Hiroshima Flower Festival

Flowers and Fun Everywhere

Venue: Peace Boulevard & Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

When: Early May (May 3–5) — Dates are subject to change

Imagine a three-day street celebration with music, flowers, laid-back attendees, and a lovely message of peace. This event takes place annually during Golden Week in early May and sees the Hiroshima Flower Festival take over Hiroshima's Peace Boulevard and Peace Memorial Park from May 3-5. There will be food vendors, a lively atmosphere of celebration, floating dance parades, local musicians, and stunning flower tower displays during this festival. At its heart, it is a tradition of hope and joy. This event is for you if you enjoy springtime festivals, culture, and family-friendly fun.

What to Expect at Hiroshima Flower Festival

The Flower Parade

One of the biggest events is the flower parade, which has rows of bright floats decorated with flowers, beauty queens waving, schools marching and playing, and the community displaying their best crafts. The parade's atmosphere is cheerful, making it a highlight for both locals and tourists.

The Yosakoi Dance Parade

Yosakoi, a stunning, high-energy traditional dance style, fills the streets of Hiroshima on the final day. Troupes dressed in matching costumes move in time with the music, waving wooden naruko clappers. It's lively, enthusiastic, and impossible to look at without smiling.

The Tower of Flowers

With the everlasting Peace Flame above, the 8-meter-tall Flower Tower is more than simply a landmark worthy of an Instagram post. It is a symbol of peace. It's the ideal location for a picture that embodies the festival's essence.

Live booths for art, music, and culture

Performances range from local folk music to J-pop covers across multiple stages. Additionally, there are interactive booths, art exhibits, and cultural displays where you may discover the customs of Hiroshima.

Peace Candlelight Messages

The atmosphere changes when the sun sets. Hundreds of candles are lit by volunteers in elaborate designs, frequently forming words relating to peace. It's a calm, authentic, and lovely way to end the evening.

Heavenly Street Food

You may have takoyaki, yakitori skewers, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and even fresh oysters from the Seto Inland Sea here. A Japanese festival wouldn't be complete without cuisine.

Who Is the Hiroshima Flower Festival For?

Families – It is safe,  with open spaces and kid-friendly activities that make it easy to spend the whole day here.

Culture & History Lovers – The festival’s backdrop of Peace Memorial Park adds depth to the celebration.

Festival Goers – If you love crowds, performances, and sampling food from street stalls, you’ll feel right at home.

International Visitors – While English signage is limited, the warmth of the event is universal.

Pro Tips

• Arrive early to claim a good spot for the parade, especially near the starting points where performances tend to be liveliest.

• Bring water, cash, sunscreen, and a power bank because you’ll be walking and taking photos all day.

• The second day often sees slightly smaller crowds compared to opening or closing day.

• Evenings are cooler and more relaxed which make them perfect for strolling among candlelight displays.

• If you’re planning to see other Hiroshima attractions, try visiting them early in the morning before the festival gets going.

What to Wear

Spring in Hiroshima can be unpredictable, with warm afternoons, cool evenings, and occasional light rain, so wear light layers and comfortable walking shoes. Also, taking an umbrella and sun protection is always a good idea, and a light jacket will keep you comfortable after dark.

How to Get to Hiroshima Flower Festival

From Hiroshima Station, take the Hiroden streetcar (Line 1 or 2) to Atomic Bomb Dome-mae or Fukuro-machi. The festival area is just a 5–10-minute walk from either stop.

 If you’re traveling from Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, the JR Sanyo Shinkansen is your fastest option. Consider purchasing a JR Pass for almost unlimited travel on the country’s domestic rail network if you plan to explore multiple cities during your trip.

More About the Festival

The Hiroshima Flower Festival is more than just a seasonal celebration — it’s a symbol of hope, community, and renewal.

• History: The festival began in 1977, originally inspired by the victory parade of the Hiroshima Carp baseball team. It quickly grew into a full-scale annual event, transforming from a sports celebration into one of Japan’s most beloved spring festivals.

• Crowd size: Today, the festival attracts over 1.6 million visitors each year, filling Hiroshima’s Peace Boulevard with parades, performances, and vibrant displays of flowers. Its scale makes it one of the largest festivals in Japan.

• Theme: The motto “Flowers, Music, and Dancing” has guided the event since its beginning, representing joy, renewal, and harmony — a fitting message for Hiroshima, a city deeply tied to peace and resilience.

Fun Facts

• Flower Tower: At the heart of the festival stands the Flower Tower, an 8-meter-high structure that is rebuilt and freshly decorated with blooms every year, serving as the iconic symbol of the event.

• Unchanged theme: Remarkably, the theme “Flowers, Music, and Dancing” has never changed since the festival’s launch, reinforcing its dedication to positivity and cultural continuity.

• Parades and performances: In addition to flowers, the festival features dance troupes, marching bands, and music stages, turning the city into a living showcase of art and community spirit.

Planning Your Trip

• Book nearby hotels for easy access to the festival.
  
  

• Consider purchasing a JR Pass if you're traveling between Hiroshima and other cities.
  
  

• Stay connected by renting Pocket Wi-Fi to get help with navigation, translation, and sharing your experience.
  
  

• Bring cash since many food vendors are cash-only.

FAQs About Hiroshima Flower Festival

Q: What is the Hiroshima Flower Festival?

A: The three-day Hiroshima Flower Festival is a vibrant, musical, and positive springtime event.

Peace Memorial Park and Peace Boulevard are transformed into a massive celebration every early May, complete with parades, flower-covered floats, live music, delicious street cuisine, and the illuminated 8-meter Flower Tower.

Q: Why is oleander the official flower of Hiroshima?

A: Oleander became the official flower of the Hiroshima Flower Festival because it was the first flower to bloom in the city after the atomic bombing in 1945.