Countries
Maruoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival
1
Apr
Date
1 Apr (Wednesday)
Time
Apr 1 – 20
Venue
Maruoka Castle, 1 Chome-５９ Maruokacho Kasumicho
Sakai, Fukui, Japan
📝 Useful Information
The Maruoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival (Maruoka-jo Sakura Matsuri) is a premier spring event in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, held at one of Japan’s twelve original surviving castle keeps. The festival is scheduled to run from March 24 to April 17, 2026.
Event Highlights
Visitor Information
•"Mist Castle" Scenery: With approximately 400 Somei Yoshino cherry trees, the blossoms often obscure the castle's stone base, making the tower appear to "float" in a sea of pink mist.
•Night Illuminations:
•Lanterns: Around 300 traditional bonbori (paper lanterns) and 160 original lanterns light up the grounds until 10:00 PM nightly.
•Projection Mapping: A modern "Hikari Musubi" show is projected onto the castle tower daily at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, depicting local legends.
•Castle Town Market (Jokamachi Ichiba): A special product sale featuring local specialties and snacks is scheduled for April 4 and April 5, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
•Cultural Experiences: Visitors can enjoy local food like Echizen crab dishes and soba noodles, or explore the Maruoka Museum of History and Folklore located on the grounds.
•Location: Kasumiga Castle Park (3-1-3 Kasumi-cho, Maruoka-cho, Sakai City, Fukui).
•Admission: Access to the park and castle grounds is 450 yen for adults and 150 yen for students; younger children are free.
•From JR Fukui Station: Take a Keifuku Bus bound for Maruoka Castle (approx. 40 minutes).
•From JR Awara Onsen Station: Take a Keifuku Bus (approx. 20 minutes).
•Note: The castle keep is scheduled to undergo major repairs starting in December 2025, which may affect internal access during the 2026 festival.
Updated at 18 Mar 2026