Surrounded by nature at the northern foot of the Mino Mountains, and with a backdrop of old houses from the Kusano district, Hosshin Park is an idyllic location for a picnic. It is also said to have been the park of choice for a long line of feudal lords to go cherry blossom viewing, and each spring the park is alive with visitors who come to see the 170 cherry trees that bloom here. Natsume Soseki, the great Meiji era writer who visited Kurume several times, also came to Hosshin Park. He was moved to write a poem describing the beautiful scenery of cherry blossoms and pine trees he saw here. In summer, enjoy the cool, green mountains while taking a dip in the Hosshin river valley. In autumn, witness the splendor of beautiful maple leaves as they paint the valley red. The park is also home to the Hosshin Sansha Daigongen Shrine and a bronze bust of Mataroku Kusano, who led the construction of the Tokushima Dam on the Chikugo river during the Edo period. There is also a stone tablet inscribed with a haiku poem by the Edo era poet, Basho Matsuo. Cherry Blossoms: A total of 170 trees (140 Yoshino cherry trees and 28 others, mainly consisting of Yamazakura cherry trees). The blooming season is from the end of March until around the beginning of April.