Spring in Oita: Cherry Blossoms in Castle Towns and Scenic Spots

In Oita Prefecture, blessed with a warm climate, when spring comes cherry blossoms bloom in profusion at castle ruins, gorges, and along rivers, splendidly coloring the Kyushu spring. Spots where you can enjoy cherry-blossom viewing combined with history and hot springs—such as the famous mountain castle Oka Castle Ruins, Beppu Park, and around Nagayu Onsen—are dotted across the prefecture. Being able to savor the atmosphere of a castle town and the warmth of famous hot springs along with the cherry blossoms while touring the famous spots is the spring way of enjoying it unique to Oita. A variety of famous cherry-blossom spots herald the arrival of spring.

A Spring Colored by Hot Springs and History

Oita, known as the "Onsen Prefecture," holds some of the nation's foremost hot-spring areas, beginning with Beppu and Yufuin. When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom around these hot-spring areas too, and being able to enjoy bathing and cherry-blossom viewing at once is a great charm. Also, at the sites of castles and castle towns once placed in various areas, cherry trees were planted, becoming famous spots where historic scenery and flowers harmonize. Famous cherry-blossom spots are also dotted along mountain gorges and rivers, each showing a different atmosphere. Oita's charms of hot springs, history, and nature are set off all the more in the cherry-blossom season.

The Cherry Blossoms of Oka Castle Ruins and Beppu Park

One of Oita's representative famous cherry-blossom spots is the Oka Castle Ruins in Taketa City. It is a magnificent mountain-castle ruin where stone walls stretch in a row atop a cliff, said to have become the motif of Taki Rentaro's famous song "Kojo no Tsuki." In spring, cherry blossoms color the castle ruins, and a superb view woven by the stone walls, flowers, and the scenery below spreads. Meanwhile, Beppu Park in Beppu City is a vast park beloved as a place of relaxation for citizens, where many cherry trees such as Somei-Yoshino bloom, letting you enjoy cherry-blossom viewing combined with hot-spring sightseeing. Furthermore, spots where you can relish cherry blossoms and famous hot waters in a hot-spring village, such as around Nagayu Onsen, are not to be missed.

Best Season and Access

The cherry-blossom viewing period is generally spring, and since the timing varies somewhat by place, checking the blooming information of each spot before visiting is reassuring. Access differs by destination; the Oka Castle Ruins can be accessed from "Bungo-Taketa Station" on the JR Hohi Main Line, and Beppu Park from JR "Beppu Station." Using a car lets you tour multiple famous spots efficiently. A spring trip staying at a hot-spring area and enjoying bathing and cherry-blossom viewing together is also recommended. In warm Oita, relish the cherry blossoms of castle towns and hot-spring resorts to your heart's content.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Peak bloom and best season: For the ruins of Oka Castle, the officially recommended time to visit is late March to early April. The timing shifts from year to year, so check blossom forecasts in advance.
• Event period / illumination: The Oka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival is held every April at the ruins of Oka Castle, featuring a feudal lord's procession and a parade of warriors in armour. The dates differ from year to year, so please check the official announcements.
• Admission: Admission to the ruins of Oka Castle is 300 yen for high school students and above and 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students (200 yen and 100 yen respectively for groups of 20 or more). The annual free pass, the Oka Castle Annual Lord Passport, costs 3,000 yen for high school students and above and 1,500 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Payment is accepted by cash as well as credit card, transport IC card and QR code payment.
• Access: For the ruins of Oka Castle, use Bungo-Taketa Station on the JR Hohi Main Line. For Beppu Park, use JR Beppu Station. A car is convenient if you plan to visit several sights.
• Parking: The ruins of Oka Castle offer free parking for 140 general vehicles and 9 buses (no reservation required). Private cars cannot be driven into the castle grounds. There are toilets at three locations: the car park (with a multipurpose toilet), the visitor facility at the ruins of the Ninomaru (with a multipurpose toilet), and the ruins of the Makanaikata kitchen quarters.
• Winter closures and road closures: Admission to the ruins of Oka Castle is accepted 9:00-17:00. The site is closed from 31 December to 3 January.
• Clothing and equipment: The ruins of Oka Castle are those of an early Edo-period mountain castle, with a continuous succession of slopes and steps, including the climb to the main gate and the steep stone stairways from the Sannomaru to the Honmaru. Comfortable, non-slip walking shoes are essential, and there are few lifts or handrails.

Note: There are no fences along the tops of the stone walls at the ruins of Oka Castle. Going near the edge of the walls and peering down is extremely dangerous, and falls have actually occurred. The stone steps and slopes become particularly slippery on rainy days and the day after. Also watch your footing so as not to trip on stones, tree stumps, roots or dips in the ground.

Note: Smoking is prohibited within the historic site (there is a smoking area beside the rest area at the car park), open flames are prohibited, rubbish must be taken home, and capturing or collecting plants and animals, or taking away roof tiles and other items, is forbidden. Take care of pit vipers (mamushi) and wasps as well. The historic site also includes areas of private land.

(Sources: official website of the ruins of Oka Castle, National Historic Site, pages Access Information / Opening Information and The Four Seasons of Oka Castle, https://okajou.jp/ / confirmed on 29 July 2026)