Sakura is a city in the Chiba prefecture known for its large history museum and yearly tulip festival. Due to its train connections, it serves as a bedroom community for Chiba, Tokyo and Narita Airport. Due to its long history it hosts some interesting buildings and also an unusual connection with the Netherlands.
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Understand
In 2020, it was home to 174,000 people.
The name Sakura has no relation to cherry blossoms since its written with completely unrelated Kanjis. Still, the association is prevalent.
Get in
There are 2 train stations and lines.
- Keisei-Sakura Sta..
- Sakura Sta.. Making Sakura easy to access by train from Tokyo, Ueno, Chiba, Sanmu, and Narita or Narita International Airport.
Get around
The town is small enough to walk. During the Tulip festival there are cheap local buses that take you from the train stations to Furusato Square, or via walking down Kashima River. It is where the tulip and windmills are located.
See
Both train stations have tourism offices that can give you any information regarding what's available to visit. Sometimes they might handout free tickets and discounts.
- National Museum of Japanese history (Rekihaku). March - September 09:00-17:00, October - February 09:30-16:30. A very large museum that focuses on history, archaeology, and folk culture of Japan. Takes several hours to visit properly.
Temporary exhibits might have an extra cost. ¥600 2020-12-04 - Furusato Square, 35.74057°, 140.20092°. Tu-Su 10:00-16:00. Park with a Dutch windmill. Home to the yearly tulip festival in April. Special events also in July and October. Free 2020-12-04
- Sakura Castle (佐倉城). Very dilapidated ruins with nice view of the city and in a very nice park. 2020-12-04
- Seven samurai houses, 35.7181740°, 140.2276600°, +81 43-486-2947. Tu-Su 09:00-17:00. Original samurai houses in Japan. ¥210 2020-12-04
- Former Residence of Lord Hotta, 274 Kaburagimachi, 35.713493°, 140.235723°, +81 43-483-2390. Tu-Su 09:30-16:30. Residence of Hotta Masatomo, the last lord of the Sakura Domain. Very well preserved. ¥320 2020-12-04
- Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art, 631 Sakado, +81 50-5541-8600. World-class museum with more than 1000 works collected by the Japanese resin and ink manufacturer DIC Corporation. 2020-12-04
Do
Buy
Eat
- Sadaf, 602-32 Yoshimi. An Iranian restaurant west of Sakura. 2021-02-08
Drink
Sleep
Not many options here. Most visitors will either stay in Narita or Chiba.