Hakodate Goryokaku Park Cherry Blossom Festival:Enjoy Genghis Khan under the Cherry Blossoms

[Last Updated: February 2025]

Hakodate’s most famous spot for cherry blossom viewing (hanami) is Goryokaku Park. During the cherry blossom season, you can enjoy stunning views of the star-shaped Goryokaku Fort, surrounded by over 1,500 cherry trees, from the top of Goryokaku Tower. Alternatively, you can stroll around the moat and take in the beautiful cherry blossom scenery. Both experiences are truly breathtaking. In addition to the stunning blossoms, locals also enjoy “Genghis Khan” (grilled lamb barbecue) during this time. Under designated cherry trees, you can savor Genghis Khan and BBQ, a unique attraction of sakura season. Let’s take a look at some must-see spots for cherry blossom viewing in Goryokaku Park

Take a Walk Along the Moat Bank

If you enter the inner castle from the right side of the park’s main gate, you will find many stairs leading up to the moat bank (high wall), so be sure to climb them! Taking a leisurely walk along the bank allows you to view the cherry blossoms from a slightly higher ground letting you enjoy their beauty from a different angle. The sight of the cherry blossoms in full bloom spreading across the landscape is like a sea of sakura​​, creating a fantastical, dreamlike atmosphere, as if you have wandered into a paradise.。

Stroll Around the Star-Shaped Moat

There is a 1,800-meter promenade around the perimeter of the moat at Goryokaku Park, where you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at your leisure. It is also a great way to spend time by finding your favorite spot, spreading a blanket under the cherry blossoms with friends, and enjoying a picnic.。

Hakodate Magistrate’s Office

In the center of Goryokaku stands a restored Hakodate Magistrate’s Office, which was built here at the end of the Edo period. You can tour the interior and learn more about its history (an admission fee is required). Most of the cherry trees in Goryokaku Park are Somei-Yoshino, but there are also weeping and mountain cherry trees planted around the Hakodate Magistrate’s Office. Since weeping cherry trees bloom later, you can enjoy their beautiful cherry blossoms even after the Somei-Yoshino trees have finished blooming.

Genghis Khan Under the Cherry Blossoms

In Hokkaido, it is tradition to enjoy Genghis Khan under the cherry blossoms. The aroma of grilled lamb fills the air as you watch the blossoms, making it a seasonal experience that enhances the joy of spring!

While following fire safety rules in the designated area, both locals and tourists can enjoy this unique Genghis Khan experience, available only during the cherry blossom season.

A restaurant near Goryokaku Tower offers a “Hanami Genghis Khan Set” allowing you to savor this dish while taking in the cherry blossoms (reservations required). It’s the perfect way to enjoy a luxurious Genghis Khan meal under the cherry blossoms without any preparation – just bring yourself and your appetite!

※Due to regulations set by Hakodate City, this service is only available during the period when the cherry blossom illuminations are installed at Goryokaku Park.

Below is the menu of the “Hanami Genghis Khan Set” for 2024. For the 2025 season, please refer to the latest information provided by the restaurant.

• Price: 3,000 yen/person
• Includes: Portable stove, disposable BBQ plates, and disposable utensils (sauce dish, chopsticks, paper towels)
• Ingredients: 300 grams of premium lamb, 5 types of vegetables (bean sprouts, cabbage, eggplant, green peppers, onions), and sauce
• Available Reservation Times
  • Date: April 22nd to May 7th, 2024
  • Lunch Hours: 11:00-15:00
  • Dinner Hours: 17:00-21:00
• For Reservations (Phone Reservation Only)
  • Phone: 090-6694-7500
  • Phone Reception Hours
    • Before the event: 9:00-18:00
    • During the event: 8:00-20:00
• Official Website (Japanese only)

Climb Goryokaku Tower and View the Pink Pentagon

Goryokaku Tower was built to offer a panoramic view of the Goryokaku ruins, a special national historic site. After purchasing a ticket, you can take an elevator directly to the observation deck, located about 90 meters above the ground, where you can enjoy the surrounding scenery through 360-degree glass windows. Especially during cherry blossom season, the star-shaped Goryokaku is enveloped in soft pink blossoms, creating a magical and beautiful sight, allowing you to enjoy a special view that can only be enjoyed at this time of year. From the observation deck, you can look down the historic Hakodate Magistrate’s Office at the center of Goryokaku. You can also enjoy the sight of people strolling through the park or rowing boats in the moat, experiencing the charm of each season throughout the year. During the cherry blossom season, the observation deck offers limited-edition sakura-flavored soft serve ice cream and other special menu items featuring cherry blossoms. Savoring the taste of cherry blossoms while surrounded by blooming trees is perfect way to celebrate the arrival of spring with all your senses, filling your heart with the joy of the season!

• Official website：Goryokaku Tower (English)

Goryokaku Tower’s Atrium and Limited-Time Cherry Blossom Corner

The atrium on the first floor of Goryokaku Tower is a spacious open area with large glass windows and a high ceiling. It provides a great opportunity to enjoy the cherry blossoms in the park while staying comfortably indoors. During the cherry blossom season, in addition to sakura-flavored soft serve ice cream, a variety of limited-edition products are available for purchase. You will find a range of sakura-themed items, including cookies, drinks, straps, hand creams, and face masks. Perfect as souvenirs or for personal use, these items will make your travel memories even more special.

Cherry Blossom Viewing on a Rowboat

At Goryokaku Park, you can rent a rowboat and leisurely paddle around the moat (about 1.5 kilometers) for 30 to 40 minutes. As you drift along the moat, you can enjoy a relaxing time watching the cherry blossoms reflected on the water’s surface. Moving at your own pace, you will be able to view the blossoms from a different perspective, making it a truly special experience.

Cherry Blossom Snowstorm and Flower Rafts

As the cherry blossom season comes to a close, the cherry blossom snowstorm and flower rafts become breathtaking sights not to be missed. About a week after the cherry blossoms reach full bloom, the petals begin to fall, creating a mesmerizing cherry blossom snowstorm. This beautiful sight is one of the highlights of cherry blossom viewing and marks the end of spring. You can enjoy a leisurely picnic on the carpet of fallen petals while taking in the stunning scenery. During the cherry blossom storm, the falling petals color the moat of Goryokaku pink, creating a spectacle of “flower rafts” floating on the water. It is a dreamlike beauty, a fantastical moment that evokes a sense of melancholy as the cherry blossom season draws to a close. During this time, you can also enjoy a relaxing rowboat ride through the flower-covered water.

Romantic Cherry Blossoms at Night

During cherry blossom season, Goryokaku Tower is beautifully illuminated with lights at night, and small lanterns are hung in the cherry trees. The glowing tower and the cherry blossoms create a stunning combination, setting a romantic atmosphere perfect for an evening stroll. The scene offers a fantastical view that feels distinctly different from the daytime. The cherry blossoms at night are reflected on the surface of the moat, creating a mysterious and beautiful landscape.

Lastly

Goryokaku is a historic site from the final days of the Japanese shogunate and has served as the backdrop for numerous movies, TV dramas, and manga. The film “Detective Conan: The Million Dollar Goryokaku Star,” which was released in multiple countries last year, featured Goryokaku Park during the cherry blossom season. The best time to see the cherry blossoms at Goryokaku Park is usually from late April to mid-May. Be sure to visit Hakodate to experience the most beautiful cherry blossom scenery of spring

• Flowering date: April 18, 2024
• Full bloom date: April 23, 2024

※For the latest information on cherry blossom viewing and any restrictions for 2025 (such as lighting, fire usage, drinking, picnics, eating while walking, etc.), please check updated details.

※Please be aware that there may be traffic congestion around Goryokaku Park（details/Japanese).