Opening Hours
Sat, 11 Mar 2023 - Sun, 9 Apr 2023
9.00am - 9.00pm
Inspired by the theme of train travel, this year’s Sakura floral display will see Flower Dome transformed into a landscape evocative of a scenic train journey across the most beautiful spots of Japan. To complement the cherry blossom viewing experience, visitors can also look forward to enjoying a lineup of Japanese-themed activities, such as cultural experiences held in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Singapore’s Japan Creative Centre.
Sat, 11 Mar 2023 - Sun, 9 Apr 2023
9.00am - 9.00pm
Admission charge to Flower Dome applies
Flower Dome
All aboard the train at Sakura Train Station! The long-awaited cherry blossom or sakura season has arrived! Come celebrate it at Gardens by the Bay’s Sakura floral display by participating in the tradition of hanami and enjoy spectacular views of trains and cherry blossoms.
Since the first passenger steam locomotives debuted in Japan during the Meiji Restoration in 1872, railroads have served as the primary mode of passenger transportation in Japan, carrying more than 9 billion passengers each year! Take your Japanese cherry blossom viewing or hanami to the next level on the train against a backdrop of blooming Sakura!
The train traveller’s comfort food, ekiben, literally meaning “station bento”, are special bento or lunch boxes sold at train stations that are designed to be enjoyed on long train rides. Ekiben has existed pretty much since there were trains in Japan, going as far back as the 1880s. Not only does it offer the average train passenger a delicious and affordable meal, it is a window into Japan’s regional cuisine, featuring dishes that can only be found in that particular area or even station!
A torii is a traditional Japanese gate, usually located at the entrance of Shinto shrines. It marks the transition from the profane to the sacred, though it is also sometimes simply used to denote a place that has deep religious meaning. It signals entrance into a hallowed space, and it is customary to bow one’s head before passing beneath it.
Pokémon is a Japanese media franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Short for the original Japanese title, Pocket Monsters, it centres around fictional characters known as Pokémon. Spot all-time favourite Pokémon characters Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Eevee, Snorlax, and of course, Pikachu, in the Pokémon Forest at our Sakura floral display! Gotta catch ‘em all!
Hanami literally means “flower viewing” supposedly began in the Nara Period (710 to 794) with ume or plum blossoms, but moved on to cherry blossoms by the Heian period (794 to 1185). Since then, hanami has been synonymous with sakura. Today, the Japanese continue the tradition of hanami, gathering with family, friends and colleagues for parties under the flowering trees along riversides, in parks, and on the grounds of temples and shrines.
Signalling the onset of spring, cherry blossom season symbolises a time of renewal, bringing hope and new dreams at the beginning of the Japanese calendar year. Most cherry blossom varieties bloom in spring, and only last for about one to two weeks. Changes in weather can affect both the time of flowering and the length of the blooming season.
Peach blossoms, commonly known as momo in Japan, belong to the same family as sakura. The peach tree, Prunus persica, not only bears juicy fruits but also produces beautiful flowers with a pleasant fragrance in early to mid-spring that last for about two weeks. Representing purity and womanhood, many young women display peach blossoms in their houses for good luck and joy when they are engaged. In Japan, peach blossoms are representative of marriage and a sign of loyalty.