Motobu Mt. Yae Cherry Blossom Festival (late Jan. to early Feb.)

Each year Motobu Yaedake Sakura Festival and Nago Cherry blossom festival start the Japanese Sakura season with the earliest blossoms of the year. While the rest of Japan has to wait until April, May, or even later in the year in Northern Japan the people of Motobu are partying away for two weeks in January and February.

The festivities at the Motobu Yaedake Sakura Festival start off on a Saturday with the crowning of Miss Sakura, the Motobu Junior High School brass band plays and townspeople of Motobu Okinawa fill the street to dance dance dance. Events on the following Sunday begin with a tug-of-war, a kids show and traditional taiko drumming. Most of the events are at Yaedake Forest Cherry Blossom Park.

Besides the more formal events the whole road from top to bottom of Mt. Yae is lined with pink blossoming cherry trees, and lanterns are lit up in the trees at night. Many people just lay out a tarp or blanket and have a picnic with friends or family under the short lived flowers. At the top of Mt Yae there is a good view of Motobu town looking like it is covered in a pink blanket you can also see Ie, Sesoko and Mina Islands in the distance.

From Naha Airport: Approx. 150 min. by car (via highway)
From Okinawa Expressway Kyoda I.C: Approx. 40 min. by car (via highway)
From nearest bus stop Yaedake Iriguchi: Approx. 5 min. on foot
(Stop for line: 70, 76)
Parking：Available (Free)

Name of venue: Sakura-no-Mori Park, Mount Yae (Motobu Town)
Address: 921 Namisato, Motobu Town, Okinawa
Phone: 0980-47-2700