a 20-to-25-minute walk from Musashi-ranzan station on the Tobu Tojo Line (departs from Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo).
First published in 2015, updated annually. Last republish February 5th 2024. Last update March 26th. Original URL: event/cherry-blossom-festival-in-arashiyama-valley-ranzan
hard to believe its almost cherry blossom time again!