The annual light-up began on the night of April 1, 2025 at the east bank of Hachijo-ga-ike Pond in Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture, a famous cherry blossom spot in the Otokuni region of Kyoto Prefecture. The Somei-yoshino cherry trees that have just started to bloom stand out in the darkness, and visitors are enjoying the spring evening.
About 30 Somei-yoshino cherry trees are planted on the east bank, and when they are in full bloom, they create a tunnel of flowers. The light-up was organized by the Nagaokakyo City Tourism Association. This year, the flowers bloomed late, so the event started three days later than originally planned. According to the Nagaokakyo City Tourism Association, the flowers were about one-third in bloom as of April 1, and will be at their best by the weekend.
There are about 60 lights. Passersby stopped in front of the fully bloomed trees to admire them and take photos. 70 bamboo lanterns are lined up, illuminating the area with a rich atmosphere.
The light-up runs from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The end date will be decided based on the condition of the flowers. During the period, zenzai, amazake, bamboo shoot rice, tsukudani, and other dishes will be sold at the headquarters tent on Nakanojima Island in Hachijo-ga-ike.
