Kaminuma and Shimonuma are two parks around marshes in urban Higashimatsuyama. They are a ten minute walk apart, but they are often grouped together as if one park. Kaminuma Park is larger and the main of the two. Neither are particularly exciting parks, but both are pretty in spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. They put up festival lanterns and light the cherries at night during the period of bloom.
Japan Post Kanto Top 50 Sakura spot
Of the two parks, Kaminuma Park’s cherry blossoms are better known. Possibly because Kaminuma Park was selected by Japan Post for their Top 50 cherry blossom spots in the Kanto Plain.
Higashimatsuyama Cherry Blossom Festival
During the period of the Somei Yoshino cherry blossom bloom at the parks, Higashimatsuyama have a cherry blossom festival. However, it is not a festival in the typical sense. It really just indicates the period that the lanterns and cherry blossoms are lit up. The city have confirmed they will light the sakura at night in 2023 too. The festival, aka light up, period is from Saturday March 25th to April 9th* 2023. *Due to the condition of the cherry blossoms, they brought forward the end date of the light up to April 4th.
Bloom Period
On average, the cherry blossoms in Higashimatsuyama bloom a lit later than other cherry blossoms in Saitama Prefecture. They are normally in bloom the last few days of March and the first week of April. All cherry blossoms are expected to be particularly early in 2023. As of March 14th 2023 there are buds on some of the trees. Various sakura forecasts predict the cherry blossoms at Kaminuma and Shimonuma will start to bloom on March 20th, be around 50% on March 25th, with full bloom the following day. In addition, it is expected the petals will start to fall around April 2nd. Obviously weather, particularly wind, rain and/or very hot temperatures, can effect how long and how well the blossoms last.
Kaminuma and Shimonuma Park
Both parks have a public toilet in them. Kaminuma Park has a small playground in it. Shimonuma has no playground, but there are stepping stones over the water which children enjoy walking over. Apart from that there is not much in the parks. They are both very small and are more for scenic value.
>>Another scenic cherry blossom spot in Higashimatsuayama, with strawberry picking!<<
Information
Event: Higashimatsuyama Cherry Blossom Festival 東松山さくらまつり
Date: March 25th to April 9th 4th 2023
Time: 6 pm to 9 pm
Cost: free
Venue: Kaminuma and Shinonuma Parks. Kaminuma Park, 1 Chome-4-8 Honcho, Higashimatsuyama, Saitama 355-0015. View on Google Maps.
Access
Kaminuma Park is about a 15 minute walk from Higashimatsuyama Station on the Tobu Tojo Line. There is no official car park for either park. You can see a small car park at the south end of Kaminuma Park, however, it is not actually for the park. Shimonuma has no parking either, but it is right across the road from Higashimatsuyama library. There is also coin parking by the excellent Aruzoland, a small but free play center for children under seven years old.