10 Best Events in Japan in March 2023

List of Seasonal Events in Japan in March

march japan

March is the month when Winter is over and Spring begins. Outdoor events will start to increase, especially due to the many types of flowers that will be in blooming season. Needless to say, Many visitors from around the world will visit Japan in March to get to see the Cherry blossoms.

Besides the Cherry blossoms, there are the Plum blossoms that occur a few weeks before the cherry blossoms. March is the month when you get to see both of these blossoms, and you will see many events related to this all across the country. From Hanami events to Sakura-related merchandise and restaurant menus. It is a month when you will see a lot of the color pink.

Also, in Japan, March is the month of “goodbyes and new encounters”. This is said because the school year ends in March; in other words, it is graduation season. It is sad to say goodbye, but it is also a season of hope and new challenges.

When it comes to events, Hinamatsuri (ひな祭り) which is “Girl’s day” takes place on the 3rd, and Shunbun no Hi (春分の日) which is the “Vernal Equinox Day” in Japan takes place on the 21st.

In this article, I will share with you our picks for the 10 best events in Japan in March 2023. I’m including events from different genres as well as locations.


1. Flower Garden 2023 at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

Yokohama flower garden 23
Copyright © YOKOHAMA AKARENGA.

A flower garden will appear in the middle of the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse for you to walk around and enjoy the flowers. A Marche workshop will be taking place as well.

Genre: Flower garden
Location: Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (Kanagawa)
Dates: March 31 to April 23, 2023
Website: https://www.yokohama-akarenga.jp/brickjournal/detail/77

2. Sankeien Garden Cherry Blossoms

Sankeien Sakura

Enjou the view of the over 250 cherry blossoms of several different species accompanied by the 17 historical structures. You can enjoy these views during daytime or nighttime with illumination.

Genre: Cherry Blossoms
Location: Yokohama Sankeien Garden (Kanagawa)
Dates: March 25 to April 4, 2023
Website: https://www.sankeien.or.jp/en/

3. Osaka Expo Park Plum blossoms Festival

Osaka Expo Park Plum blossoms Festival
Copyright (C) 2014 大阪府日本万国博覧会記念公園事務所

In the Natural and Cultural Garden, there are over 600 trees of 120 different species, and in the Japanese garden, there are over 80 trees of 40 different species.

Genre: Plum Blossoms
Location: Osaka Expo Park (Osaka)
Dates: February 11 to March 12, 2023
Website: https://www.expo70-park.jp/event/56478/

4. Nijo Castle Cherry Blossom Light-Up by NAKED 2023

naked flowers 23
©2023 naked inc.

An interactive art exhibition with a floral motif held at Nijo Castle annually. This is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto.

Genre: Cherry blossoms, illumination
Location: Nijo Castle (Kyoto)
Dates: March 17 to April 15, 2023
Website: https://flowers.naked.works/nijojo/#

For more information about this event, check out the following article!

5. Huis Ten Bosch “1 Million Tulips Blooming”

1 Million Tulips Blooming
Copyright © HUIS TEN BOSCH Co.,Ltd.

Enjoy the spectacular view of over 1,000,000 tulip flowers blooming across Japan’s most spacious theme park, Huis Ten Bosch.

Genre: Tulip Blooming
Location: Huis Ten Bosch (Nagasaki)
Dates: February 25 to April 9, 2023
Website: https://english.huistenbosch.co.jp/event/spring/tulip/

6. Omizutori

Omizutori

A Japanese traditional annual event at Todaiji Temple in Nara Prefecture. It’s the oldest event in Japan which has been held since 752 for over 1250 years.

Genre: Temple Festival
Location: Todaiji Temple (Nara)
Dates: March 1 to 14
Website: https://www.todaiji.or.jp/en/annual/event/shunie/

For more information about this event, check out the following article!

7. Sumo Spring Basho

Copyright © Nihon Sumo Kyokai all rights reserved.

One of the six major Sumo wrestling tournaments held in EDION Arena Osaka (Osaka Prefecture Gymnasium). Don’t miss this completely unique experience if you have a chance.

Genre: Sumo Wrestling
Location: Edion Arena Osaka (Osaka)
Dates: March 12 to 26, 2023
Website: https://www.sumo.or.jp/En/

Here’s more information about watching Sumo in Japan.

8. Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro

Higashiyama Hanatouro

Hanatoro (花灯路) literally means “Flower and Light Road”, and is a 10-day-long illumination that takes place in Kyoto’s Higashiyama area.

Genre: Illumination
Location: Higashiyama city (Kyoto)
Dates: Early to mid-March, 2023

9. Inabe Plum Festival

inabe plum festival

Inabe Plum Grove (いなべ梅林) is located within the Agriculture Park in Inabe city, Mie prefecture. The park is well known as one of the best spots to view plum blossoms in Japan.

Genre: Plum Blossoms
Location: Inabe Plum Grove (Mie)
Dates: February 23 to March 21, 2023
Website: http://www.inabe-nougyoukouen.com/

For more information about this event, check out the following article!

10. Tsunan Snow Festival

Tsunan Snow Festival 2023

Tsunan Snow Festival is a traditional winter festival held annually in Niigata Prefecture. The event features snow lanterns, snow domes called Kamakura, a snowboard straight jump competition, fireworks, and more!

Genre: Snow Festival
Location: Tsunan city (Niigata)
Dates: March 10 and 11, 2023
Website: https://snowfes.info/

For more information about this event, check out the following article!


In addition to those seasonal events, there are more things to do in Japan in March. Check more details in these articles below.

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