Picture soft pink cherry trees by the hundreds, in full bloom with neon pink lanterns dangling in the air. That’s sakura season in Tokyo for you!
While some cherry viewing spots are well known and super crowded, others are more intimate. To give you the advantage, here are the best places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo. (And get the free downloadable guide too.)
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The expected first sakura bloom for Tokyo is typically around March 21 and the best sakura viewing experience in Tokyo 2021 is from March 23 to 31. (See sakura report)
Top 15 Tokyo hanami spots
1. Ueno Park (上野公園)
One of the most popular spots for cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Japan is Ueno Park. It’s a favoured hangout spot pretty much all year round thanks to its vastness, shady spots, the little pond, smaller shrines, the Ueno zoo and a few cafes at its centre.
If you do want to spread out your picnic blanket for hanami in Ueno Park, come here early! The sakura in Ueno Park beautifully line the main alley and there are dedicated areas for placing your mat or blanket. But those fill up quickly.
I’ve also been told by my Japanese host that it’s totally ok to strike up a conversation with other hanami goers. More often than not, you get invited to join them on their blanket – especially if you are a solo traveller in Japan.
After sunset, the mats are all cleared and you can stroll around Ueno Park more freely. I highly recommend a visit at night because the neon pink sakura lanterns will light up the sakura trails and add a little extra charm.
How to get there
To get to Ueno Park, take the local train to Ueno Station. You can do this with Tokyo metro or JR lines, and there are buses stops here as well.
It doesn’t really matter which of the various entrances you choose. You won’t miss the sakura here. Ueno Park is wheelchair accessible.
Ueno Park cherry tree count: more than 1000 Japanese sakura trees
Admission: free
2. Sumida Park (隅田公園)
The cherry blossoms in Tokyo’s Asakusa are quite the sight to behold. This is one of my favourite sakura spots in Tokyo. And there are plenty of things to see in Asakusa (one of my fave districts).
If you come for sunrise, you really can enjoy a quiet river walk with a glorious view. The rising sun behind the Skytree is absolutely mesmerising.
There are barely an people around other than the occasional jogger. It’s super relaxed and tranquil. A perfect escape from the otherwise super busy city.
How to get there
You can reach Sumida Park by foot from Asakusa Station, which also houses a big shopping centre.
The station is serviced by the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Toei Asakusa Line, Tobu Isesaki Line, Tobu Sky Tree Line as well as the Tsukuba Express. The walk takes a mere 5 minutes.
Sumida Park cherry tree count: 600 Japanese cherry trees
Read this, too! How to spend an epic 2 weeks in Japan
3. Chidorigafuchi Park (千鳥ヶ淵公園)
I don’t want to take too much away because I wrote an entire article on how to see the sakura at Chidorigafuchi. And there’s a video too.
Anyway, what you should know about thos Tokyo sakura spot is that it’s a local must see.
Still, for some reason, it’s mostly frequented by Japanese tourists, not so much international ones. But that doesn’t mean that it’s secret by far. Or feels as intimate as the pictures on Instagram will make you believe.
Expect long queues when you arrive, so the sooner you’re in line, the better.
How to get there
You can easily reach this gorgeous sakura scene by walking from either Hanzomon or Kojimachi Station metro station. The closet Toei line station is Ichigaya.
Chidorigafuchi Park cherry tree count: around 170
Admission: free
Boat rental: 800 YEN for 30 minutes (7.22 USD/6.38 EUR)
4. Imperial Palace (皇居)
From Chidorigafuchi Park you can spot both the Tokyo Tower and Imperial Palace, so why not walk to either?
To the North, you can freely enter the Kitanomaru gardens next to the Science centre.
From here, you can have a pretty good view over Chidorigafuchi. Still, it’s not that exciting a cherry tree spot in Tokyo, to be honest.
You’re better bet is to enter through the east gate of the Imperial Palace Gardens. It’s freely (and wheelchair) accessible. While there are great parts you can visit in the garden, most of it is actually closed to the public.
How to get there
To get here, walk over from either Otemachi Station or Tokyo Station, which can be reached by various rail and metro lines.
The location is very central and it’s a pretty straightforward walk towards the Palace.
Imperial Palace cherry blossom count: around 1000 trees
Admission: free
5. Roppongi Hills (六本木ヒルズ)
Roppongi Hills is a great area for high end shopping. It was originally conceived as its very own, self containing business, shopping and co-living mega-complex from 2003.
The idea was to centralise work and leisure space to eliminate commuting time and improve the work-life balance of the local residents.
Besides the back-story of this fascinating area, Roppongi Hills also offers marvellous cherry blossom walks in Tokyo in a quieter area. It feels much more residential than other popular sakura spots in Tokyo.
Stroll the quiet streets underneath rows of pink petals. For glorious photos, find one with direct view towards Tokyo Tower.
How to get there
While Roppongi offers beautiful cherry tree streets, it’s not the best spot in Tokyo for hanami. There aren’t really places to lay down a blanket or mat.
You can’t miss the 54-storey tall skyscraper of Roppongi Hills.
Roppongi Hills cherry blossom count: around 150 sakura trees
Admission: free
6. Meguro River (目黒川)
Among locals, 4.86 mile-long (7.82 km) Megurogawa River ranks high among the best cherry blossom viewing locations in Tokyo. For a good reason!
Once you’re here, you will know why. The otherwise pretty bland canal of Meguro River becomes engulfed in a sea of pink.
On both sides, the straightforward paths turn into delicate pinks with the heavy cherry tree branches precariously bending over the river, where smaller boat tours show tourists the fabulous views from below.
There are various bridges that offer more vantage points as well. Come at night until 9pm to take part in Tokyo yokazakura (nightly sakura viewing).
How to get there
There are two stations you can start your walk towards the river from.
The closest is Meguro Station, which is served by JR, Tokyo Metro and Toei. You can pick one of the following lines: Meguro Line, Mita Line, Namboku Line and the Yamanote Line.
The other station is Ebisu station for connections to JR and Tokyo metro via the Hibiya, Saikyō, Shonan-Shinjuku or Yamanote Line.
Meguro cherry blossom count: around 800 sakura trees
Admission: free
7. Yoyogi Park ( 代々木公園 )
Picture this: you are pushing your way through the colourful crowds of Harajuku one minute (or hour more like, because it takes sooo long to get anywhere here).
Then, suddenly you are in the middle of an old forest with dense trees shooting into the sky. Welcome to Yoyogi Park in Harajuku Tokyo!
It’s one of the largest city parks and includes the historical Meiji Shrine. A must see attraction among the many in Tokyo.
Bring a picnic blanket for your Yoyogi hanami experience and some time to spare.
How to get there
You can easily reach it from Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line. It’s right next to the park.
Yoyogi Hills sakura count: about 600 cherry trees
Admission: free
8. Shinjuku Gyoen Park (新宿御苑)
Shinjuku is known for its wonderful izakayas, bars and eating spots. But the local park isn’t too shabby either and well worth a visit.
Step into a vast park landscape with broad meadows framed by cotton candy clouds of soft pink cherry blossoms.
One thing you should be aware of is that a lot of people love it too and crowds can be insane here!
This is especially true if you need to queue for your ticket. Get it in advance and go there early!
Once you have made your way in, you can gaze at quite the variety of cherry trees. (and people already resting on their hanami mats.)
Since the various cherry trees bloom at slightly different times, you can be sure to see some in full bloom during Tokyo’s spring.
This also means that this hanami spot in Tokyo is your best bet if you just missed general sakura peak time.
How to get there
The park is huge. So naturally, there are multiple entrances and exits as well as nearby stations to choose from. If you are using Tokyo Metro, get off at Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station.
Alternatively, you can take the JR train to Sendagaya Station. They are served by the trains of Chūō Line and Chūō-Sōbu Line (Local).
Gyoen cherry tree count: over 1000 sakura trees
Admission: 220 YEN (2 USD/1.70 EUR)
9. Yanaka Cemetery (谷中霊園)
I am a fan of cemeteries and Yanaka is my favourite in Tokyo. It is super close to Ueno and Nippori station as well as Cat Street. Come sprintime, its old and gnarly cherry trees turn a lush pink and you can parade underneath its bending branches.
When the pink petals are blown off by the soft winds, it is a gorgeous sight to see them rain all over you and onto the grey tombstones. Pretty magical if you ask me!
How to get there
Take the JR train to Nipporti station (don’t confuse it with Nishi-Nippori, which is the next stop). From there, you can already see the trees and cemetery peeking out behind the fence above the train tracks.
Walk across the train birdge (which is popular with train spotters) and turn left into the cemetery. There are also pretty temples and shrines around.
Yanaka Cemtery cherry tree count: 170 sakura trees
Admission: free
The following Tokyo cherry blossom spots I found out in research after my visit but I wanted to share them with you for completeness sake.
10. Koishikawa Botanical Garden (小石川植物園)
Of course, during spring time in Tokyo not only the cherry blossom is mesmerising. There are so many other plants flowering and what better way to learn about and admire flowers than at a botanical garden?
The Koishikawa Botanical Garden has over 4000 plant species, so that’s quite the selection. And it also means, it’s a pretty spectacular garden throughout most of the year.
When it rains or feels chilly outside, escape into the greenhouses and warm yourself among the 1,100 tropical and subtropical plant species.
Another special feature of the botanical garden is that it harbours forest trees that are over 300 years old on its hills.
How to get there
The gardens can be reached via either Myogadani Station (Marunouchi Subway Line) or Hakusan Station (Mita Subway Line).
Koishikawa sakura count: 130 Someiyoshino cherry trees
Entry: 500 YEN for adults (4.56 USD/3.86 EUR)
11. Rikugi-en (六義園)
You probably know that there is quite the variety when it comes to different kinds of cherry blossom trees in Japan.
They bloom at different times and the weeping willow cherry tree blooms rather late, comparatively. As a result, it’s a great place to visit when you slightly missed the time for the perfect bloom in Tokyo.
You can see these fascinating trees, referred to as shidare-zakura, at Rikugien Park in Tokyo.
Make the most of your visit by coming before sunset and experience both day and nighttime. Also, its light up event for sakura season is particularly popular.
How to get there
The closest station is Komagome. From there, it’s 5-10 minute on foot.
The biggest Rikugien cherry blossom tree: 15m in height and 20m in width
Admission: 300 YEN (2.71 USD/2.38 EUR)
12. Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line)
Are you a sucker for vintage trams or want to enjoy an unusual experience in Tokyo?
Try the only Toden tram line that is left in Tokyo. The old-fashioned tram itself is decorated with sakura ornaments and stickers inside and out.
In total, it connects 30 stations over 12.2 km and takes you from Waseda to Minowabashi.
Along the way, it passes beautiful Tokyo sakura view points. It’s one of the most off-the-beaten ways to see sakura blossoms in Tokyo.
Such places include the Takadobashi bridge over the Kanda river in Shinjuku and the Houmyouji Temple, which has been a sakura viewing spot for hundreds of years.
However, this isn’t a tourist train at all. It’s a regular local line, so you won’t have specific stops for viewpoints and local attractions. Instead, you’ll see an entirely different side to Tokyo.
How to get there
Waseda Station is located close to Waseda University in Shinjuku Ward. The line is called Tozai.
Since it’s Tokyo Metro, you can’t use your Railpass* here. What you can use, however, is a ticket for Tokyo Metro.
You can get those at the station or, even easier, order a 24, 48 or 72 hour pass here* for unlimited rides.
Official website: Tobus.jp
One-way Price: 170 YEN (1.53 USD/1.35 EUR)
13. Asukayama Park (飛鳥山 公園)
This one is a little outside of the normal tourist reach and therefore all the more charming. Northeast of Shinjuku lies Asukayama Park in the Kita City ward.
It’s especially precious for children thanks to its cute and colourful playing landscapes.
If you are looking for other things to do in the park, try the small Paper Museum or Shibusawa Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to Shibusawa Eiichi, a famous Japanese business man.
How to get there
Make your way to Ōji Station and then you are pretty much already right by the park.
Asukayama Park cherry blossom count: around 600 sakura trees
14. Inokashira Park (井の頭恩賜庭園)
Soak up nature and flee the busy city life by coming to Inokashira Park, which is another local tip.
This doesn’t mean that it won’t be crowded though! Since Kanda River flows through this park, renting the paddle boat to cruise on the waters is very popular.
In 1913, the park was given to Tokyo as a gift from the Emperor to the public.
Inokashira Park is free to visit and also contains the popular Studio Ghibli museum as well as a petting zoo, aquarium and temple that is dedicated to Benzaiten.
How to get there
The closest station is Kichijōji, which is serviced by JR. You can reach it via the following lines: Chūō Line, Chūō-Sōbu Line(Local), Inokashira Line and Narita Express.
Inokashira Park sakura count: about 500 trees
Admission: free
15. Aoyama Cemetery (青山霊園)
Another cemetery perfect for cherry blossom viewing in Tokyo is Aoyama. It’s actually the biggest and first public cemetery in town.
Originally, it was private land, belonging to the Aoyama family of the Gujō clan. Even today, it’s an active cemetery.
Plan a quiet stroll along the main pathways and past the many graves to really enjoy some quiet time. During sakura season in Tokyo, it gets somewhat busy, however.
You can easily combine your visit here with your sakura viewing in Roppongi Hills. By the way, the cemetery was Japan’s first public cemetery and includes the grave of the famous dog Hachikō.
How to get there
Get yourself to Gaienmae Station and then walk ten minutes to get to the cemetery.
Admission: free
16. Yaesu Sakura-doi (八重洲さくら通り)
A very much central spot for seeing cherry trees in Tokyo is at Yaesu Sakura Street. It’s basically right next to Tokyo Station.
Among the expensive shops and shiny office buildings, soft pink sakura trees dot the avenue. Do come here at night when everything is bathed in bright lights.
How to get there
Take the train or metro to Tokyo Station and then exit to the East. You’re there!
Yaesu sakura count: 100 cherry blossom trees
Admission: free
17. Sotobori Park (外濠公園)
This park is small but stretches alongside the former outer moat of an Edo Castle. The cherry trees blooming here are Yoshino cherry trees and Yamazakuras.
It’s much calmer here than with the main cherry tree spots in Tokyo. Much less tourists, too! Also good to know: there are public restrooms nearby.
How to get there
It’s only a few minutes away from Iidabashi or Yotsuya Station and you’ll have already reached Sotobori Park
Sotobori sakura count: 700 cherry blossom trees
Admission: free
18. Tachiai Douro
Where there’s a river walk, there most likely will be Tokyo cherry trees! This is also true for Tachiai Douro, the Tachi-ai river walk.
The walk is about two kilometres and it’s a pretty one. (You can see a report on it here.) It goes through a residential suburb of Tokyo.
How to get there
Take the local train to Nishikoyama Station. After you exit, turn into Tachiai-doro street. The river will be below and you can start your walk around stunning cherry blossoms in Tokyo here.
19. Shokubutsuen
Shokubutsuen sakura count: 800 cherry blossom trees
Admission: free
20. Oshima Komatsugawa Park (大島小松川公園)
For another pleasant river walk among the cherry trees in Tokyo, take an amble at Oshima Park (also written as Ojima). Actually, the park sits between two rivers, Arakawa and the much smaller Kyunaka River.
It’s relatively new, having been developed only ten years ago. Before that, it was just marshland. To add the cherry on top of this replanting project, 1000 cherry trees were planted and are known as Senbonzakura.
How to get there
Take the Toei Shinuku Line to Higashi-ojima Station to reach it.
Oshima Komatsugawa sakura count: 1000 cherry blossom trees
Admission: free
21. Kasai Rinkai Park
Are you planning a day trip to Tokyo Disneyland during your visit? Take an earlier train and station off to enjoy a morning stroll at Kasai. it’s right by the bay!
The park is rather large and its cherry trees come in six different varieties. There’s even an aquarium (Tokyo Sea Life Park) in a very unique building and ferris wheel at the park.
How to get there
Get off at Kasai-Rinkai-Koen Station when you take the JR Keiyō Line. The park is right outside.
Kasai Rinkai sakura count: 600 cherry blossom trees
Admission: free
22. Yasukuni Shrine (靖國神社)
You’ll find Yasukuni Shrine located in the Chiyoda ward. The Shinto shrine was founded in 1869 and is dedicated to fallen soldiers who served in the Boshin War of 1868 to 1869 and up to the First Indochina War of from 1946 to 1954.
There are quite a few cherry trees around the temple and due to its vicinity to Chidorigafuchi, it’s well visited. I recommend you visit the shrine after your boat tour around the moats.
How to get there
A close train station is Ichigaya Station, where JR, Tokyo Metro and the Toei lines operate. You can take one of these lines to it: Chūō, Chūō-Sōbu, Namboku, Shinjuku andYurakucho.
Yasukuni sakura count: 600 cherry blossom trees
Admission: free
23. Koganei Park (小金井公園)
Fun fact: Koganei is the second largest park in Tokyo. In early March you can admire its many trees at the Plum Tree Forest and in late March, it’s Cherry Tree Garden awaits.
Cherry tree types you can find here are both mountain cherry and Yoshino cherry.
While you’re here, you can visit the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum as well as the public bath Kodakara-yu or Kaiganji Temple.
How to get there
A nearby station is Hana-Koganei Station of the Shinjuku Line and it takes less than half an hour to walk to the park.
An alternative station is Higashi-Koganei Station of the Chūō Line, from which you will walk about 31 minutes.
Koganei sakura count: 2000 cherry blossom trees
Admission: free
24. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
This one isn’t technically in Tokyo anymore but in Kamakura. You can easily visit it on a day trip from Tokyo and check out more from Kamakura, which is a beautiful town.
The shrine is the most important shintō shrine in and a symbol for Kamakura. It was originally built in 1063 and then moved to the current location in 1191.
During that time, Minamoto no Yoritomo also had the cherry trees planted to mark the occasion of his son’s birth.
How to get there
Take the train from Tokyo Station to Kamakura. If you want to ride with JR, take the Odoriko Line. If not, either take the Tōkaidō Line or the Yokosuka Line. The train ride takes about an hour.
From Kamakura Stations, it’s 11 minutes on foot.
Admission: free
25. Shibamata
The neighbourhood of Shibamata at the outskirts of Tokyo borders right on the Prefecture of Chiba. It’s one of the most historic neighbourhoods with Shibamata Taishakuten Temple being the heart of it.
It’s super popular for the longest TV movie series being set here (at least parts of it) and therefore receives many Japanese visitors throughout the year.
You’ll be immediately greeted by the series’s main character Toru-san and his little sister Sakura once you exit the station.
How to get there
It takes a little less than an hour to get to Shibamata station from central Tokyo and typically requires a change of trains.
Once you’re at the station, walk past the statue of Toru, towards the temple and then onward to the river.
Along the river dam you can find a string of gorgeous cherry blossoms lining the walkway.
Below I’ve listed general Sakura Tips for Tokyo
Travel Tips for Sakura in Tokyo
How do I find Tokyo sakura?
As a rule of thumb, whenever you see pink lanterns strung up below a row of trees, these are sakura trees and are predicted to erupt in wonderful bloom.
Is visiting a Tokyo cherry blossom festival free?
Yes, mostly the wonderful trees are found in public areas, meaning they are accessible free of charge. This includes Meguro River and Yoyogi Park. Where you do need to pay is at Gyoen Park in Shinjuku as well as for the Chidorigafuchi boat rental.
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo?
Before you head off to the best cherry blossom spots in Tokyo, you need to ask yourself: When are the cherry blossoms in Tokyo?
Otherwise, you might be standing in front of trees with buds that are still closed or where the pedals are all on the floor.
Since the weather can have a huge effect on the sakura bloom in Japan, the full bloom varies from year to year. If it’s been a cold winter and spring, the buds open later and if it rains a lot, they fall faster.
Generally the best time is in late March and early April.
Since you have to book more than 6 months in advance to still snatch an affordable Tokyo hotel or airbnb, you should look at the last week of March and the first of April for the best cherry blossom time in Tokyo. But definitely always check the latest sakura report.
Are the cherry blossom spots in Tokyo easy to find?
Yes, and no. If you stick to the map, you have a pretty good idea of where to find the locations. However, do not expect signs leading you to Tokyo’s sakura viewing spots. And don’t rely on people’s English skills to give you directions.
Even technology often falls short; Google maps isn’t utterly reliable in Japan either. Which is why I always download the relevant offline maps from the free app maps.me first. When you’re in a station, enable wifi and GPS so it can track you and show you the way even when you leave the wifi zone.
Can I eat cherry blossoms?
I wouldn’t pick them from the trees. But there are plenty of local goods that are made from or decorated with real (preserved) sakura blossoms. During Tokyo’s sakura season, those products are everywhere and they are time limited. So get them while you can.
I can highly recommend the sakura drink from Starbucks, the sakura kitkats and sakura mochi. I really didn’t appreciate the sakura flavoured chips and cake toppings. But everyone’s tastes are different anyway.
Should I visit during day or night?
Both, if you can! It’s an entirely different experience! During the day, you can soak up the sun and mingle with fellow Tokyo bloom spectators.
During the night (known as Yozakura), it’s even more romantic and often much quieter. Most people will have gone home so it’s just you, the jet black night and the illuminated pink petals.
Can I take sakura souvenirs home?
Don’t pick the trees, if that’s what you mean. But besides food, there are tons of pink sakura-themed items, such as stationary, dinnerware, clothes, manga and more.
I wrote down the most essential souvenirs worth bringing from Japan. And if you’re interested, I even have unique prints with Japanese motifs hand-drawn by me. View the printables here*.
Are tours around Tokyo worth the money?
I personally prefer to explore a city on my own terms. I check out city guides like these from Lonely Planet* or Marco Polo* and scour online city guides, such mine on Asakusa and anime/manga fan spots in Tokyo to filter topics/places I would be interested in.
But if you only have a few days and want to see as much as possible, you really do need a tour. It’s so easy to get lost or overwhelmed in Tokyo.
And distances aren’t small and the public transportation system can get super confusing (and full of pitfalls). To help get you started, here are a few tours I personally think provide great value for both newbies and returnees to Tokyo:
- Get the Chidorigafuchi, Ueno Park, and Asakusa Cherry Blossom Viewing Tour with an optional Kimono or Rickshaw Experience. All you need to do is get the mobile voucher here*.
Even if you cannot make it or want to book another date, you can freely cancel it with 72 hours notice. That’s great if you want to get your sakura timing right but want to secure your spot now, just in case. - Are you more keen on a guided yokazakura tour? Try the Tokyo Cherry Blossoms Walking Tour with Sumida River Night Cruise.
Groups are comprised of 1-15 people and you get a light bento box meal during the cruise as well as the iconic sakura mochi snack. Reserve your spot here*. - How about combining sakura viewing AND shopping in Tokyo? That’s totally possible with the Spring Cherry Blossom & Ami Premium Outlets Shopping Day Trip.
Not only will you get to visit Kairakuen, one of the top 3 gardens in Japan, but also get the chance to do an all-you-can-eat strawberry picking. Get your ticket here*.
How to get around Tokyo
If you don’t opt for a tour and want to conquer public transport yourself, get a one or multi day ticket for the metro and Toei subway online.
If you have the railpass, you can use on Tokyo’s JR lines, such as the ring line Yamanote. But don’t forget to validate it at either Tokyo or Ueno Station first! You can order it online here*.
Alternatively, do it like the locals. You can get a Suica card, which you can recharge and then tap whenever you want to use the public transport.
How do I get from the airport to the city of Tokyo?
There are various trains headed regularly into town via Narita city. Depending on the driving time (whether speed or regular) and the line, the prices vary quite a bit.
The most expensive but also fastest is the Skytrain. It will get your right to Asakusa. You can get your online ticket here for 11 USD/10 EUR.
Get the free printable Checklist
Sakura History
Why do the Japanese even celebrate the japanese pink flower tree? Why is the cherry flower so special? It actually didn’t used to be.
Way back in the day, the plum flower, blooming at the start of the year, was THE most revered spring flower in Japan. That was during the Nara period, when Nara was the capital of Japan. (by the way, check out my video about the cheeky Nara deer.)
Even today, Nara still celebrates the plum festival, the Plum Blossom Festival 梅まつり. You can best see it at Tsukigase village in the Nara Prefecture. Plum in Japanese translates to ume and is believed to protect against evil.
During the Heian period from the end of the 8th to the 12th century, the sakura cherry tree rose to fame and suddenly hanami were all the rage.
A hanami is the name for a cherry blossom festival in Japan and basically by now is synonymous with sakura, the cherry blossom. Hana means flower in Japanese.
The idea of having a picnic underneath the Japanese cherry trees in spring comes from superstitious beliefs. For one, trees were seen as the homes for spirits, known as kami. Therefore, offerings were made to appease them.
Are Tokyo’s Cherry Blossoms Worth It?
Yes!! When you come to Tokyo for cherry blossom season, you are in for a treat. But you also have to be aware of the fact that there are thousands of other visitors in most places. It’s a super popular hanami city, after all!
The key is to come during the week and early in the morning as well as at night before 9pm to get the best experience.
Watch the sakura reports and weather to be able to time your hanami in Tokyo as well as possible. But don’t wait too long with booking as prices rapidly increase the closer it is to hanami time.
Shoot me a comment: Is seeing the sakura in Tokyo on your bucketlist?
More Japan Travel Tips
- Where to spot the best sakura in Kyoto
- How you can easily find 100 things to do in Kyoto
- What to see in Yokohama – it’s only a short train ride away!
- Why a trip to Nikko (North of Tokyo) is in order
- What to pack for trip to Japan
- Handy tips you need before backpacking Japan
Ryan K Biddulph says
Every place looks gorgeous. What a serene series of photos.