Last year, 2022, for the first time in three years, Iwatsuki Castle Park had a small cherry blossom festival. However, it was nothing like a usual year, with less events and entertainment and no food or drink on sale. But they lit up the cherry blossoms at night. Something is better than nothing, right!? However, in 2023, they are planning a ‘sakura matsuri’ (cherry blossom festival) more like a usual year…
Iwatsuki Castle Park Cherry Blossom Season 2023
There are about 600 cherry blossoms at Iwatsuki Castle Park. It is too early to tell when the flowers will bloom in 2023. The very first cherry blossom report of 2023 is predicting a season close to historical averages, which would mean the bloom period maybe around the last week of March and first week of April.
Festival
Often the festival is held on the first weekend in April. However, in 2023, just like 2022, the festival is scheduled for the end of March. Another big change in 2022 was that the festival lite was on for a full week. But in 2023 it is back to its usual two days. The 46th annual cherry blossom festival at Iwatsuki Castle park is scheduled for Saturday March 25th and Sunday the 26th.
Update: currently nothing to report
This year the flea market is back and they will be selling food and drink between 10 am and 9 pm at the park for the two days of the festival. They will also have four live performances each day. On the Saturday it will be Koto performances and on the Sunday, Taiko performances.
Light up
They will light up the cherry blossoms from 6 to 9 pm during the festival and for the proceeding week too. In other words, the cherry blossoms will be lit up nightly from Friday March 17th to Sunday March 26th 2023. Rain or other mitigating factors may effect the schedule.
If you do visit, don’t miss the Iwatsuki Hisaizu Shrine a 14 minute walk away!
Information
Event: Iwatsuki Castle Park Cherry blossoms / Festival 岩槻城址公園桜・祭り
Date: Saturday 25th and Sunday the 26th of March 2023, Light up from the 17th to the 26th.
Hours: 9 am to 9 pm
Cost: free
Phone: 0487579122
Venue: Iwatsuki Castle Park, 3 Chome-1-1 Ota, Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama, 339-0052. View on Google Maps.
Cherry Blossom Access
The park is an approximate 25 minute walk from the east gate of the Tobu Urban Park Line’s Iwatsuki station.
Find even more cherry blossoms in Saitama here.
First published in 2016, updated annually. R:March 12th 2022. last update January 24th 2023.