My Favorite Places to See Cherry Blossom in Tokyo
The cherry blossom season, or sakura (桜), is one of the most popular moments of the year to visit Japan. It is not surprising that the beauty of these ephemeral flowers attracts both foreign tourists and locals.
The symbolism of sakura is very strong in Japanese culture and traditions. Sakura blossom symbolizes the coming of spring, hope, the brevity of life and rebirth. Sakura trees, which look like pink or white puffy clouds or fireworks, are truly an amazing sight to see.
Tokyo is a huge city, with many places to admire the cherry blossoms and there are several festivals organized for this occasion. In this article, I introduce famous and hidden places in Tokyo that I have visited or would like to go to to admire these beloved flowers, as well as some tips to know in advance to make the most of this incredible and busy period.
When to See Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo in 2024
According to the 2nd forecast announced on January 25, 2024 from the Japan Meteorological Agency, in 2024, the main variety of sakura (Somei Yoshino sakura) will start to bloom on 22 March and will be in full bloom on 29 March. On average, the flowering period lasts only two weeks. You can find predictions by location in Tokyo on the page here.
Even if you miss this period, there are still several places where you can enjoy the early or late flowering of the cherry trees, as some varieties of sakura bloom from mid-February (such as Kawazu Sakura) while others bloom in mid-April (Yaezakura).
My Top 5 of Tokyo's Most Popular Sakura Viewing Places
These 5 places are among the most well-known spots in and around Tokyo to enjoy sakura and are my personal favorites. Be aware that without surprise, such beauty attracts large crowds during peak blooming, even on weekdays.
1/ Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Among the most famous places to admire cherry blossoms in Tokyo, the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden remains (新宿御苑) my favourite. This huge park has over 1,000 sakura trees. It is so spacious that even with the weekend crowds, I had no trouble making the most of the sakura, exploring the different parts of the park. Since Shinjuku Gyoen has varieties of sakura that bloom earlier or later than the usual forecast, it's a great place to go if you miss the pick. The entrance fee to the park is ¥500 and the park is generally open from 9am to 6pm.
2/ Meguro River and Nakameguro Canal
Meguro River is one of the most popular places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo, with some 800 trees lining a 3.8 kilometre long stretch.
Around Nakameguro (中目黒) Station, the canal becomes smaller, forming a pale pink arch over the river. It is around this station that the Nakameguro Sakura Festival (returned in 2023 after having been cancelled from 2020 to 2022) is held, where pink lanterns light up the canal at night and there are food stalls selling street food and sakura-themed food and drink. This year's festival dates have not been announced yet (for reference, in 2023, the festival took place from 18 March to 9 April).
Even though the night illuminations of the sakura are beautiful, I personally prefer to walk away from Nakameguro and follow the canal towards Meguro station, as there are bigger and more majestic sakura trees and it is less crowded.
3/ Chidorigafuchi Moat
Another great place to see cherry blossoms in central Tokyo is around the Imperial Palace, in an area called Chidorigafuchi (千鳥ヶ淵). You can view them from the walkways along the moat, or on a boat from below, which can be a very romantic option. Be aware that there are long queues to hire a boat, so if you want to do this, it's best to get there early or just be ready to wait. In the evening, the trees are illuminated and the night scenery is quite magical.
The nearest train stations are Ichigaya (市ケ谷), Kudanshita (九段下) and Kojimachi (麹町). Nearby, you can also visit Yasukuni Shrine (靖国神社), which also has several sakura within its grounds, as well as Yushukan Museum (遊就館), a museum of Japanese military history.
4/ Inokashira Park
With around 500 cherry blossom trees, Inokashira Park (頭恩賜公園) is another fantastic sakura spot in Tokyo. As the cherry blossoms are concentrated around the pond, many petals accumulate on the surface of the pond as they fall, which is a beautiful sight.
The closest train station to Inokashira Park is JR Mitaka (三鷹駅) or Kichijoji (吉祥寺) Station, 30 minutes away from central Tokyo.
There are many other things to do around Inokashira park. You can visit the zoo, the Inokashira Benzaiten shrine (井の頭弁財天 大盛寺), or the Studio Ghibli Museum (advance tickets required), all located within the park boundaries.
5/ Ueno Park
With over 1000 sakura trees, Ueno Park is famous all over Japan for its sakura festival. I had read that viewing the sakura trees may not be optimal in Ueno Park due to the huge crowds and revellers picnicking in the park for hanami (花見). To be honest, despite the crowd, I had a lot of fun exploring Ueno and I found that the festive atmosphere was an integral part of the experience and quite different from other spots I had been to before. The massive number of sakura trees makes this place very impressive.
Beyond the main sakura alley, there are other beautiful places to see the cherry blossoms in the park, in the various temples and around the pond. So take your time, eat at a booth and enjoy the Ueno Sakura Festival!
Other Popular Sakura Viewing Spots in Tokyo
In addition to my Top-5, I add below other famous sakura viewing places in Tokyo that I would recommend you to visit if you have the time or are nearby.
Sumida Park
Sumida Park (隅田公園), with the Skytree in the background and close to Asakusa (浅草), has over 500 sakura trees and is another popular place to see cherry blossoms.
There is a pink sakura on the right of the Sumida River Walk (Skytree side of the river) which I found particularly beautiful.
I haven’t been myself during the night but I heard the illuminations from early evening are very lovely.
As an added bonus, you can combine this walk with a visit to nearby Senso-ji temple (浅草寺). Senso-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo, only has a few cherry blossom trees. However, there is a beautiful weeping sakura tree near the main temple, providing incredible photo opportunities.
Yoyogi Park
Yoyogi Park (代々木公園), one of Tokyo’s largest parks, is a beloved place to enjoy the sakura season. With about 700 cherry trees, it is an enjoyable cherry blossom viewing spot, and many people choose Yoyogi for hanami and have picnic during the sakura season.
Rikugien Gardens
In several articles I found Rikugien Gardens (六義園) as a recommended place for cherry blossoms. In reality, the park has very few cherry trees. Nevertheless, it attracts many people, especially on weekends, because of a majestic weeping sakura at the main entrance. I visited the park on a public holiday and there was a long queue to buy tickets (¥300), but I didn't have to wait at all as I was able to buy my ticket online from the website (in Japanese only) and avoid the queue.
My Top-5 of Tokyo’s Lesser-Known Places to See the Sakura
In addition to the most popular places listed above to enjoy the sakura season, there are other parks and areas where sakura trees can be found that are ideal destinations for people looking for less crowded places and a more relaxing or peaceful experience.
1/ Kanda River
Admiring the sakura along the Kanda River near Waseda is a similar experience to the walk along Meguro River described above, but with far fewer people. You can start at Edogawabashi station (江戸川橋駅) and walk along the river to Gakushuinshita station (学習院下駅). During your walk, you can stop at Higo-Hosokawa Garden (肥後細川庭園) to experience a traditional Japanese garden. I really enjoyed the quietness of this walk and the beauty of the hundreds of sakura trees that line the 2 km path.
2/ Aoyama Cemetery
Although located near the bustling Roppongi district, Tokyo's oldest cemetery, Aoyama Cemetery (青山霊園), is a haven of peace and a perfect place to enjoy the pleasant view of cherry blossoms, in a quiet and respectful manner. The closest train station is Nogizaka station (乃木坂駅) on the Chiyoda line.
3/ Kinuta Park
Kinuta Park (砧公園) is a large, quiet park in Setagaya City, a few train stops from Shibuya. The park is a ten-minute walk from Yoga station on the Den-en-toshi line. The park has some of the most majestic sakura trees I have ever seen. As it is less popular as a sakura viewing spot than other parks like Ueno or Yoyogi, it is a good alternative if you want to have a hanami picnic without worrying about crowds.
4/ Tamagawa River
I love the green fields along the Tama River, and I am particularly familiar with the path between Futako-Tamagawa Station and Tamagawa Station. This open, green river park includes a baseball field and trails for jogging and dog walking, with several sakura trees along the way. If you want to experience a bit of Tokyo suburban life and sakura at the same time, I recommend this place.
5/ Meiji Dōri and Shibuya
Meiji Street (明治通り), in the section that runs from Hiroo to Ebisu and Shibuya, is lined with sakura on both sides of the road. So if you plan to be in this area, you can have a 30-40 minutes stroll by the cherry blossom trees all the way to or from Shibuya. The street is not crowded and there are several cafés and restaurants along the way.
In Shibuya, there is also a small street worth visiting during sakura season, called Sakura Dōri (さくら通り), a few minutes' walk from the station.
Other Sakura Viewing Spots in and around Tokyo
Yanaka area
About ten minutes walk from Ueno Park, the Yanaka (谷中) area, known for its shitamachi vibe (old Tokyo), is also a great neighborhood to enjoy the cherry blossom. Like Aoyama cemetery, Yanaka cemetery (谷中霊園) is lined by cherry trees, and you will find more of them in the small temples around the area such as Kannon-ji temple (観音寺). Yanaka Cemetery is a 3 minute walk from JR Nippori station, or a 15 minutes walk from Ueno park.
Finally, here is a list of places that are still on my sakura wishlist and that I hope to visit in the future:
Roppongi Hills (六本木ヒルズ)
Koishikawa Botanical Garden (小石川植物園)
Arukayama Park (飛鳥山公園)
Shioiri Park (汐入公園)
Showa Memorial Park (昭和記念公園)
Koganei Park (小金井公園)
A Few Tips to Enjoy the Sakura Season
1/ Preparation tips for Hanami
Hanami (花見), or “flower viewing”, is an important part of social and cultural life for Japanese people in spring. People gather outside under sakura trees and spend their day eating and drinking with family and friends. If you plan to organize your own hanami party in one of Tokyo most popular spots, I would definitively advice you to claim your spot early. It is said that during the sakura peak season, some people even claim their spots as early as 5am or even the night before! Personally, I personally prefer to go picnicking in one of the less touristy places.
With the exception of the larger sakura festivals, such as Ueno, where bins will be set up, you will have to bring a garbage bag with you and take your waste home.
2/ Accept the Crowd
If you cannot stand the crowds, my only advice is to plan in advance the places you want to see the most and visit especially the most popular sakura sites as early as possible. In the afternoon, you can go to lesser known sakura spots or do something else.
Personally, I don't particularly mind the crowds during the sakura bloom, as it's part of the experience (and perhaps I'm now used to the crowds in Japan in Asia after living and travelling there for several years), and it's nice to see people sharing your own awe at this natural beauty. It's also a way to immerse yourself in the Japanese tradition of hanami and sakura festivals.
3/ Walk and Discover Sakura spots by surprise
Just being in Tokyo and discovering this incredible megacity is such a source of wonder. The sakura are scattered all over Tokyo, in small parks or near residential buildings. For example, there are several in the area where I live and to see a single sakura in full bloom is a beautiful sight.
I recommend to put on comfortable shoes and walk a lot during that period of the year to enjoy the unique magic of spring in this amazing country.
