Matsuri Guide

Name in Japanese and English

• 静峰ふるさと公園 八重桜まつり（しずみねふるさとこうえん やえざくらまつり）
• Shizumine Furusato Park Yaezakura Festival

History

The Yaezakura Matsuri（八重桜まつり, yaezakura matsuri）is held at Shizumine Furusato Park （静峰ふるさと公園, Shizumine Furusato Kōen）in the city of Naka, a site renowned for its double-flowered cherry trees (yaezakura／八重桜, yaezakura). The park is ranked among the “100 Best Sakura Spots in Japan” （日本さくら名所100選, Nihon Sakura Meisho Hyaku-sen）and has established itself as a major late-season cherry blossom event. Its appeal comes from the contrast with earlier bloomers: here, the spotlight is on late-blooming varieties, often denser and more “pom-pom” shaped.

The event is structured around three pillars: strolling and flower viewing (花見, hanami), a period of yozakura（夜桜, yozakura）with illumination（ライトアップ, raitoappu）in the evening, and one or more days of entertainment (ステージイベント, sutēji ibento) with stalls. Like many spring events, the Yaezakura Matsuri has also experienced cancellations or scaled-down formats in some years, before gradually returning to a fuller program.

Location and Date of the Event

• Location: 静峰ふるさと公園（Shizumine Furusato Kōen）, city of Naka（那珂市, Naka-shi）, Ibaraki Prefecture（茨城県, Ibaraki-ken）.
• Address: 〒319-2106 茨城県那珂市静1720-1（1720-1 Shizu, Naka-shi, Ibaraki 319-2106）.
• Date: mid-April to late April (period adjusted according to blooming). Example: April 10–23, 2025, with illuminations from April 15–22 (6 p.m.–8 p.m.) and a day of entertainment on April 20.
• Date type: variable: the event follows the blooming of yaezakura (八重桜, yaezakura) and exact dates are published each year.

Program

The Yaezakura Matsuri is a large-scale “hanami” festival: visitors mainly come to stroll through the park, enjoy the cherry-lined paths, and admire the variety of double blossoms. Admission is generally free, but parking may become paid during the festival period (駐車料金, chūsha ryōkin).

A typical day unfolds as follows: park opening in the morning (開園時間, kaen jikan), increasing crowds in early afternoon, then during a dedicated period, the start of the yozakura light-up（夜桜ライトアップ, yozakura raitoappu）in the evening. A “core festival” date concentrates stage events（ステージイベント, sutēji ibento）and stalls (模擬店, mogi-ten): music, local performances, food, and small pop-up shops.

The unique point here is the feeling of a “second sakura season”: when many sites have already finished the Somei Yoshino bloom, Shizumine offers a later, more voluminous, and very photogenic flowering, with the bonus of a completely different atmosphere at dusk during the illuminations.

Practical Tips

Photos

For flowers with a very “textured” look, aim for late morning (softer light) or the golden hour before the illumination. During the yozakura light-up（夜桜ライトアップ, yozakura raitoappu）, a bright lens and a slightly slower shutter speed help: stabilize yourself (railing, compact tripod if allowed). Tip: alternate close-ups (petal texture) and wide shots to show the masses of flowers.

Weather

Mid-April can be mild but changeable: bring a light layer + jacket (especially if staying for the evening). In case of showers, paths can become wet: comfortable shoes that don’t mind mud.

Transport

If you aim for the illumination, prefer train + taxi for the return or leave before the end to avoid waiting. By car, anticipate entry/exit traffic jams on weekends and event days: arrive early, especially if you want a nearby spot.

Visitor Tips

For a less crowded park, choose a weekday and arrive at opening. Before heading out, check the “bloom status” info: 開花状況（kaika jōkyō, “bloom status”). Useful phrase: 「ライトアップは何時からですか？」 （Raitoappu wa nan-ji kara desu ka?: “What time does the illumination start?”）.

What to Bring

Cash (for stalls), portable battery, mini umbrella or poncho, wipes (petals and dust), and a small flashlight if staying after sunset (for return, bag, photo settings).

Sources & References

• 那珂市（公式）｜八重桜まつり

  Official municipal page: event period, hours, illumination night, entertainment day, parking info.

• 観光いばらき（公式）｜八重桜まつり（静峰ふるさと公園）

  Official regional event page: summary, dates, and highlights reminder (yozakura, program).