Chikkoen Park Cherry Blossoms 竹香園の桜

Dating back around 70 years, the trees and gardens of Chikkoen Park were a gift from the bereaved family of the House of Peers member Genjiro Takahashi. Since that time they have grown and flourished, turning into one of Nichinan's greatest springtime attractions, especially the beautiful cherry blossom trees.

You can get to Chikkoen Park via train or car.

By train take the Nichinan Line and get off at Obi station. It's a five-minute walk from there.

By car, take Route 220 south from the city toward Aoshima, and drive for about 45 kilometers until you arrive at Nichinan City . Turn right onto Route 222 and follow it all the way to Obi. Signs for Chikukoen Park are clearly marked.

It's not often you can see a thousand 50-year-old Somei Yoshino trees burst into bloom at the same time. However, around late March and early April during cherry blossom season, that's exactly what you can see at Chikkoen Park.

If you're there at the right time in cherry blossom season, you can also see the annual Chikkoen Park cherry blossom tree festival.

Enjoy a stroll in the Japanese garden.

And take a nice, relaxing walk around a Japanese garden spread over four hectares while listening to the birds sing.

Chikkoen Park is a wonderful stop if you're down in Nichinan or visiting the Obi Castle area.

The latest information may differ, so please check the official website.