Location: multiple locations, see Okinawa hai's entry on the topic; we went to Nago castle ruins park(no admission fee). During the festival we've told they open up a big parking lot off the 58 and then you walk up the mountain (the start point seems to be the site of the canal at the old tree on the 84 approaching downtown). On a weekday you follow the signs to the castle park which takes you through downtown on the 84, then a right turn up the hill, then another right onto a new looking road the swerves its way through the park
Sakura viewing is a charming part of living in Japan. We prefer solitude and peace with sakura viewing, others like the festival atmosphere, so plan what day you go accordingly.
On a Monday, no one else was around. We drove around the whole park, and got out and walked at particularly scenic areas and observation towers. There are trails through the park for those with hiking boots and energy to burn.
The trees on 1/22 were only about 30% full of flowers, so by the end of January they should be in prime condition, unless there is a big storm.
A couple weeks later in the season, the trees in Yogi park in Naha go into flower. The park is right on the 330, by the civic hall and the prefectural library. The park is a bit run down and has the paraphernalia of a local homeless population (like most parks in Naha). A canal runs through the center of the park and is lined by well-established sakura.
