2025 Matsumae Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in March)

#cherryblossom25 Matsumae Park, home to over 10,000 cherry trees of more than 250 varieties, offers one of Japan’s longest sakura viewing seasons. Due to Hokkaido’s colder climate, blossoms here bloom much later, typically from late April to mid-May. The park is centered around Matsumae Castle, adding a historic touch to the natural beauty. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll through different zones, each showcasing unique sakura types. The annual cherry blossom festival brings food stalls, traditional performances, and local crafts. Matsumae Park is a fantastic choice for those who missed the peak bloom in central Japan and want a second chance at hanami.

"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

is a stone monument marking it as the southernmost point of Hokkaido. It feels more like a wide road shoulder than a parking lot, and is not divided into sections. just, You are now standing at the southernmost tip of Hokkaido. These words engraved on the stone monument fill me with a sense of accomplishment upon reaching the southern tip. I think that's a really good sentence. I truly felt glad that I came because of you.

#travelanywhere One of the 100 famous castles. Despite the long way through bus, it was worth the time. You need to take the Shinkansen to Kikunai Station and then take the Matsumae Bus for about 1.5 hours to get there. Matsumae Castle is most famous for its cherry blossoms. Many types of cherry blossoms are planted within the territory. We visited Matsumae in July. Although it was already past the cherry blossom season, it coincided with the hydrangea season and was quite beautiful.

#Sapporo Attractions Matsumae Castle was built in the 17th century and is a representative cultural heritage of the area. The castle architecture combines traditional Japanese architectural techniques with samurai culture, presenting a unique Japanese castle style. The towering city gate tower, the tiled roof with flying eaves and upturned corners, etc., present a magnificent visual effect. The gardens surrounding the castle are equally beautiful. The wide lawns, ponds and pavilions, decorated with various landscape plants such as cherry blossoms and maple leaves, form a magnificent castle park. Visitors can stroll here and appreciate the unique charm of Japan's gardening culture.

Matsumae Castle is a famous historical site located in Hokkaido, Japan. With its majestic scale and unique architectural style, it is known as the "Edo Castle Town in the North". The most attractive thing is the solid and majestic city buildings here. The interior of Matsumae Castle is surrounded by multiple walls, with battlements and towers towering into the clouds, and the outer perimeter is surrounded by a double moat for deep defense. The entire city covers a vast area and has extraordinary momentum, fully demonstrating the scale of the city's defensive fortifications in the Edo period. The uniqueness of Matsumae Castle lies in the fact that it has preserved its original appearance from hundreds of years ago. All the buildings in the city are simple and solid Japanese wooden structures, such as samurai residences, warehouses, pedestrian walkways, etc., and are rarely affected by modern reconstruction. The old streets coexist in the city, with winding paths leading to secluded places, and the original historical features of the Japanese castle town style can be seen everywhere. Matsumae Castle witnessed the most glorious era in the history of Hokkaido. Today, it has become the most precious cultural treasure of this coastal area, attracting countless tourists to come and admire the century-old splendor of this magnificent building. #Japan and Korea Springtime Destinations

#thingstodo It was a restored castle. There was an episode written about an unlucky castle lord. Was it restored as a way to revitalize the town at that time? I thought. The view from the upper floors looked good, but the windows were foggy and there was something like a fence on the lattice, which was a shame as it blocked the view. I think the view on the Sea of Japan side is nice, so I hope it will be improved. Since it's close to the sea, I felt that the reinforcing bars were rusty in some places, indicating that they hadn't been maintained

#thingstodo Was there during autumn. The changing of the autumn leaves was beautiful but I bet in spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom it would’ve been even better. If you’re visiting during the cherry blossom season, do check out the cherry blossom park, it has more than 10 species of cherry blossoms 😍 the selling point for me was the scenic environment, the museum was just so so.

\\Tourist Spots// This roadside station is located in Matsumae Town, the southernmost town in Hokkaido, near Matsumae Castle, one of Japan's 100 famous castles. It opened in 2009 and you can purchase Matsumae's specialty products. It is popular as a scenic spot, offering views of the Tsugaru Strait and the Tsugaru Peninsula, including Cape Tappi on the opposite shore, and Mt. Iwaki. It is also recommended for history buffs, as it is home to the Japanese Heritage site Fukuyama Wharf, where actual ships docked. Facility Name: Roadside Station Kitamaebune Matsumae #HokkaidoTourism#777 #StunningView #CoupleTrip #GourmetTrip #Japan #HokkaidoRoadsideStation #HokkaidoTrip #Matsumae

\\Tourist Spots// This is an observation plaza near Cape Shirakami, the southernmost cape in Hokkaido. It is about 20 kilometers from Cape Tappi in Honshu, and on a clear day you can see the impressive Cape Tappi right in front of you. It is also famous for its raging waves. The observation plaza only has restrooms, but it has a spectacular view, so be sure to stop by when sightseeing in the Matsumae area. Facility Name: Cape Shirakami Observation Plaza Address: Matsumae-cho, Matsumae-gun Number of Parking Spaces: 10 Parking Space: Free #HokkaidoTourism#Matsumae #CapeShirakami #777 #SpectacularView #CoupleTrip #GirlsTrip #GirlsTrip #Japan #HokkaidoTrip

Matsumae Park in Hokkaido Matsumae Park is located in Matsumae Town, about a two-hour drive from Hakodate. The park, Matsumae Castle, temples, and more are scattered across the very large grounds. We went there during the cherry blossom festival, and there were food stalls set up, including seafood stalls from Hokkaido, such as grilled squid. There are many varieties of cherry blossoms, so you can enjoy them for a long period of time, from early to late blooming. #sakura #hotelroyalpark

In the middle of May, in order to follow the tail of the cherry blossoms, when the cherry blossoms in Hakodate of Hokkaido were almost absent, the sister at the hotel said that Matsumae Castle should still be there. Due to the lateness of the time, there is no more bus service for the flower viewing. You can only take the train to the JR Mugu Nei Station in Hakodate, and it takes more than 2 hours to get to the bus at the door. The weather is not good, the flowers are blown out of the cherry blossoms on a cloudy day. Matsumae Castle is also a cherry blossom garden in Hokkaido. The park introduces a 220,000-square-meter Matsumae Park and plantes about 250 species of 10,000 cherry trees. Due to the different flowering time of different species of cherry blossoms, the cherry blossom period of Matsumae Castle is from late April to late April. It will last for one month in late May. So if Hokkaido doesn't see cherry blossoms at all, it's okay to come to this fight.