At the end of March 2025, cherry blossoms began to bloom in various parts of Kurashiki City, heralding the arrival of spring.
Along with the arrival of spring, the 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival was held at Shimotsui Castle Ruins (Seto-Ohashi Bridge Commemorative Park) in Kojima, Kurashiki City.
The event was packed with activities, including spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea, a stamp rally, and local gourmet food.
Here, we share special moments unique to spring, along with photos.
The information provided was current when this article was published in April 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival?
The 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival (hereafter, “the Cherry Blossom Festival”) is an event organized by the Shimotsui Association. It was held on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at Shimotsui Castle Ruins (Seto-Ohashi Bridge Commemorative Park).
Shimotsui Castle Ruins is a scenic spot on a hill 89 meters above sea level, offering views across the Seto Inland Sea. In spring, around 300 cherry trees burst into bloom, making it a popular local hanami spot known to those in the know.
The day of the festival
On the day of the Cherry Blossom Festival, the venue's parking lot was unavailable, so we took the shuttle bus.
We drove to Kojima Station and parked in a temporary lot set up nearby.
We boarded the shuttle bus at Kojima Station. Fares applied from elementary school age, and a one-way trip cost 100 yen.
After about 15 minutes, we arrived at the venue, Shimotsui Castle Ruins.
The first thing that caught our eye was a banner reading “Cherry Blossom Festival.” Its pale pink design felt very springlike.
Spectacular views × cherry blossoms × castle ruins! A stamp walk rally packed with highlights
We took part in a stamp rally around Shimotsui Castle Ruins.
There were six stamp stations in total. We set off, ready for the challenge.
We made our way along a nature-filled mountain path, feeling like we were on an adventure.
This is the site of the main keep. A workshop was being held there.
In the same clearing, there was another area called the “World Games Area,” where visitors could freely enjoy the following three games.
- Ring toss (Japan)
- Cornhole (United States)
- Molkky (Finland)
It was striking to see everyone, from toddlers just learning to walk to older visitors, having fun together across generations.
Beyond the main keep site were the second and third baileys.
The view opened up all at once, revealing a spectacular panorama of the Seto Inland Sea.
Simply gazing at the calm sea was soothing.
Each stamp station had a panel explaining the history and highlights of the site. Reading the explanations and imagining what it was like in the past gave us a sense of the romance of history.
Depending on the location, the cherry blossoms were perhaps 20 to 40 percent in bloom. They looked likely to be in full bloom in a few days.
There is something charming about admiring the first blossoms, too.
We heard some participants say, “Let's come back next week to see how the cherry blossoms are doing.”
We took our time and enjoyed the walk; the stamp rally took about 30 to 40 minutes. After collecting all six stamps, you could enter a drawing to win great prizes, such as meal vouchers and food from local shops.
The grand prize was none other than octopus caught in Shimotsui.
We were told that the winner would be sent fresh octopus as soon as it was caught.
Enjoying Shimotsui's local food
After all that walking, we were starving. We headed to the food stalls to grab a bite.
The delicious aromas wafting from every direction—from snacks and rice dishes to sweets—whetted our appetites.
Alongside festival favorites such as yakisoba and fried chicken, the stalls offered dishes made with local specialties.
Since it was a good opportunity, I wanted to try something associated with Shimotsui, so I bought octopus rice and octopus fried rice. I shared them with my family.
The rice had absorbed the octopus's savory flavor, and every bite was delicious. It had a gentle, nostalgic taste.
Next up was octopus fried rice. The plump octopus made a great accent, and we couldn't stop eating.
Eating a meal while looking at the cherry blossoms under a beautiful blue sky made it taste especially delicious.
Making Keychains and the First Unveiling of “THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI” at the Shimotsui Promotion Booth
At the Shimotsui Promotion Booth just inside the venue entrance, I joined a workshop with the children.
The keychains are made from scrap wood that was used on boats in Shimotsui.
This product was created as a result of a university student's graduation thesis, and is apparently one of the initiatives aimed at revitalizing the Shimotsui community.
They were absorbed in making their keychains, with parents helping with the difficult parts and staff members lending a hand.
Here is the finished product. Its distinctive, round eyes give it a charming face.
It's amazing that scrap wood that would normally have served its purpose and been thrown away can be transformed into such a lovely item.
Next to the workshop, goods from the brand “THINK GOOD SHIMOTSUI” were also on sale.
A portion of the proceeds will be used for environmental conservation, fisheries, and community revitalization in Shimotsui.
To show my support, I bought a tatami-edge coin purse.
From the Writer
As someone from Kojima, Shimotsui has always been a familiar area to me.
However, taking part in this cherry blossom festival led to new discoveries, including finding shops I hadn't known about and learning about community revitalization initiatives.
The charms of Shimotsui that I experienced through this festival are surely just a small part of what it has to offer. This town seems to have many wonderful places and encounters yet to be discovered.
I hope to take a leisurely stroll on an ordinary day off and experience even more of Shimotsui's charms.
2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival Information
| Name | 2nd Shimotsui Castle Ruins Cherry Blossom Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, March 30, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Location | Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | Official Instagram of Shimotsui o Kangaeru Kai |
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