Okinawa Cherry Blossom Festivals 2027: Dates for Yaedake, Nakijin, Nago and Yaese (with 2026 Records)

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Okinawa’s cherry blossoms (kanhizakura, a deep-pink variety) peak from late January into February. Cherry blossom festivals (sakura matsuri) are held at Mt. Yaedake in Motobu, Nakijin Castle ruins, Nago Castle Park and Yaese Park. This page lists the 2026 dates as a record and adds the 2027 dates where they are known. For 2027, the Nago Sakura Festival is on Jan 30 and 31, and the Nakijin Gusuku Sakura Festival is planned for Jan 30 to Feb 7. The Yaedake and Yaese dates were not on the official pages as of the check date, Nov 3, 2026. We will replace the dates here when they are announced.

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1. How to choose: night blossoms, food stalls, mountain blossoms or the south

• For illuminated night blossoms: Nakijin Gusuku Sakura Festival (last entry 8:30 pm) or Yaese Sakura Festival (6:00 pm to 9:00 pm).
• For a parade and food stalls: Nago Sakura Festival (pedestrian zone 11:00 am to 8:30 pm).
• For blossoms across a mountainside: Motobu Yaedake Sakura Festival (Yaedake Sakura no Mori Park).
• For a foot bath and blossoms near Naha: Yaese Sakura Festival (Yaese Park).

The northern festivals involve long drives between the venues and your hotel. For a day in the north, see our model route for Churaumi Aquarium and the Motobu Peninsula (Japanese).

2. Four Okinawa cherry blossom festivals: dates and venues (2026 record and 2027 notes)

Select a festival name to jump to its section.

3. Motobu Yaedake Sakura Festival (Yaedake Sakura no Mori Park, Motobu)

The 48th festival ran from Jan 17 to Feb 8, 2026 at Yaedake Sakura no Mori Park. The organizer is the Motobu Festival Executive Committee. Inquiries go to the Motobu Tourism Association (0980-47-3641). A free shuttle bus runs during the festival; the operating days and times need to be confirmed with the association (Motobu Tourism Association: 48th festival page, Japanese).

During the festival, a walking event was held at the Yaedake summit plaza on Jan 18, and an ishikubiri contest at the Motobu Exchange Center on Jan 24 (Motobu Town notices: walking event, ishikubiri contest; both Japanese).

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4. Yaese Sakura Festival (Yaese Park, Yaese)

The 19th festival ran from Jan 29 to Feb 8, 2026 at Yaese Park. It was open 8:30 am to 9:00 pm, with illumination from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. On weekdays you could use the venue parking lot. On weekends, a shuttle bus ran from a temporary lot (Itoman City tourist farm) to the venue (Yaese Tourism and Products Association: 19th festival page, Japanese).

A foot bath was set up during the festival, and there was a stage event on Feb 1 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. The petting zoo cost ¥1,000 for adults (high school age and up) and ¥500 for children (age 4 and up). It was open 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Jan 31, Feb 1, Feb 7 and Feb 8. The page says events may be cancelled in bad weather.

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5. Nakijin Gusuku Sakura Festival (Nakijin Castle ruins, Nakijin)

The 19th festival ran from Jan 31 to Feb 8, 2026, with night illumination of the blossoms and a light display around the Shikema castle area. The last entry tickets are sold at 8:30 pm. Parking is limited, so visitors were asked to use public transport (Nakijin Gusuku Sakura Festival: official page, Japanese). Inquiries go to the festival office (0980-56-2256) (Nakijin Village: festival notice, Japanese).

For 2027, the 20th festival is planned for Jan 30 to Feb 7. This date comes from an announcement by TWIN-LINE HOTEL YANBARU OKINAWA JAPAN on Nov 2, 2026 (press release, Japanese). Treat it as “planned” until the festival’s own page is checked. Admission to Nakijin Castle ruins has been ¥1,000 for adults and ¥500 for children (individuals) since Sep 1, 2025 (Nakijin Castle ruins: official site, Japanese).

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6. Nago Sakura Festival (Nago Castle Park, Nago)

The 63rd festival in 2026 was held on Jan 31 and Feb 1. The 64th festival in 2027 is on Sat, Jan 30 and Sun, Jan 31. Venues are Nago Castle Park, the festival-square stage (Sakura Park) and Nago Juji-ro Odori street. The pedestrian zone runs 11:00 am to 8:30 pm and is suspended during the parade. The Hana no Sato Garden Fair is held at Nago Fishing Port on Jan 29 to 31, 9:00 am to 6:30 pm, and the temporary parking lot is also at the port (Nago Sakura Festival: event page, Japanese).

The page says the program and poster are still being prepared, and details of the Futami Jowa contest will be posted in January 2027. The page contains what appears to be a date typo, so check detailed times other than Jan 30 and 31 closer to the festival. The 2026 schedule is on the Okinawa Story Nago Sakura Festival page (Japanese).

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7. Blossom timing and staying in northern Okinawa

Kanhizakura usually peak from late January to mid-February. Northern Okinawa (Yanbaru) has three blossom spots: Nago Castle Park, Nakijin Castle ruins and Yaedake Sakura no Mori Park. Yaedake has about 7,000 trees and a festival billed as “Japan’s earliest cherry blossom festival” (TWIN-LINE HOTEL YANBARU OKINAWA JAPAN announcement, Nov 2, 2026; the timing and tree count are that announcement’s claims). The same hotel runs a guests-only event, Yanbaru Sakura Journey 2027, from Jan 15 to Feb 28, 2027.

Besides these festivals, the 12th Sakura Komichi Festival was held on Feb 1, 2026 in the Ishihira district of Kitanakagusuku Village. Visitors walked the cherry-lined lane from 12:00 pm, with a stage event at 1:30 pm. There was no parking, and public transport was recommended (Kitanakagusuku Village page, Japanese).

To stay near Nago, you can browse hotels in the area. See hotels in Nago on Rakuten Travel (ad). For winter temperatures and clothing, see the winter Okinawa travel guide (Japanese).

Checked with official pages on Nov 3, 2026 (Japan time). Prices and hours may change.

Prices and times are subject to change.

Sources

11 pages we checkedShow

• Motobu Tourism Association: 48th Motobu Yaedake Sakura Festival
• Motobu Town: walking event at the Yaedake Sakura Festival
• Motobu Town: ishikubiri contest at the Yaedake Sakura Festival
• Yaese Tourism and Products Association: 19th Yaese Sakura Festival
• Nakijin Gusuku Sakura Festival: official page
• Nakijin Village: sakura festival notice
• Nago Sakura Festival: event page
• Okinawa Story: Nago Sakura Festival (2026)
• TWIN-LINE HOTEL YANBARU OKINAWA JAPAN: Yanbaru Sakura Journey 2027 announcement (Nov 2, 2026)
• Kitanakagusuku Village: 12th Sakura Komichi Festival
• Japanese version of this page (日本語版)

Checked with official pages on November 3, 2026 (Japan time).