[Nenohi Park in Akkeshi] Good Place for Cherry Blossoms and Oysters

Nenohi Park

Nenohi Park (子野日公園) is a park in Akkeshi town located in the eastern direction of Kushiro city, and is well-known as a good place to see cherry blossoms. Suikoen (翆湖園), a private garden, established by Mr. Kouki Nenohi (子野日弘毅), ex-mayor of Akkeshi, was assigned to the Akkeshi town in 1962, and has been well-kept as a park. 10 types of 1,200 cherry trees such as Sargent Cherry Tree and Chishima Cherry Tree are planted in the site of 120,000 m2. The best time to see the cherry blossoms is about from early May to late May. Forest of Health (健康の森), Cherry Tree Sample Garden (桜見本園), a public restroom and a parking lot are built at the site. Admission free. The parking lot is free of charge.

Akkeshi Cherry Blossom and Oyster Festival (あっけし桜・牡蠣まつり) is held between 9days in mid May, and Akkeshi Oyster Festival (あっけし牡蠣まつり) is held between 10days in early October. Speaking of the Akkeshi, oyster is famous. Dishes related to the oyster is served at some restaurants in the Akkeshi. As for restaurants in the Akkeshi, Moritaka Ranch (森高牧場), Akkeshi Ekimae Ujiie Machiaisho (厚岸駅前氏家待合所), Escale (エスカル), Sumiyaki Aburiya (炭焼炙屋) and Akkeshi Yabusoba (厚岸藪蕎麦) are popular in particular. Unfortunately, hot springs do not gush out in the Akkeshi. Seicomart and Akkeshi Kaisan (厚岸海産) are near the park, and tasty oysters of the Akkeshi Kaisan have a good reputation, too.

Cherry Blossoms of Hokkaido

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom from late April in Hokkaido. The cherry blossoms in the Southern Hokkaido including Hakodate begin to bloom from late April, and in case of late blooming, the cherry blossoms in the Eastern Hokkaido and the Northern Hokkaido seem to bloom in early June. The cherry blossoms in Honshu (the main island of Japan) begin to bloom from mid March, and tourists can enjoy the cherry blossoms until too late season. If everybody forget to see the cherry blossoms in the Honshu, please visit the Hokkaido to savor the cherry blossoms. Read More

Look of Nenohi Park

The Nenohi Park is roughly divided into 2 parts, the top of a mountain and the foot of the mountain. A red bridge, a grave mound for oysters (牡蠣塚), Grilled Oyster and Barbecue House (焼かき＆バーベキューハウス), an event stage, playground equipments and a public restroom are built at the foot of the mountain, and the area is the main park. The Health of Forest, the Cherry Tree Sample Garden, an observation tower, an artificial hill and a double cherry tree called “Fugenzo (普賢象)” are at the top of the mountain. When I visited here in mid May, the Akkeshi Cherry Blossom and Oyster were just held. The cherry blossoms were at the right time. The site is large, so I guess that it takes about 60 minutes to look around on foot.

There were no tall buildings and mountains around here, so I felt as if the sky was close to the park. Cherry blossoms were in full bloom here and there. The park is famous as a good place to grill oysters, meats and vegetables, and a lot of local visitors bring ingredients and drinks for themselves. But the ingredients are sold at the park, too.

The red bridge stands out the most in the park, and is an impressive arched bridge. I do not know why the bridge is built. The bridge is allowed to enter. Visitors can view the park on the bridge, but Lake Akkeshi can be hardly seen.

2 walks to the Cherry Tree Sample Garden are built at the east and west of the park. Some cherry trees are planted at the mountaintop. Some benches are built along the walks.

The Cherry Tree Sample Garden, the observation tower, the artificial hill and a bench are on the mountaintop. Cherry trees can be seen from 2 story-wooden observation tower. But something such the Lake Akkeshi in the distance can be hardly seen.

In the Eastern Hokkaido, it is said that the Double Cherry Tree Fugenzo is only in the Akkeshi. The cherry tree was named because cherry blossoms look like a nose of an elephant ridden by Fugen Bosatsu (普賢菩薩). That type of the cherry tree is hardly heard in the Hokkaido, and I saw the cherry tree only in Matsumae Park. I guess that the cherry tree is precious, so it is covered with a sheet. Unfortunately, the whole of the cherry tree can hardly be seen.

The artificial hill beside the observation tower is not tall, but it is moderate tall. I think that the hill is as tall as the observation deck. A view is not good, but visitors can be a kid again.

List of Events

The Akkeshi Cherry Blossom and Oyster Festival is held in a spring, and Akkeshi Oyster Festival is held in an autumn. My visited event is as follows.

Movie of Akkeshi Oyster Festival

Akkeshi Cherry Blossom and Oyster Festival

About 10 food stalls open a business during the Akkeshi Cherry Blossom and Oyster Festival. Oysters and Japanese littleneck clams, special products in the Akkeshi, are sold, and chocolate banana pops that are indispensable for a Japanese festival are also sold. Some events such as a concert and grabfest are held on Sunday during the festival. About 25,000 visitors come this festival. When I visited the festival on weekday morning, a few people came. But the festival seems to be crowded with people on weeekend.

Since I visited the festival, might as well eat oyseters, Akkeshi noted product, and I ordered grilled oysetrs at an oyster stall. The price of two was JPY 500. Except the oysters, whelks and scallops were sold. A food stall worker grilled my oysters in front of me, and I waited for 3-5 minutes. But I was very glad to eat freshly grilled oysters.

Seafood could be eaten at the food stall, but I decided to eat it on a lawn because it was fine weather. The grilled oysters looked tasty, and the smell of oysters made me hungry. I ate it, and a juicy oyster shellfish was very tasty! The oyster is called “milk of the sea”, and has nutrient-rich. It is good for one’s health, furthermore it is tasty, so it leaves nothing to be desired.

Movie of Akkeshi Cherry Blossom and Oyster Festival

List of Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations in the Akkeshi. You can get information regarding online reviews and photos.

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Hotel Gomi(ホテル 五味)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Suzuki Ryokan(丸ス 鈴木旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Endo Ryokan(遠藤旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Akkeshi(民宿あっけし)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Minshuku Kitamisaki(民宿喜多岬)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Seaside Inn Hotel Akkeshi(シーサイドイン ホテルあっけし)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Tsukushikoi Campsite(筑紫恋キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten