Information for the annual Tsurugashima Cherry Blossom Festival and general information for Tsurugashima Sports Park.
Tsurugashima Sports Park
Tsurugashimashi Sports Park isn’t a particularly large park and, if you are not playing sports, nor is it a particularly engaging park. However, it has two things going for it; cherry blossoms and a splash pool. In addition, for some, the fishing in the park is the main attraction. Furthermore, in 2021, a new nature park was opened right beside the current park.
The park is useful for locals as it has walking courses, a tennis courts, a baseball ground and the lake in the park is very popular for fishing. There is a boardwalk on one side of the lake. It has a sign to say no children allowed though. There is a very small playground for children. It is best suited to small children.
Splash Pool
The splash pool is probably the highlight of the park for slightly older children. It is a nice splash pool with a short wading river. As you can see in the photos above, the splash pool is backdropped by cherry blossoms. The base is flat so it is easy to walk on, but there are some large rocks positioned in the water which are a potential hazard. The pool itself has no shade, but there are some trees around the perimeter that afford shade and there is also a gazebo.
Cherry Blossoms
The cherry blossoms around the fishing lake is one of the famous cherry blossom scenes of Tsurugashima City. Approximately 12,000 people come to see the cherry blossoms in Tsurugashima each year. In 2018, we visited a bit late for the main cherry blossoms, which as you might remember were earlier than a “normal” year. You could tell, even though the cherry blossoms were past their prime, that the lake would look stunning when the trees are in full bloom. There are a couple of yaezakura in the park too though and they were in bloom during our visit and are very picturesque.
Tsurugashima Cherry Blossom Festival in 2023
The park has a popular cherry blossom festival annually. However, it hasn’t been on during the pandemic. It is currently scheduled to take place from March 18th to April 2nd. Even if the cherry blossoms aren’t in bloom at that time, the dates normally signify the light up of the cherry blossom trees. Throughout the two week “festival” period, they light the lanterns nightly from 6 pm to 9 pm.
The festival is on for two weeks, but there are only special events on one weekend during that period. Usually either the first weekend in April or the last weekend of March. However, in 2023 the special events will just be on for one day, Saturday April 1st. For that day they have food and festival stalls and live music performances between 10 am and 4 pm.
Apart from the nightly cherry blossom light up and one weekend (one day in 2023) of entertainment, the only way they mark the “festival” is with festival lanterns around the park. Particularly around the lake, as per the featured photo at the top of the post, which is the focal point of the cherries in Tsurugashimashi Sports Park.
>>If you are in Tsurugashima, don’t miss the excellent Greenfinger cafe!<<
Tsurugashima Sports Park and Cherry Blossom Festival Information
Public toilets and vending machines available.
Event: Tsurugashima Cherry Blossom Festival 第39回鶴ヶ島桜まつり
Date: March 18th to April 2nd 2023 – April 1st is the main day
Hours: The park is never closed, but the car park is closed overnight. It opens from 6 am to 7.30 pm. It opens late when the cherry blossoms are lit up. The main day of the festival (April 1st in 2023) the events are generally on from 10 am to 4pm.
Cost: free / free parking
Venue: Tsurugashima Sports Park, 201-8 Ōtagaya, Tsurugashima-shi, Saitama-ken 350-2214
Access
By public transport: you can get a bus from Tobu Tojo Line Wakaba station for
「柳戸町」 Its a five minute walk from this bus stop.
By car: Five minutes from the Tsurugashima Interchange of the Ken-O expressway. There is parking for 250 cars in the free car park. However, for the weekend of the main events of the cherry blossom festival, they restrict the parking. Please note that in spring 2023 they are doing some work on the roads around the park.
Editor’s note: first republished on January 26th 2019. Second republish February 14th 2023.
such a great time of year! vunderbar!
🙂 I can’t wait for hanami!!!