Each spring some 150,000 people flock to Gappo Park for the Aomori Spring Festival, when the park’s 670 sakura in many varieties including somei yoshino, shidarezakura, satozakura and oyamazakura bloom. A white sand beach and Mutsu Bay lie on the north side of the park, giving visitors the scenic splendor of blooming sakura against the park’s many pine trees and deep blue ocean. No wonder Gappo Park is named one of Japan’s Top 100 City Parks.