Takada Castle Park Cherry Blossom Festival 高田城百万人観桜会

Every April, Takada Park in Joetsu City turns into a mass of beautiful pink blooms. However, what sets it apart from the other cherry blossom festivals is its huge number of trees and masses of lanterns. It's a world-class experience.

Takada Park is accessible by public transport.

By train, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Joetsumyoko Station, and then transfer to the Echigo Tokimeki Railway Myoko Haneuma Line to Takada Station. From there, the park is about 15 minutes on foot.

By car, Takada Park is about 10 minutes away from the Joetsu Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway or the Joetsu Takada Interchange on the Joshinetsu Expressway.

The central part of the park features a reconstruction of Takada Castle's three-tiered turret that belonged to the sixth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Enjoy the colors of the flowers reflecting off the smooth surface of the moat that surrounds the castle.

Allow about two hours to visit the whole park. The “Sakura Road” is lit up every night during the viewing period. Here, pink lights are cast on cherry blossom trees. The spring colors surround you on this path.

Not only is Takada Park among Japan's top three night cherry blossom viewing events, but CNN also chose it as one of the world's five best flower festivals.

Cherry blossoms only last for one week in this park, so join in on a pilgrimage to Niigata's flower mecca. Also, don't miss the fireworks on the first day.