If you visit Tatsuno City in spring or the fall, Tatsuno Park (龍野公園) is the must-visit spot in the rural city. The beautiful cherry blossom spread from Tatsuno Castle to Tatsuno Park on the west. Following the road from the castle, you will arrive at the tea house completed in the Edo period, Shūentei (聚遠亭). The side of the park is famous for its stunning autumn foliage. In spring, follow the Bungaku no shōkei (文学の小径), or the Literature Path, to the other side of the park, for a cherry blossom tunnel!
The cherry blossom season here is usually between early to mid-April. But if the weather warms up earlier, the flowers might be to blooming from late March, which was the case in 2021.
As the flowers start to bloom, the Tatsuno Cherry Blossom Festival (龍野さくら祭) will take place as well. The most interesting part of the festival is probably the warrior parade (武者行列), where samurais dressed up in the battle gear patrol from Tatsuno Castle!
Shūentei (聚遠亭)
If you like matcha green tea, don’t miss out on your opportunity of having a cup of tea that comes with a traditional sweet when you come to Shūentei. After all, what beats the experience of having a bowl of freshly made matcha at an authentic tea house?
- The tea sessions are held from 10 am to 4 pm on weekends from March to the 2nd weekend of December, excluding June to August.
- The cost is 500 yen.
- A reservation is not required.
- Refer to the official website HERE for photos.
Tip: If you are coming to enjoy matcha at Shūentei, arrive a bit later than 10 am as they might need some preparation time.
Autumn Foliage at Shūentei and Momiji Valley (紅葉谷)
Each year from late November to early December, you can enjoy a very scenic stroll and hike around Shūentei and the Momiji Valley at the foot of Mt. Keirōsan. Following the path, you will also pass by Tatsuno Shrine and a few observation decks. If your accommodation is close by, you might want to have a nighttime exploration as well because the view with the maple leaves lit up is just as stunning as the scenery in the daytime!
How to Get to Tatsuno Park
- Shūentei is open from 9 am to 4 pm daily except Monday and between the end of December to the beginning of January.
- If Monday is a public holiday, it will close on the next business day instead.
- It is a 20-minute walk from JR Hon-Tatsuno Station (本竜野駅).
Discover Other Attractions in Tatsuno City
Tatsuno City, also known as Harima Province’s “Little Kyoto” (播磨の小京都), is a lovely city with a historical and tranquil atmosphere. Situated along the coast, there are a few of the attractions in the city come with a panorama view of the Seto Inland Sea. The city is also where you can learn how soy sauce and the thin noodles known as sōmen were made hundreds of years ago!
So, refer to our Tatsuno City article for more attractions you can visit on the day!
