The Axarquía village that celebrates Japanese culture and cherry blossom

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Alfarnate held its annual Sakuratón and Sakura festivals on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, in recognition of the village's cherry production

Jennie Rhodes

Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 16:41

The small village of Alfarnate in Malaga province's Axarquía became a little Japan on 18 and 19 April as it celebrated its Sakura and Sakuratón festivals, in recognition of its cherry blossom and forthcoming cherry harvest.

On Saturday the Sakuratón event, which formed part of the town hall's SakuraFusion project, funded by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, brought together local residents, farmers and visitors to plant seeds and promote sustainability, nature and culture with the aim of creating new opportunities in the village.

"This initiative seeks to improve quality of life, promote sustainable tourism and strengthen the links between tradition and innovation," the town hall said in a statement.

Then on Sunday the Sakura festival, which had been postponed from the previous weekend due to the forecast for rain, took place. Hundreds of locals and visitors participated in a full programme of events related to Japanese culture and cherry blossom including tea ceremonies, martial arts and origami workshops and a street procession with people wearing traditional Japanese clothes like kimonos.

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