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All About Sakura Tulip Festa 2024

Event Information

Event
Sakura Tulip Festa
Date
March 27 to April 21, 2024 (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
Venue
Sakura Furusato Square (Sakura City, Chiba)
Entrance fee
Free

Ask anyone what springtime in Japan means to them, and they’ll probably mention the sakura (cherry blossoms). People travel from around the world to see the sakura trees come alive with light pink blossoms and watch their delicate petals blanket the ground.

Although the sakura season marks the true beginning of spring in Japan, there are plenty of other flower varieties to be admired here. The Sakura Tulip Festa (late March to early April) is one of the many flower festivals where you can enjoy the beautiful flora of Japan.

Its name, though, is a bit of a misnomer; rather than sakura trees, you’ll find some of Japan’s most beautiful tulip fields as far as the eye can see. During the festival period, the entire area blooms with over 650,000 colorful tulip flowers of more than 70 varieties.

Here’s our guide to everything you need to know about the Sakura Tulip Festa.

 

1. How to get to the Festa

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The Sakura Tulip Festa is located in Sakura City, Chiba. Just a short ride away from Narita International Airport, it’s also an easy day trip to take from Tokyo.

If you’re coming from Tokyo, head to Ueno Keisei Station to hop on the Keisei Line. Expect an hour-long journey on the train, and then once you hop off at Keisei-Sakura Station, take a taxi, the Sakura City community bus, or — if you’re up for it — a 40-minute stroll to the venue. And if you choose to drive to the venue, parking will run you 1,000 JPY.

 

2. What to expect

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Luckily, entry to the Festa is free, so there’s no need to buy tickets in advance, but know that weekends will be far more crowded than weekdays.

Once you arrive, you'll find that there's much more than just walking around the tulip fields. True to its name, this venue is certainly a full-on festival. Wander around the Sakura Furusato Square to shop at the farmers' market for local souvenirs, desserts, baked goods, and produce. Or if you're hungry, grab some lunch from street vendors selling takoyaki octopus poppers or yakisoba stir-fried noodles.

If you're interested in bringing some beautiful flowers home, you can go to a designated field to pick your favorite tulips. Dig out the bulb and plant it at home to create your very own mini tulip field.

It’s also worth mentioning that if you go in summer, you’ll be surrounded by bright sunflowers; in autumn, beautiful cosmos.

 

3. History of the Festa

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Back in 1989, what was then called the “Holland Tulip Festival” was established in honor of the 380th anniversary of Japan’s relationship with the Netherlands. However, the festival’s name changed to what it is today: Sakura Tulip Festa. And in the last 30 years, it’s grown far bigger, making it one of the biggest flower festivals in the greater Kanto region.

You’ll see references to the Netherlands all around you at the Festa, starting with the enormous windmill that’s impossible to miss. The Dutch-style windmill “De Liefde” was built in 1994 as a landmark for Sakura Furusato Square. Though assembled in Sakura, the parts were created in the Netherlands to symbolize goodwill between the two countries. If you’re curious, you can explore the inside of the windmill to see firsthand how the wind-driven water pump works.

 

4. Lake Inbanuma

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If you get tired of tulips, there are some other special activities going on as a part of the Festa. Check out Lake Inbanuma, where you can hop on a sightseeing cruise to get great panoramic views of the festival grounds and even spot some wild birds if you’re lucky.

The lake runs parallel to the tulip farm and is actually the source of this developed wetland. The boat is adorned with Japanese lanterns and is a relaxing way to see some non-flower-related nature for about 40 minutes.

The boat takes off eight times a day on Saturdays and Sundays; if you’re interested, pick up a ticket priced at 1,000 JPY for adults and 500 JPY for children. If you’re feeling particularly active, you can also rent a bike to see the sights along the cycling paths around the lake.

 

5. Exploring Sakura City beyond the Festa

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If you want to explore Sakura City beyond the Festa, there are plenty of fascinating sites to check out. It’s a city with a rich history of samurai clans who lived and trained in the area.

Take a walk down Hiyodori-zaka Slope, the old samurai road that will lead you through a bamboo forest to some well-preserved samurai residences. These traditional gassho thatched-roof homes are where the samurai families of the Sakura Clan resided. Enter inside to see how they lived; there’s even samurai armor and other ancient artifacts on display!

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For something entirely different, check out the Sakura City Museum of Art. The beautiful building, originally built as a bank and used for City Hall until the 1990s, was renovated and preserved to look exactly as it did when it was originally built. With a red brick exterior and bronze relief on the roof, it’s not a traditional Japanese design but a reminder of the influence of international culture on Japan in the 1800s.