Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival
もとぶ八重岳桜まつりFestivalJanuary, FebruaryNago & Motobu
The Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival opens in mid-January at Yaedake Sakura-no-Mori Park in Motobu, where more than 7,000 kanhizakura trees line the road of about 4 km to the 453.4 m summit. The 48th festival ran from 17 January to 8 February 2026, and the 2027 dates had not been set by October 2026.
Yaedake (八重岳) rises to 453.4 m and is the second-highest mountain on Okinawa Island. Motobu's tourism association calls its January festival the earliest cherry festival in Japan, and the climb of about 4 km to the summit runs under more than 7,000 kanhizakura trees. The festival centres on Yaedake Sakura-no-Mori Park (八重岳桜の森公園), and in January the deep pink trees stand out against the green of the old forest.
The 47th festival ran from 18 January to 2 February 2025. In 2026 the 48th opened on 17 January and was extended from 1 February to 8 February. Free shuttle buses ran during both festivals, and the town publishes the timetable on its festival pages.
Worth knowing
- Ride up early on a weekday morning for a quieter cherry road.
- Check Motobu's tourism site for the 2027 dates, which were still undecided in October 2026.
FAQ
Quick answers about Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festivalよくある質問
When is the Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival 2027?
The 2027 dates for the Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival had not been announced as of October 2026. The 47th festival opened on 18 January 2025 and the 48th on 17 January 2026, and the 2026 festival was extended to 8 February.
How many cherry trees are on Yaedake?
Yaedake has more than 7,000 kanhizakura cherry trees along the climb of about 4 km to the summit, according to Motobu's tourism association. The trees bloom deep pink in January and early February.
Is there a shuttle bus to the Yaedake cherry festival?
Yes. Motobu's tourism association ran free shuttle buses during the 2025 and 2026 Yaedake cherry festivals and posted the timetables on its festival pages.
When is Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival?
Motobu Yaedake Cherry Blossom Festival takes place opens on the third Saturday of January and runs into early February. The next published date is 2026-01-17 to 2026-02-08.