Home > Otaru Tourist Portal > Cherry Blossoms in Otaru

Hokkaido is blessed with vast lands and beautiful nature. Otaru, located on the Sea of Japan side of Hokkaido, is a popular tourist destination with good access from Sapporo. The city captivates visitors with its charming streets, including the retro and tasteful Otaru Canal with its stone warehouses and gas lamps, and many historical buildings designated as cultural properties, such as the old bank district.

Otaru, surrounded by sea and mountains, boasts excellent access to both, with many spots reachable within 30 minutes from the city center. Here, we introduce ways to enjoy spring and cherry blossoms in Otaru, a city blessed with nature.

Giving Otaru.

From UNGAPLUS, who delivers the "Story of Otaru"
that has walked alongside Kitamaebune (northern-bound ships)
from the "Old Otaru Warehouse" overlooking the canal,
we introduce "Places to visit in Otaru."

Please enjoy Otaru.

Otaru's Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots

Spring in Otaru | How to Enjoy Cherry Blossoms - Otaru Sightseeing ①

Cherry Blossoms at Temiya Park

The fourth oldest general park in Hokkaido.

Temiya Park, which includes the famous Temiya Ryokka Botanical Garden, was established in 1900 as a joint amusement park after receiving a grant of national land. It is the fourth oldest existing urban park in Hokkaido, located on a hill in the city center.

Approximately 700 cherry trees, including Ezo mountain cherry and Somei Yoshino, are planted here, with the peak viewing period from early to mid-May. There is also a natural chestnut forest, said to be the northernmost limit, with about 250 ancient trees over 100 years old remaining.

In recent years, the "Northern Limit Chestnut Forest Association" was formed, and the park is highly regarded as a park loved by local citizens, as they cultivate seedlings from the park's nuts for replanting.

Spring in Otaru | How to Enjoy Cherry Blossoms - Otaru Sightseeing ②

Cherry Blossoms at Suiten-gu Shrine

A panoramic view of Otaru with cherry blossoms.

Suiten-gu Shrines exist throughout Japan. While the main shrine is Suiten-gu in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, dedicated to Emperor Antoku and others, Otaru's Suiten-gu Shrine is not actually affiliated with it.

Otaru's Suiten-gu Shrine is registered with the Shiribeshi branch of the Hokkaido Jinjacho (Association of Shinto Shrines). It is about a 10-minute walk from Otaru Station or Minami-Otaru Station, located at the top of a slope in Shinonome-cho known as "Gaijin-zaka" (Foreigner's Hill). Situated on a hill about 55 meters high, the location on the right side of the main shrine offers a superb panoramic view of Otaru Port, the Sea of Japan, and the city of Otaru.

Additionally, Yaezakura (double-flowered cherry trees), Somei Yoshino, Ezo mountain cherry, and other varieties are planted around the shrine grounds, creating a beautiful shower of cherry blossoms in spring. Annually in mid-June, the "Suiten-gu Reitaisai" (Grand Festival), one of Otaru's three major festivals, is held and is cherished by locals along with Ryugu Shrine and Sumiyoshi Shrine.

Spring in Otaru | How to Enjoy Cherry Blossoms - Otaru Sightseeing ③

Cherry Blossoms at Otaru Tenguyama

The "Tengu Sakura," a single cherry tree that blooms latest in Otaru.

Otaru Tenguyama has long been a symbol of Otaru and cherished by its citizens. With an elevation of 532 meters, it can be seen from various parts of Otaru's city center. The summit can be reached by a ropeway that runs every 6 to 12 minutes, or by car (road closed during winter).

Otaru Tenguyama has five observation decks, and the summit observatory, in particular, is a must-see spot that has been awarded one star in the "Michelin Green Guide Japan." It offers a superb viewpoint with a miniature city spread out below, Otaru Port, Ishikari Bay, and on clear days, even the Shokanbetsu mountain range and Shakotan Peninsula in the distance. The beautiful night view, sparkling like scattered jewels, is said to be one of "Hokkaido's Three Great Night Views." The varied city lights, created by the topography surrounded by a harbor and mountains, offer an endlessly enjoyable night view.

At the summit of Otaru Tenguyama, there is a single cherry tree called "Tengu Sakura," which is said to bloom latest in Otaru. The "Tengu Sakura" is an Ezo mountain cherry that is over 100 years old and is known as a romantic tree that appears heart-shaped when in full bloom.

Spring in Otaru | How to Enjoy Cherry Blossoms - Otaru Sightseeing ④

Cherry Blossoms at Minami-Otaru Station

Magnificent cherry blossoms welcome you as you step off the platform.

During Golden Week, when spring fully arrives in Hokkaido, the cherry blossom front also reaches Otaru, a northern port city rich in historical romance. Taking a detour to enjoy the cherry blossoms at "JR Minami-Otaru Station," one of the beautiful cherry blossom spots, is also a recommended highlight for tourists. As you step off the platform, magnificent cherry blossoms will greet you. A splendid sight of branches extending as if to dye the sky pink spreads before your eyes.

Spring in Otaru | How to Enjoy Cherry Blossoms - Otaru Sightseeing ⑤

Cherry Blossoms at Sumiyoshi Shrine

When you think of shrines in Otaru, you think of "Otaru Sumiyoshi Shrine."

Sumiyoshi Shrine, located an 8-minute walk from Minami-Otaru Station, was founded in 1868. It began when Shigeaki Kikuchi, a Shinto priest of Hakodate Hachiman-gu Shrine, enshrined the Sumiyoshi Sanjin in 1865 as the general guardian deity of "Otarunai" and "Takashima." In 1881, the shrine building was constructed at its current location, making it a venerable shrine with 150 years of history.

Today, as the general guardian deity of Otaru, "Otaru Sumiyoshi Shrine" is always mentioned when talking about shrines in Otaru. The enshrined deities are Sokotsutsunoo-no-mikoto, Nakatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, and Uwatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, collectively known as the "Sumiyoshi Sanjin," and Okinagatarashihime-no-mikoto. According to the Nihon Shoki and Kojiki, these deities were born from the water that flowed from Izanagi-no-mikoto's body during his purification ritual. They are revered as gods of the sea, maritime safety, waka poetry, and safe childbirth, making the shrine deeply rooted in Otaru, a port town that prospered through maritime transport.

The Sumiyoshi Shrine Grand Festival, held annually in mid-July, is one of Otaru's three major festivals and is a vibrant event. The Otaru Sumiyoshi Shrine office building, the largest wooden structure of its kind in Hokkaido, was designated as a historical building by Otaru City in 1994.

How to enjoy the four seasons here

Otaru Spring Events

February - March: Hina Matsuri at Tanaka Shuzo Main Store

At the Tanaka Shuzo Main Store, this event celebrates the healthy growth and happiness of girls by exhibiting approximately 200 Hina dolls from different eras, donated by Otaru citizens. The dolls range from those created in the early Showa period to wooden-carved dolls and entirely handmade washi paper dolls. During the event, limited-edition spring delights are available, such as "Peach Amazake" inspired by the Peach Festival, "Amazake Sakuramochi" with sake lees, "Hina Sake Manju" and "Sake Brewery Dorayaki" made with fragrant pure rice daiginjo sake lees, and "Amazake Mousse" and "Sake Lees Yokan."

March: Otaru Wadaiko Festival

The "Otaru Wadaiko Festival" is an event where groups from Otaru and Shiribeshi gather to perform powerful taiko drumming on the stage of the Citizens' Hall Grand Auditorium. The festival aims to inspire and elevate the skill level of groups that rarely perform together. In addition to enjoying the unique performances of each group, a highlight is the grand joint performance by all participating groups, with representatives taking the stage together at the end.

May: Otaru Spring Festival

In late May, the "Otaru Spring Festival" is held for three days, a spring tradition enjoyed by both citizens and tourists, offering a chance to fully "eat" and "play" in Otaru's spring. This festival, cherished by many as a local spring tradition, is a large-scale event organized jointly by eight shopping streets in the city. A must-see is the abundance of food stalls offering Otaru's gourmet delights. Hokkaido is full of delicious food, and everything you eat is superb. In addition, there are many participatory events, including karaoke contests and speed-eating competitions.

May-June: Otaru Kihinkan Former Aoyama Villa
"Peony and Peony Festival"

The former Aoyama Villa, designated as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property. This building, also known as a herring mansion, is a grand estate with a total construction cost estimated at 3 billion yen at current prices, covering 190 tsubo (approx. 627 square meters). The "Peony and Peony Festival" is held in conjunction with the blooming of peonies and tree peonies in the inner garden in late May. A total of 750 plants, including 40 varieties of peonies (430 plants) and 37 varieties of tree peonies (320 plants), bloom in profusion, creating an even more splendid and elegant atmosphere.

Otaru in Spring: A Photo Collection

Spring cherry blossoms on Otaru Coast Spring cherry blossoms at Unga Park Spring cherry blossoms on the former Temiya Line Spring at Katsunai River Spring cherry blossoms at Otaru Tenguyama Spring cherry blossoms on Funamizaka Spring cherry blossoms in Zenibako Spring at Hiyoriyama Lighthouse Spring cherry blossoms at Temiya Park Spring cherry blossoms along the Hakodate Main Line

UNGAPLUS

Good fortune from Otaru, a city of maritime transport...
May your luck open up, with the current that has been preserved without interruption.

In the Meiji era, Otaru prospered as the gateway to the development of Hokkaido.
Kitamae-bune ships sailed across the vast ocean with their pure white sails, carrying many goods and cultures to this land through their exchanges with Honshu.

UNGAPLUS delivers original products featuring the history and culture that still remain in Otaru, as well as fine goods from the port towns of the Kitamae-bune, from the "Former Otaru Warehouse Main Building," the first commercial warehouse in Hokkaido built by Kitamae-bune shipowners Magozaemon Nishide and Shohachi Nishitani.

From this place, the story of Otaru, which walked alongside the Kitamae-bune.

We look forward to your visit, with a selection of original items that are only available here and make excellent souvenirs.

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