On May 3rd, the Park Greenery Division, which manages the cherry blossoms in Hirosaki Park, collects scattered cherry blossom petals in a moat and re-challeges the "Hanakada" floating on the surface of the water.

This year's cherry blossoms bloomed earlier than usual, and we held a "quasi-sakura festival" during which the cherry blossom festival was ahead of schedule. The earliest in full bloom was Yoshino Somei in the outer moat, April 22, the day before the Sakura Festival. On the same 24th, Yoshino cherry trees in all areas of the park reached the peak of their best time, and it was in full bloom since 2009.

The flower raft is one of the charms of the cherry blossoms in the garden, and scattered petals of cherry blossoms float across the moat, and are often compared to the “carpets of cherry blossoms” and “pink soup”, and are attracting attention every year. The weather may not be seen in some years, and the timing is short, so there are few opportunities for local people to meet. This year's flower raft peaked from April 27th to the morning of April 28th, and it was in full bloom due to rain on the afternoon of April 28th.

According to Makiko Hashiba of the Park and Greenery Division, the water in the moat is stopped in order to make flower rafts, but the petals will turn soil after 3 days, so the sluices will be opened and the flower rafts will be flushed with the water. It started draining on May 1st this year, but the water was stopped once in the morning of the 2nd.

Regarding the reason for stopping the water, "Because it was in full bloom this year, the low temperature continued, and the timing of dispersion is extended, and there is a difference in the timing of dispersion along the road in the outer moat and cherry blossoms on the earthwork side. Most of the cherry blossoms have already shattered, but the cherry blossoms on the earthwork side can still scatter, and maybe again, we can show the whole flower raft with the petals of the cherry blossoms that have not shattered yet."

There are varieties such as "Yaebenishidare" and "Sano Sakura" that are in full bloom in the park now, and the best time to see them still continues. Mr. Hashiba is enthusiastic, saying, "There are many flower spectators who are looking forward to the flower raft, so I would like to try it again during Golden Week."

Sakura Festival is until May 5th.