Some places just feel… magical. The kind of destination that feels as if it is plucked straight from the pages of a storybook. Japan, especially, is as beautifully picturesque as they all say; especially in the spring. To journey to Japan during its peak cherry blossom season is to step through a looking glass, finding yourself immersed in a scene so breathtaking, so utterly enchanting – it feels as if you’ve wandered onto a film set. Every scene captured is like a postcard that has come to life, each snapshot worthy of gracing the pages of a magazine, and every fleeting moment of the adventure, a treasure to be held dear.

But beyond the sheer visual poetry of the blooming sakura, Japan in spring explodes with a vibrant energy. And where better to soak up this fresh, flowery atmosphere than the country’s many captivating festivals? The famous Matsuri. All across Japan, locals welcome spring with a flurry of celebrations and events, each offering a unique glimpse into Japanese culture and the season’s delicate beauty. And here are just a few blossoms from this vibrant bouquet.

Towada Spring City Festival

Imagine a street, Kanchogai Street, not merely lined, but embraced by 150 elegant cherry blossom trees – their fluffy pink blossoms creating a canopy overhead. Interspersed amongst them stand stately pine trees, their verdant needles providing a striking contrast to the pastel hues. To stroll down this avenue during the Towada Spring City Festival is to walk through a dream rendered in petals and pine. But the enchantment doesn’t end there. Dotted along the sidewalks, adding a modern twist to this natural spectacle, are striking pieces of contemporary art. Running from April 9th to May 5th, the festival offers free entry, inviting all to partake in its delights. Beyond the visual feast, you can immerse yourself in stage performances, experience the serene ritual of a tea ceremony, and browse the tempting array of goods at the street-flea market stalls.

Spring Hill Lupine Festival

While cherry blossoms often steal the springtime spotlight, the Spring Hill Lupine Festival in Kanuma City Flower and Tree Center offers a broader canvas of floral artistry. Here, in the Tochigi prefecture, visitors can witness the glorious unfolding of not just cherry blossoms, but also vibrant tulips and elegant wisteria. The soft pink of sakura, dancing alongside the bold colours of tulips, and the cascading violet of wisteria – all combined to create a flower-ful, colourful fest. Totalling a staggering 30,000 blooms, this festival, running from April 9th to May 6th, is truly a photographer’s paradise (or anyone who loves a good view, really). Admission for adults cost 500 JPY, and those with the age of a junior high school student or lower get in for free.

Ueno Toshogu Shrine Spring Peony Festival

For forty whole years, the Ueno Toshogu Shrine has celebrated the mesmerising beauty of the peony. From early April to early May, this annual festival holds a tribute to the rich colours and delicate forms of these magnificent blooms. The garden within the shrine grounds transforms into a peony heaven, boasting 600 plants representing around 110 different varieties. Each corner offers a picture-perfect backdrop, a riot of velvety petals in every imaginable shade. With an admission fee of 1000 JPY, stepping into this fragrant sanctuary is like entering a painter’s most lavish creation.

NAKED Sakura Aquarium 2025

For those seeking a more unconventional spring experience, the NAKED Sakura Aquarium 2025 at Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa offers a unique blend of the natural and the digital. The renowned NAKED digital art collective frequently crafts these immersive seasonal collaborations, and their “Sakura Story” dolphin show is a particular highlight. Imagine the graceful arcs of dolphins set against a backdrop of soft pink projection mapping, painting the aquatic world with delicate cherry blossoms. This event combines the wonder of marine life with the utter beauty of sakura, offering a digital cherry blossom viewing alongside the real-life wonders of the ocean. This event runs until April 20th.

Shiroijiku Double Cherry Blossom Festival 2025

Among the wide varieties of cherry blossoms that grace the world, the yaezakura, or double cherry blossom, stands out from the rest with its unique charm. Unlike its single-petalled cousins, the yaezakura-style sakura is dense with petals, each blooming as a fluffy sphere of delicate pink. This spring festival in particular, the Shiroijiku Double Cherry Blossom Festival, is held annually in the Gunma prefecture in late April and offers the chance to witness this floral spectacle firsthand. When in Japan, especially in the spring, you surely can’t miss out on getting a view of these double cherry blossoms.

For more information on this spring festival galore, click here.