[Hokkaido] The ruins of Matsumae Fukuyama Castle, one of Hakodate's most famous cherry blossom viewing spots

"Matsumae Fukuyama Castle" in Matsumae-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido During the Edo period, when Hokkaido was called Ezo, this castle was built by the Matsumae clan, which ruled the area, and is said to be the last Japanese-style castle in Japan. At one time, the castle was designated a national treasure, but it burned down in 1949. The current appearance was rebuilt in 1961. Matsumae Park, including Matsumae Fukuyama Castle, is a famous cherry blossom spot in the southern Hokkaido region, on par with Goryokaku in Hakodate, and is also known as the earliest cherry blossom spot in Hokkaido. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is around April 25th to early May every year. *Some cherry blossoms bloom late, so depending on the weather, you can see them until late May. When I visited, the flowers were blooming late, and it was still early in May. ~60% in bloom It was a bit lonely However, this is a place where about 10,000 cherry trees of about 250 varieties are planted, including the endemic Matsumae Sakura, and in the peak season, it is a truly spectacular cherry blossom garden with a profusion of flowers Dates: Saturday, April 19, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 *Closed in winter from December 11 to April 9 of the following year Location: 144 Matsushiro, Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido Admission fee: Free to enter the garden, 360 yen for adults and 240 yen for junior high school students and younger Access: About 2 hours by car from JR Hakodate Station, and public transportation is about 1 hour and 10 minutes to "Kikonai" Station on the Dounan Isaribi Railway, and another 80 minutes by bus from the station #Seasonal places in Japan #Hokkaido #Famous cherry blossom spots #Breathtaking views