Did you know Saitama Prefecture is home to Japan’s longest cherry blossom corridor? And according to Saitama City, it is not just the longest, but also Japan’s number 1 “sakura kairo”! Saitama Prefecture, beside Tokyo, is the only prefecture with a twenty kilometer long cherry blossom ‘corridor’ in all of Japan. It is called the Minuma Tanbo Cherry Blossom Corridor / Minuma Tanbo Sakura Kairo / 見沼田んぼ桜回廊. Moreover, there are several different varieties of cherry blossoms that bloom so you can see sakura from around the end of February until early April. This post also contains information for the light up and events during the period of bloom:
Japan’s longest Cherry Blossom Corridor Festival 2026
Obviously, at twenty kilometers long there are several different points of interest along the way. In addition, there are also key viewing areas along the route. Saitama City pinpoint six key cherry blossom viewing areas along the route. They are;
1. The area around the Citizen’s Forest
One of the key areas is the area around Saitama City Citizen’s Forest, pictured above. >>You will find more detailed information for the photo location in this post<<. The Citizen’s Forest is also home to both Minuma Green Center and Saitama’s free squirrel (chipmunk) house:
2. Around Saitama City Hospital
Number two on the map from Saitama City shown below. This is where the light up event is on in 2025. This year, it will be on for a whole two weeks. From Monday March 17th to Sunday March 30th 2025, all things equal. They will also have food trucks on the Saturdays and Sundays during the period of the light up. View on Google Maps.
3. Minuma-Hikawa Park area
The area near Minuma-Hikawa park and around Hikawa Nyotai Shrine, also featured on the map below.
4. Around Omika Gakko Bridge
In an area called Hasumi Shinden. The bridge is named after the nearby elementary school.
5. In the area of Sojin Temple
Around the area of Sojin temple and also beside one of the Saitama Green Trust forests.
6. Minuma Nature Park
Along the north end of the park.
All six of these locations mapped on a Google MyMap:
Cherry Blossom Corridor Light up 2026
In 2026, things will be done a little differently to both 2024 and 2025. In 2026, they will just have one week of light up of the cherry blossoms and that is from Monday 23rd of March to Sunday March 29th. The lights are on from 5 pm to 9 pm. On Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th there will be food trucks at Mimuro Sakura Hiroba, at the north side of Saitama City Hospital.
Minuma Kizaki Square
In previous years there has also been a two day cherry blossom festival at a 7th location: Minuma Kizaki Square. For two days they have live performances such as taiko and shishimai. They also have a vegetable market and there are kitchen cars / food trucks also. They don’t advertise it widely, but it will be on in 2026. However, it is only on for one day this year; on Saturday March 28th 2026, from 10 am to 3 pm. There is live music, traditional performances, food trucks and events for children. On Instagram.
Information
Cherry blossom season: from mid / end of February to early April
Event: Minuma Tanbo Cherry Blossom Corridor Spring festival 2026 見沼田んぼの桜回廊 春まつり
Date: Light up from Monday March 23rd to Sunday March 29th 2026. Food trucks on Saturday March 28th and Sunday March 29th 2026. Minuma Kizaki Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday March 28th.
Time: light up from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Cost: there is no admission fee.
Venue: Mimuro Sakura Hiroba, 2459-110 Mimuro, Midori Ward, Saitama, 336-0911. View on Google Maps.
Access
Directions to Mimuro Sakura Hiroba – take a Tobu Bus from Kita‑Urawa East Exit, bound for “Saitama Municipal Hospital” Get off at the final stop. The area is about a 5 minute walk from the bus stop.
Editor’s note: this post was temporarily removed from the website during the pandemic. It was republished on March 6th 2023. Last update March 19th 2026.