Okinawa is the first prefecture in Japan that celebrates the blooming of the ever lovely and mesmerizing sakura. Every year, festivals are erected and people participate in hanami or flower viewing parties. The best part about living in Okinawa is while everyone else is freezing on mainland Japan, these dark pink blossoms promise beach season is sure to return quickly. If you’re having trouble deciding where to go (and you should) here’s some alluring sakura spots in Okinawa to make the decision even harder.
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How To Take Pictures
You might be thinking, Gina why is this section here? Well, I’ll tell ya. If you want the best photos, you need to be armed with the best advice and tools. One of my tips for going to any of these cafes is to go during the week and when it opens. There will literally be no one around to bother you while you take photos to your heart’s content. If you’re also interested in growing your Instagram and influence, I also have a blog post dedicated to how you can grow from 0-10k in less than a year.
Clip on Lens
DSLR Camera
I’m constantly asked what camera I use to take my photos. I use the Sony A7III with the Sony 16-35mm lens because it’s a great multipurpose and every day use lens.
Selfie Stick With a Tripod
A lot of people always ask how I take my photos since I’m constantly traveling alone. Well, If you got you’re phone, why not take a selfie stick to the next level? The handle of mine unfolds into a mini tripod and is super convenient for snapping photos on the go. Mine also has a detachable wireless remote so I can snap my photos at the right time. It’s one of the most versatile tools of the trade I own and I can’t recommend this selfie stick tripod enough.
Recommended Okinawa Experiences
Klook.comAshley from Forever Fern Weh on Cape Hedo
This past February my husband and I began a quest; to find cherry blossoms without the hassle of a crowd. It took a few tries, but on our leisurely drive north, towards the end of Rt. 70 and Cape Hedo, it happened! The road became lined with Sakura. Though some were small and draped delicately over the sidewalk, others were huge creating waves of pink and white along the curves of the road. The street was perfectly quiet and you could easily pull over at any time to take photos without causing a huge traffic jam of cars or people! Having a sidewalk to set up my tripod was also a treat considering when you visit Mt. Yaedake the road is just narrow enough for two cars passing, never mind the sea of people trying to enjoy the trees as well.
Being surrounded by these trees in the quiet you begin to really see why they are so important in the Japanese culture. They are small and delicate but when all bloomed together, their impact is magnificent. We really savored our time and spent about an hour photographing the scene. The quiet was worth the drive and created more intimate viewing of these stunning trees.
Address: Hedo, Kunigami, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1421, Japan
Gina Bear on the Nago Sakura Festival
This is one of my favorite festivals as while I was a JET, I would go every year, eat choco bananas, drink Orion draft beer, and indulge in less than healthy but tasty festival yakisoba. This festival promises a cherry blossom trail up a mountain where you can pray to the ancestors and overlook the glory Nago has to offer. Going up the hill is hard work, so go in your comfy trainers or beast it like a Japanese girl and wear heels for cute pictures. Nago Sakura Festival a great place to take pictures with your friends, go on a date, and spend the weekend in the north and away from the concrete jungle of Naha.
The cherry blossoms here always made me feel happy because my favorite color is pink. While most cherry trees are a light pink or white like a marshmallow, the uniqueness of the ones in Okinawa made me love them more. If you’re looking to see anyone and everyone, I guarantee, you’ll run into a few acquaintances at this festival for a kanpai!
Address: 905-0012, Nago, Okinawa 905-0012, Japan
Rachael Brennan from Sea Change Okinawa on the Nakijin Castle
This year was my first chance to go cherry blossom viewing in Okinawa. Having lived on the mainland years ago, I started my love affair with cherry blossoms; however, when I moved to Okinawa I realized just how different the blossoms are on this island!
I finally made it to Nakijin Castle ruins this year to check out their cherry blossom festival. Although they weren’t yet in full bloom, the blossoms and the setting was gorgeous. The Nakijin castle ruins have intricate stone paths lined with cherry trees leading to the top of the ruins that overlook the gorgeous Sea of Japan. During this festival there are hundreds of lanterns around the castle grounds which are lit up for night time illumination.
At the entrance to the castle ruins there are a number of special stalls selling sakura flavored ice cream, sakura cookies and other cherry blossom themed products. If you have the time, I definitely recommend making the trip to Nakijin Castle ruins for their cherry blossom festival in January!
Address: 5101 Imadomari, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0428, Japan
Hours: 8am – 6pm
Phone: +81 980-56-4400
Bonus: Sunflowers in Nakagusuku
I know these aren’t cherry blossoms but they’re amazing regardless. If your favorite flower is the sunflower, then you’re in luck. There’s an entire field dedicated to these bright yellow flowers and you can walk around in them happily. I love how the Japanese are so courteous so they’ll help you take a picture if need be! (That’s how I got the awesome selfie shot! Lucky me!) For more information, check out this blog post on the Himawari Matsuri here.
Address: 2060 Atsuta, Kitanakagusuku, Nakagami District, Okinawa 901-2313, Japan
Hours: 9am-5pm
Phone Number: +81 98-935-2233
Since Okinawa is the first prefecture to have these beautiful blossoms, you better act fast! Spring creeps upon on us like butterfly’s nimble wings and leaves before we have time to notice what happened. Have you been to any of these spots in Okinawa? Are there better places you would recommend? Would love to hear about your experiences!
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29 Comments on Alluring Sakura Spots in Okinawa
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Beautiful photos, Gina!
I’ve always wanted to see the cherry blossoms in Japan – I will keep this post in mind. Love that photo of you among the sunflowers – you’re so photogenic!
Thanks Hanani! Luckily I stopped a guy with a nice camera who knew how to work them and frame photos nicely!
Very cool and very jealous that you got to do the JET program. I got accepted back as a uni senior but something fell through, so I came to Korea instead. No regrets, alright maybe a little after seeing your beautiful images from various festivals. Oh and Japan is so much cooler than Korea – the cleanliness, polite people, the food, fashion and the list goes on…what was your favorite part?
Alas, the grass is always greener on the other side. 😉 Coming from the Japan side, I think benefit-wise, Korea is the better country for English teachers. People are lovely and polite in Japan, but I found myself struggling for true and meaningful relationships. The fashion is kinda meh and none of the clothes look good on my body type anyway. You would think the Japanese are more fashion forward, but uniformity is key. In Japan, I mostly loved traveling the country whenever I got a chance. I love looking at historical places.
Wonderful photos and I loved how did you show different place and different people’s ideas and comments on the Spring and Cherry Blossoms in Japan.
For sure, If I went to japan one day, I will take a look on most of these places that you shared in this post.
Thanks Gina.
If you get a chance to see these places, please let me know! You should definitely go to Okinawa soon!
Those sunflowers are gorgeous. But since it’s sakura seaon, nothings beats the cherry blossoms. How did those saKura ice cream taste?:-)
Actually, I’m not exactly sure. 😛 I never ate it in Japan.
This is an excellent guide to sakura in an already-overwhelming country! When it comes to the blooming season in Asia, the stress of finding perfect spots is always a daunting hurdle to climb, but you’ve taken so much guesswork out of this challenge by highlighting Okinawa. I think many people who want to be in Japan for the sakura blossoming consider Okinawa a dream destination, so this guide is super helpful and we’ll be saving it for later reference!
Thanks for saving this! I really appreciate it! A lot of people don’t know much about Okinawa and it’s a great getaway in January (especially when we have time off from school).
So many beautiful flowers!! I have also always wanted to see the cherry blossoms in Japan, but I must say the blossoms I have seen here in Korea are so beautiful. I’m hoping I can search out find blossoms just as beautiful when I get to South Africa later this year!
South Africa sounds like a dream destination! I can’t wait to see your adventures on your blog!
This is a great post because I will be visiting Okinawa in a few weeks. I doubt the cherry blossoms will be in bloom then but I will have to check out the sunflowers as they are one of my favorite flowers. Your photos are fantastic (as always).
I can’t wait to see your posts about Okinawa! The sunflowers are actually gone 🙁 They’re full bloom in April and then they sadly leave us until next year!
I’ve never seen Japanese cherry blossoms but always wanted to. I did however, see, cherry blossoms in Thailand up in the north in December last year. Beautiful!
You’re pictures certainly make me want to go to Japan asap.
“They are small and delicate but when all bloomed together, their impact is magnificent.” I love that analogy btw.
If I ever go to Japan, i want to see cheery blossoms, although we have them at home on our garden:) Photos are so beautiful!
The Japanese love cherry blossoms. They have festivals dedicated to them and even light them up at night!
These are absolutely beautiful but I’m more impressed by all the blossom themed products. I’m so curious to see what sakura flavored ice cream and sakura cookies would taste like.
Japan is crazy about sakura flavored everything! It’s kinda awesome. I never got a chance to taste the sakura flavored stuff, but everyone tells me it’s delicious!
Your blossom pictures are just beautiful. So much pink! But the sunflowers are my favourite flower so I love those pics the most.
Okinawa definitely always has something for everyone! I’m glad you liked the sunflowers!
Wow! Beautiful pictures and post Gina 🙂 I’ve only been to Kyoto and Tokyo on our last trip to Japan. We had really wanted to visit Okinawa but ran out of time… too bad. HOpefully we can come back and enjoy the beauty in April next year 🙂
The blossoms actually bloom in late January. Okinawa is the first prefecture to get them! Isn’t that cool? 😀
So stunning! We sadly didn’t get our cherry blossoms this year (in Toronto) because the weather was yoyoing too much, but regardless they never blossomed in such vibrant colours! I need to make a trek out to Japan soon!
Okinawa is the only place where they blossom in vibrant, hot pink. I think that’s what makes these blossoms so beautiful and unique compared to the ones from mainland Japan.
Beautiful! I hope to time our visit to Japan when cherry blossoms are in bloom. And what a bonus to see a field of sunflowers as well!
I hope you guys get to see them when the cherry blossoms bloom! On mainland Japan, they bloom in April and in Okinawa, they start in January! 😀
Sakura are really beautiful flowers, had earlier associated the name with the Japanese photo film manufacturer, never knew that there were flowers by the same name. Thanks for introducing to these lovely flowers.
Okinawa wasn’t on my list but I’d love to see the sakura blooms there! Maybe we will have to add it to the itinerary! How/why are the blossoms so different on Okinawa island?