Sakura Spots in Niigata City: Hakusan Park

I've already written about some of my favorite local spots in the Minamiuonuma area for sakura season, including the likes of the Osaki Dam Park and Zenibuchi Park – and I highly recommend that if you're out this way during spring you give them both a visit. When I'm in Niigata City, though, one of my top spots for cherry blossoms is at Hakusan Park.

From Hakusan Park last year. This is one of my favorite spots in Niigata City to enjoy the best of cherry blossom season.

The park is home to over 150 Somei Yoshino sakura trees, and they are laid out in such a way that many of them create cherry blossom canopies over the park's walkways. I think it's just such a magical atmosphere where you feel like you're walking through tunnels of these beautiful trees in bloom. Very fairytale-esque!

Many of the sakura trees here line the park's walkways, creating what feels like magical, fairytale-esque cherry blossom tunnels.

The ideal time to catch the cherry blossoms at their best here tends to be mid-April. These photos were from last year on April 9th according to my phone camera roll, so it was a little earlier than expected. Plan with that in mind!

These photos were taken a bit earlier than mid-April last year and the blossoms were already looking like this! Be sure to double check sakura forecasts to get the best estimate!

If you can't visit for sakura season, the park is a pleasant spot to visit at other times of the year, too. Earlier in spring the park is famous for its plum blossoms – there is a dedicated plum grove on the grounds, and it's one of those very welcome signs that spring is on its way out here. The plum blossoms can usually be seen any time from late January right through until late March. During the summer months, visitors can enjoy beautiful lotus flowers, in autumn the foliage here is pretty as a picture, and in winter the snowy scenes are also lovely – just be sure to rug up!

I hope that if you're in the Niigata City area during spring, you can time your visit right and enjoy some of the beautiful sakura trees in bloom here. For me, they're always such a welcome sign that winter doesn't last forever, and warmer weather is on the way.

Access Information:

Hakusan Park can be reached in around 8 minutes on foot from Hakusan Station, which is served by the JR Echigo Line. Alternatively, if you're headed into Niigata Station (Joetsu Shinkansen, Shinetsu Main Line, Hakushin Line, Echigo Line) the park is around 25 minutes away on foot. Buses are available from Niigata Station, too – take the B10 bus and the travel time to the park is around 10 minutes.

For anyone who opts to visit by car, the park is approximately 20 minutes driving time from the Niigata-Chuo IC on the Ban-etsu Expressway. There is plenty of on-site parking available.