Sayamaike Park

Sayamaike Park is a park selected as one of Japan’s 100 Historic Parks, and it is also one of the earliest spots in Osaka Prefecture where you can enjoy cherry-blossom viewing. The park was developed in 2002. Sayamaike Pond, whose name appears in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, is considered Japan’s oldest man-made, dam-type irrigation reservoir, though it is unknown exactly when it was first created. Around the pond—covering about 400,000 square meters—walking paths have been laid out, and many people enjoy jogging or strolling while taking in the scenery. Because about 1,000 early-blooming Koshinohigan cherry trees (which typically flower in late March) are planted here, you can also see their blossoms reflected on the water. Other cherry varieties, such as Kanzan (a representative double-flowered cherry), can also be viewed in the park. In particular, near the Sayamaike Museum designed by architect Tadao Ando, the Shiratae variety tends to bloom earlier among the double-flowered cherries. The nearest station is Nankai Osaka-Sayama City Station, about a 5-minute walk away.