The Okinawan cherry trees are the first to come into bloom in the whole country: they can be enjoyed as early as January! The species most seen here is the Kanhizakura, whose flowers hang down recognizably like an upside-down bell.
The cherry blossoms viewing begins in the north of the island and progressively reaches the southern parts. In order to prevent the spread of the corona virus, the 2022 Cherry Blossom Festival will be partially canceled.
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In Motobu Yaedake

The Yaeyama Cherry Blossom Festival opens each year’s cherry blossom viewing season in Japan. It is the longest Okinawan blossom viewing festival running.
The 453-meter-high Yaeyama mountain sees its 7000 trees coming slowly into bloom in late January. The blooming begins at the base and progressively make its way to the top.

If you drive or walk up to the top of the mountain, you will be able to take in the pink of the cherry blossoms and the blue of the beautiful ​​Okinawan sea in one glance.

○ The 44th Yaeyama Cherry Blossom Festival (at Motobu Yaedake’s Sakura no Mori Park)
○ Blossom period: mid-January to end of January 2022
　★Update: Blooming started earlier than usual this year. Trees were seen in bloom for 3-5 minutes at the top of the mountain on Jan. 8th. The full bloom is estimated to be in mid-January.
○ Start date: 22th January, 2022
○ Entry fee: free
○ Where: Motobu Yaedake’s Sakura no Mori Park
○ Address: 921 Narizai, Motobu-town, Okinawa Prefecture
○ Mapcode: 206 830 214*22
○ Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/RbaTCoZR9aD2
○ By bus: Take the “Yanbaru Express” bus and get off at “Nago City Hall Mae”. Change to bus no. 70 or 76 and get off at “Yaedake Entrance”

Nakijin Castle Cherry Blossom Festival

The Nakijin Castle ruins are listed as a World Heritage site, and is one of the largest ruins in Okinawa with the Shuri Castle ruins. The main species found there are the Kanhizakura.
In the morning they offer a nice contrast with the blue of the sky and the ocean behind them, while at night you can admire them with the lights of the city as a background scenery.

○ The 15th Nakijin Castle Cherry Blossom Festival
○ Blossom period: from late January to early February 2022
★ Update: Flowers have started opening on Jan. 8th. The full bloom is estimated to be in late January.
○ Start date: between 2022/01/29 and 2022/02/06
○ Light-up Time: 18:00-21:00 (Saturday & Sunday only)
○ Entry Fees: Adult 400yens, Students 300yens, Kindergarteners and toddlers: free entry
○ Where: Nakijin Castle ruins
○ Address: 5101 Imadomari, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0428
○ Mapcode: 553 081 414*17
○ Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/3CaE3i7Bnt92
○ By bus: Take bus no. 120 or 111 and get off at “Nago Bus Terminal”. Take no. 65 or 66. Get off at “Nakijin Castle Ruins Entrance”

Nago Castle Ruins 

Try climbing up to the observation deck of Nago Castle Ruins: you will be able to see the emerald-green of the East China Sea and the pink cherry blossoms at once.
A 2 kilometers-long path inside the Nago Central Park is lined with cherry trees.
During the festival you can also see traditional Okinawan dances (Eisa) and Ryukyu folk performances there.

○ The 60th Nago Cherry Blossom festival (2022 Edition got cancelled)
○ Blossom period: from mid to late January 2022
○ Entry fee: free
○ Where: All around Nago Castle, Nago Cross Road and Nago Castle Park
○ Address: 5511 Nago, Okinawa 905-0012
○ Mapcode: 206 628 003
○ Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/UGorUcqNQvz
○ By bus: Take bus no. 77 or 20 and get off at “Nago Castle Entrance”

Yaese Park

The famous Yase Sakura festival attracts 5,000 tourists every year on average.
You can get to Yaese Park from Naha in 30 minutes.
You can see the Shuri Castle, the East China Sea and the Kerama Islands from it.
There folk music concerts and traditional arts performances among other entertainments running during the cherry blossom festival.

○ The 15th Yaese Sakura Festival 
○ Blossom period: from late January to early February 2022
○ Start date: 2022/02/06 *may be canceled due to the spread of the coronavirus
○ Light-up period: 2022/01/21-02/13 *may be canceled due to the spread of the coronavirus
○ Light-up time: 18:00-20:00
○ Entry fee: free
○ Where: Yaese Park
○ Address: 1637 Tomori, Yaese Town, Okinawa
○ Mapcode: 232 461 260*67
○ Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/fSyPGKWYUi32
○ By bus: Take bus no. 34 or 334 from the monorail station “Asahibashi”. Get off at “Second Fusheng” bus stop, and walk 10 minutes

Yogi park in Naha city

Contrary to mainland Japan, the Okinawan cherry blossom season starts in the north and makes its way to the south of the island. The cherry blossoms in the northern parts start to wither early February. This is usually when the cherry trees in the south start to bloom.
The Yogi Park is filled every year in mid-February with pink cherry trees.
It is located in the center of Naha.

○ The Naha Cherry Blossom Festival (2022 edition yet to be announced)
○ Start date: from mid to late February 2022
○ Entry fee: free
○ Where: Yogi park
○ Address: 1 Chome-1-1 Yorimiya, Naha, Okinawa 902-0076
○ Mapcode: 33 128 458*47
○ Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/28BqWsUwfmRmBiXG7

Manko Park in Naha city

○ The Naha Chura Sakura Festival (2022 Edition got cancelled)
○ Blossom period: from mid to late February
○ Entry fee: free
○ Where: the Central Fountain Park on the Kohagura side in Manko Park
○ Address: 3-chōme-23-1 Kohagura, Naha
○ Mapcode: 33 097 540*50
○ Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/cJrwnpEZzagxhxHHA

Other activities to enjoy in addition to flower viewing:

【 Only in Winter! Whale Watching 】
2021-12-25 to 2022-04-03

The Whale Watching season in Okinawa runs from the beginning of January to the end of March every year. Humpback whales (Big-Windged whales) migrate to the waters near Chibishi Island or the Kerama Islands every winter to breed and give birth to their offsprings.

★Tour Fees: above 13 y.o 4,980 yens / 6-12 y.o: 3,980 yens / 0-5 y.o: free
★Full-refund policy if no whale is spotted during the trip!
　1. Yearly encounter rate: 98%!
　2. Full refund if no one on the same boat saw a whale or a dolphin. Note: between December 25th and January 16th a [retrial ticket] will be handed out instead of a refund.
★ For more details, see: Okinawa Whale Watching Tour