【2026】Major April Tourism Events and Festivals in Fukuoka Prefecture

Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots & Sakura Festivals

The cherry blossom forecast for 2026 predicts that the flowers will begin blooming around March 20. As it is said that the blossoms reach full bloom approximately one week after opening, the peak bloom is expected around March 27.

Famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Fukuoka Prefecture include Maizuru Park (Fukuoka City), Nishi Park (Fukuoka City), and Akizuki (Asakura City). In addition, cherry blossom events will be held in various locations throughout the region.

Kokura Castle Sakura Festival

Throughout the festival period, a variety of cherry blossoms bloom in full glory at the Kokura Castle Sakura Festival. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of attractions, including gourmet food stalls and meet-and-greet sessions with the Kokura Samurai Squad. After sunset, the cherry blossoms are beautifully illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere for an enchanting evening stroll under the night sakura.

Dates: March 20 (Fri, Public Holiday) – April 12 (Sun), 2026

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Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival

At the “Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival,” both the cherry blossoms and the historic ruins are illuminated, allowing visitors to enjoy a different atmosphere from the daytime scenery. In the special light-up event titled “Spring Tenshukaku,” the castle’s tenshudai (castle tower base) is used as a temporary tenshukaku, where magical lighting enhances the striking contrast between the historic structure and the beautiful cherry blossoms. In addition, various events are held in the event area.

Scheduled to be held: Late March to early April 2026
Nishi Park

Approximately 1,300 cherry trees bloom magnificently here. Selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Japan,” the park becomes lively with many visitors enjoying hanami during the season.

Best viewing period (average year): Late March to early April
※Please check the latest blooming information here.

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Shiranoe Botanical Garden Sakura Festival

The park boasts an impressive collection of approximately 700 cherry trees representing around 60 varieties, including the 450-year-old “Shiranoe no Satozakura,” a prefecturally designated Natural Monument, as well as Kawazu-zakura and Somei Yoshino. Within the grounds, where cherry blossoms and rhododendrons bloom in profusion, visitors can enjoy a mystery-solving event and the sale of garden trees and flower seedlings. Concerts and special night tours to admire the illuminated cherry blossoms are also scheduled to be held.

Dates: March 28 (Sat) – April 5 (Sun), 2026

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[Chuai Park] Senbonzakura Kaido Festival

At Chuai Park, stage events and light food stalls are held during the cherry blossom season. Approximately 1,000 cherry trees are planted along both sides of the winding mountain road, forming a magnificent cherry blossom tunnel when in full bloom.

Best viewing period (average year): Late March to early April

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Soeda Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Soeda Park, one of the prefecture’s leading cherry blossom viewing spots, is home to approximately 1,500 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino, weeping cherry trees, and double-flowered cherry blossoms. At night, bamboo lanterns and illuminations are set up, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful night-time cherry blossoms.

Best viewing period: Late March to early April (Illuminations available)

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Cherry Blossoms at Akizuki Suginobaba

One of the most famous cherry blossom spots in the Akizuki area of Asakura City, Fukuoka. About 500 meters of cherry trees line the historic street, forming a beautiful pink tunnel in spring and attracting many visitors for hanami. The scenery together with the historic Kuromon (Nagaya-mon Gate) creates a uniquely charming atmosphere.

Best viewing period (average year): Late March to early April

Purple Niagara — Come See the Wisteria in Bloom!

Be captivated by the breathtaking sight of wisteria cascading like a purple Niagara Falls. An event is scheduled to be held from mid to late April.

Wisteria Flower Viewing Spots & Festivals

Yame Kurogi Great Wisteria Festival

Held near National Route 442 in Kurogi Town, Yame City, at Susanoo Shrine. The festival takes place every year from mid-April to early May, timed to coincide with the blooming of the Great Wisteria in the shrine grounds.

Dates: April 10 (Fri) – April 26 (Sun), 2026

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Nakayama Ofuji Wisteria Festival

“Nakayama Ofuji,” located at Kumano Shrine in Yanagawa City, is a magnificent wisteria tree over 300 years old.

Designated as a Natural Monument of Fukuoka Prefecture, this celebrated tree is said to have originated in the Edo period when a local sake brewer known as “Man-san” brought wisteria seeds back from Noda, Osaka, and planted them here. Carefully nurtured by the local preservation society and community members, the area becomes enveloped in a sweet fragrance during peak bloom.

Event Period: April 15 (Wed) – April 28 (Tue), 2026

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Kawachi Wisteria Garden

After being selected as one of CNN’s “31 Most Beautiful Places in Japan,” this wisteria destination began attracting visitors from all over the world.

From late April to mid-May, when the flowers reach their peak, around 22 varieties of wisteria bloom in splendor. The breathtaking Great Wisteria Trellis, covering approximately 3,300 square meters (about 1,000 tsubo), is filled with cascading Noda-nagafuji blossoms.

The main highlight is the two wisteria tunnels measuring 80 meters and 110 meters in length. Decorated with graceful gradations of pale purple, white, pink, and other colors, the vibrant flower clusters create a magical scene that captivates all who visit.

Opening Period: April 18 (Sat) – May 6 (Wed, substitute holiday), 2026 (scheduled)
Advance reservation required

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Musashi-ji Wisteria Festival

The great wisteria at Jozenji Temple (Benjo), commonly known as the “Wisteria Temple,” stands within the temple grounds. Said to be over 500 years old, this magnificent wisteria tree—with a single trunk measuring 3.7 meters in circumference—spreads across the garden in a spectacular display.

Around Golden Week each year, clusters of purple blossoms reaching about 1 meter in length bloom across the entire precinct, attracting visitors from nearby areas as well as from within and outside the prefecture.

At the adjacent Tenpaizan Historical & Nature Park, the “Futsukaichi Onsen Wisteria Festival” is held simultaneously.

Event Date: April 19 (Sun), 2026

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A Beautiful Blue Carpet! Spots to See Nemophila Fields

If you want to see nemophila in Fukuoka, head to “Uminaka”! The vivid blue blossoms spread across the fields like a delicate carpet, blending beautifully into the blue sky.

In addition to nemophila, tulips and other spring flowers brighten the park grounds. During the season, visitors can enjoy craft workshops, animal interaction events, gourmet festivals, and many other fun activities.

Event Period: March 20 (Fri, National Holiday) – May 17 (Sun), 2026

Uminonakamichi Flower Picnic

Other Flower Festivals

In spring, many flowers such as peonies, rhododendrons, and herbaceous peonies bloom in full splendor, and various events are held across different regions.

Nogata Tulip Fair 2026

A major spring event in Nogata City, held every year from late March to early April at the Ongagawa Riverside Park. Around 150,000 tulip bulbs, planted with the help of more than 1,000 local volunteers, bloom beautifully across the riverbed area.

Dates: March 28 (Sat) – April 5 (Sun), 2026
Night Tulip Event: April 4 (Sat) only, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

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Hakozaki Shrine Peony & Shakuyaku (Peony) Flower Festival

At the Hakozaki Shrine Flower Garden along the approach to the shrine, approximately 2,000 peony plants of about 100 varieties and around 500 herbaceous peonies of about 30 varieties bloom in magnificent display.

Event Period: April 1 (Wed) – April 30 (Thu), 2026
Chinkokuji Temple Flower Festival

Chinkokuji Temple, known as the “Temple of Flowers and Prayers,” offers beautiful blossoms throughout the year. In spring, stunning cherry blossoms bloom in abundance, from Somei Yoshino to Gosho-zakura, including single and double-petaled varieties in white, deep pink, and even green hues.

The Hana Matsuri (Flower Festival) held on April 8 celebrates the birth of Buddha. Visitors pour sweet tea over a statue of Shakyamuni enshrined in a flower-decorated pavilion to commemorate the occasion.

Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026

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Rhododendron Festival (Yame City)

The Rhododendron Festival is held at two venues in Hoshino Village, Yame City: Hoshi no Hana Park (Star Flower Park) and Miyashino Rhododendron Garden

Approximately 10,000 Tsukushi rhododendrons and Western rhododendrons bloom across the mountain slopes in spectacular unison. The soft pink blossoms set against the fresh, vibrant green leaves create a striking contrast that is truly worth seeing.

With well-maintained walking paths and rest pavilions, visitors can take their time and enjoy the scenery at a relaxed pace.

Event Period: April 5 (Sat) – April 27 (Sun), 2025
The Miyashino Rhododendron Garden remains open to visitors even after the festival period ends.