Okinawa cherry blossom season
沖縄の桜（カンヒザクラ）の季節SeasonJanuary, February
Okinawa's cherry blossom season runs from January to mid-February, when the deep pink kanhizakura (寒緋桜) opens first in the north of Okinawa Island and the bloom works its way south. The big festivals at Yaedake in Motobu and at Nago Castle Park fall in the second half of January and run into February.
Okinawa's cherry is the kanhizakura, a different species from the somei-yoshino of mainland Japan. Its deep pink flowers hang in clusters and fall to the ground whole when they finish. OCVB says the trees in the north of Okinawa Island are at their best from early January to early February, and Nago's tourism association gives late January to mid-February for Nago Castle Park. By February the bloom has reached the centre and south of the island.
Motobu opens the festival season on Yaedake: in 2026 it ran from 17 January and was extended to 8 February. Nago follows on the last weekend of January (31 January to 1 February in 2026, with 30–31 January planned for 2027), and Nakijin lit up its castle walls for a festival from 31 January to 8 February 2026. OCVB also listed the Yaese festival at Yaese Park from 29 January to 8 February 2026 and Naha's Chura Sakura festival in Manko Park on 21–22 February 2026.
For riders, Yaedake means about 4 km of climbing toward the 453.4 m summit under more than 7,000 trees, according to Motobu's tourism association. Nago Castle Park is in the town of Nago, which makes it an easy add-on to a ride on the Motobu Peninsula.
Worth knowing
- Ride Yaedake early on a weekday morning, ahead of the festival crowds.
- For a February trip, the southern festivals in Yaese and Naha give you a second chance at the bloom after the northern trees finish.
FAQ
Quick answers about Okinawa cherry blossom seasonよくある質問
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Okinawa?
Cherry blossoms in Okinawa bloom from January to mid-February, starting in the north of Okinawa Island and moving south. OCVB puts the best viewing in the north from early January to early February, and the centre and south reach their best in February.
Where can you see cherry blossoms in Okinawa in February?
In 2026 the festivals on Yaedake in Motobu and at Nakijin Castle ran until 8 February, and Nago's tourism association says Nago Castle Park blooms until mid-February. Later in the month the bloom reaches the south, where Naha's Chura Sakura festival in Manko Park ran on 21–22 February 2026.
What kind of cherry grows in Okinawa?
Okinawa's cherry is the kanhizakura (寒緋桜), a different species from mainland Japan's somei-yoshino. Its deep pink flowers hang in clusters, and each one falls whole when it finishes.
When is Okinawa cherry blossom season?
Okinawa cherry blossom season takes place january to mid-February; the north of Okinawa Island blooms first and the bloom moves south.