Springtime in Tokyo means cherry blossoms! When the cherry blossoms bloom, the city of Tokyo is tinged with pink. Just walking around the city, you can see many cherry trees, and many cherry blossom viewing spots are planted, which are breathtakingly beautiful.
In this article, we will introduce you to some of the most popular cherry blossom spots in Tokyo, where there are many cherry blossom viewing spots! Experience the charm of spring in Tokyo with the beauty of cherry blossoms.
Click here to learn more about Tokyo.
Ueno Park
Ueno Park is home to numerous plants that change with the seasons, making it a popular spot for visitors to feel close to nature without having to leave the city. Visitors can spend a relaxing time strolling through the park and enjoying the scenery of flowers blooming and leaves changing colors.
It is especially famous as a cherry blossom spot, and has been renowned for its cherry blossoms since the Edo period (1603-1868). In the park, early-blooming cold-blooming cherry trees begin to bloom in March, and can be enjoyed for a long period of time until early April.
In Japan, there is a custom of cherry blossom viewing where people drink sake and eat lunch under the cherry blossoms, and the rows of cherry trees in Ueno Park are famous as a hanami spot that includes eating and drinking. Here in Ueno Park, the rows of cherry trees are famous as a hanami spot where visitors can enjoy hanami with food and drink.
Along the Meguro River
The Meguro River is a well-known cherry blossom viewing spot in Tokyo. When the rows of cherry trees along the river are in full bloom, the area is crowded with visitors. The riverside area is also lined with cafes and stores. Many people enjoy shopping and lunch at the stores in the area while viewing the cherry blossoms. The cherry blossom festival is held during the cherry blossom viewing period, and the food stalls along the rows of cherry trees and the lighting up of the trees at night are highlights of the festival.
One thing to note is the crowds. In recent years, the cherry blossoms along the Meguro River have become very popular, and the area is crowded with many people during the cherry blossom season. Early in the morning is relatively free, so if you want to avoid the crowds, visit in the morning.
Chidorigafuchi Greenway
Speaking of famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo, Chidorigafuchi Greenway should not be forgotten. During the “Chiyoda Cherry Blossom Festival,” the road is illuminated at night for an even more romantic cherry blossom viewing experience.
Boat rides are available from the boat ramp on the promenade. During the festival, boats can be boarded until 8:30 p.m. (boat tickets are available until 8:00 p.m.) and are recommended for those who wish to enjoy the nighttime cherry blossoms up close and personal.
Inogashira Park
Located in the Kichijoji area, Inokashira Park is a vast park with lush greenery. The park includes a pond, a zoo, and the Ghibli Museum, where visitors can spend a whole day without getting bored.
Inokashira Park is famous as a cherry blossom spot. Many cherry trees have been planted, and there are approximately 400 cherry trees in the entire park, of which about 200 are located around Inokashira Pond. Many visitors take a boat ride to view the cherry blossoms.
During the cherry blossom season, the park is more crowded than usual, but it is a large park, so you will not be stuck in the middle. It is recommended to bring a packed lunch and have a picnic while viewing the cherry blossoms.
Rikugien Gardens
Rikugien Gardens is a very tranquil Japanese garden in the middle of the city, where visitors can quietly appreciate the seasonal scenery. The path around the pond is a peaceful and relaxing way to enjoy the seasonal scenery of the plants blooming in Rikugien.
As you pass through the Main Gate, the entrance to the garden, you are immediately greeted by a large weeping cherry blossoms. This weeping cherry blossoms is 13 meters high and 17 meters wide, and has become the symbol of Rikugien, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot. During the cherry blossom season, a special night viewing is held so that visitors can admire the cherry blossoms illuminated.
Sumida Park
Sumida Park, located a few minutes’ walk from Asakusa Station, is a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing and has been selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots. About 600 cherry trees line a 1-km stretch of the park, and visitors can enjoy a collaboration with the nearby Tokyo Skytree. There are also 300 cherry trees planted on the opposite bank of the river, allowing visitors to take their time to enjoy the rows of cherry trees.
During the cherry blossom season, a cherry blossom festival is held and food stalls are set up under the cherry trees. This is a great place to enjoy the cherry blossoms and gourmet food at the same time, and you can also go sightseeing in Asakusa and visit the Sky Tree on foot.
Shiba Park
Shiba Park, located near the Tokyo Tower, is usually a popular picnic spot. Shiba Park is also a cherry blossom viewing spot with approximately 200 cherry trees planted in the park. During the season, the area near Benten Pond and the hillside of Maruyama Kofun are especially crowded with cherry blossom viewers.
Compared to Ueno and Yoyogi Park, which are famous for cherry blossom viewing, there are relatively few people, so you can spend a relaxing time. It is also a great place to take pictures of the Tokyo Tower and the cherry blossoms together.
Komatsugawa Senbon-zakura (Komatsugawa Riverbed)
Komatsugawa Senbon-zakura is located about a 5-minute walk from Higashi-Oshima Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line. Approximately 1,000 cherry trees line along the Arakawa River. Since the area is located a little far from the center of Tokyo, visitors can enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms at a leisurely pace without the crowds of other cherry blossom viewing spots.
Showa Kinen Park
At Showa Memorial Park, about 1,500 cherry trees of 31 different species are planted at different times of the year. Visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms for a relatively long period of time from mid-March to late April each year. In the “Cherry Blossom Garden” of the park, many large Someiyoshino trees, 40 to 50 years old, can be seen. Some of the branches hang down close to the ground, allowing visitors to sit and enjoy them right in front of them.
Since Showa Kinen Park is located a little far from the city center, it is a relatively relaxing spot to enjoy the cherry blossoms. It is especially recommended for those who wish to enjoy the cherry blossoms at a leisurely pace.
Kasai Rinkai Park
Located at Kasai Rinkai Koen Station on the JR Keiyo Line, Kasai Rinkai Park is a vast park by the sea. The park is home to a hotel, an aquarium, and a Giant Ferris Wheel, and is regularly crowded with people.
Approximately 700 cherry trees are planted in Kasai Rinkai Park. In some areas of the park, there are rows of cherry trees that stretch for about 200 meters, and visitors can enjoy the spring scenery as they slowly walk through the tunnels of cherry trees. The lawn next to the rows of cherry trees is a great place to spread out a sheet with family and friends and relax while viewing the cherry blossoms.
Tokyo Midtown
Tokyo Midtown, a large commercial facility in Roppongi, is home to approximately 150 cherry trees of eight varieties. The 200-meter-long “Sakura-dori” can be illuminated at night when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, creating a magical springtime world.
Cherry trees along the Oyoko River
Located about a 2-minute walk from Exit 4 of Monzennakacho Station, Oyokogawa River is a cherry blossom spot with 1.2 km of cherry trees along the river. There is a promenade along the river, so you can stroll under the magnificent rows of cherry trees. There is no open space for picnicking or eating and drinking under the cherry trees, but it is a good spot because there are fewer people.
During the cherry blossom season, cherry blossom viewing cruises depart and arrive, allowing visitors to view the cherry blossoms from the river.
Kiba Park
Kiba Park, located a 5-minute walk from Kiba Station, is a vast park. The park has a large grass plaza, an area with playground equipment, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, and the Urban Greenery Botanical Garden, and is crowded with people on weekends, even when it is not cherry blossom viewing season.
One of the most representative cherry blossom spots in Kiba Park is the barbecue area. Cherry trees planted at equal intervals throughout the grounds cover the sky when in full bloom! It is recommended to visit on weekdays as it is crowded with barbecue people on weekends.
