Ozekiyama Park: Spectacular Springtime Cherry Blossoms, Fall Foliage, and Views of Miyoshi|Miyoshi Association of Tourism and Town Development Official Website

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Ozekiyama Park: Spectacular Springtime Cherry Blossoms, Fall Foliage, and Views of Miyoshi

Ozekiyama Park: Spectacular Springtime Cherry Blossoms, Fall Foliage, and Views of Miyoshi

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Rising high above the city, this hillside park overlooks the streets of downtown Miyoshi and the rivers that flow through it, with a park path cutting through grassy slopes to reach the observation platform at the peak. Ozekiyama Park has been a popular place for the people of Miyoshi at least as far back as the Edo period (1603-1868), when a local feudal lord built a castle at the summit and supposedly gave Ozekiyama its name. Nowadays people still flock to the park, particularly in spring and fall, to watch the seasons change and the cherry blossoms come into bloom.

Cherry blossoms are a symbol of Japan, and Ozekiyama Park is one of the best places to see them in all of Hiroshima Prefecture! Every spring, when the flowers are in full bloom, people arrive at the park from locations far and wide to stretch out on a picnic blanket (or a plastic “blue sheet”) under the trees, and enjoy the Japanese tradition of cherry blossom viewing.

Ozekiyama Park’s hilltop observation deck offers a great view of the city throughout the year, and the busy streets below seem a world away. In the early 1600s, the spot was used to search for other worlds as well, when Miyoshi’s feudal lord Asano Nagaharu built his astronomical observatory at the top of the hill, and spent his time in Ozekiyama Park gazing up at the stars. During cherry blossom season, the flowers on the trees below paint the hillside pink, and the beautiful contrast with the blue-green water of the Gonokawa River makes it an especially busy time up on the park’s observation deck.

The park gets particularly crowded twice a year, in spring and also in fall, and during those seasons Ozekiyama is lit up well past sunset! Cherry blossom viewers can enjoy the cool night air as they admire the delicate petals lit from below, and when autumn comes, the lights are turned instead to the colorful changing leaves, bringing a cozy glow to the park. Ozekiyama Park’s fall foliage turns into a gorgeous mosaic of reds and yellows every year, and plenty of visitors turn up to see the gorgeous foliage both during the day and when it’s all lit up at night.

No matter the season, Ozekiyama Park is a lovely little green oasis just a few minutes away from many of Miyoshi’s most popular sightseeing destinations, including the Miyoshi Mononoke Museum. For a bite to eat or a refreshing drink, there’s also a little cafe in the park that specializes in Hawaiian food! Finally, before leaving, keep an eye out for the statue of Japanese poet Kenkichi Nakamura and show your appreciation for the famous verses he wrote describing the cherry blossoms in Ozekiyama Park, and the river water flowing below.

Information

Title Ozekiyama Park (尾関山公園)
Address 439-3 Nakasho, Miyoshimachi, Miyoshi
Hours 0824-63-9268