Will you be in the Tokyo area during the cherry blossom season this year? Spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year when the streets and parks throughout the city turn into a magical pink. That being said, there are loads of great cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo. All throughout Japan you will see many people enjoying hanami, which literally translates into ‘flower viewing’. However, this refers to having a picnic or party with family and friends where you enjoy eating and drinking while admiring the flowers, kind of like a cherry blossom festival.
Cherry Blossom Season in Tokyo 2023
Tokyo has a vast number of spots where you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing. The cherry blossom season in Tokyo typically peaks from late March to early April. Over the past ten years, the first blooms occurred between March 20 and March 28. In 2024, Tokyo’s cherry blossoms are expected to start blooming earlier than usual on March 23 and go into full bloom around March 30. But be sure to check the latest sakura forecast before making your way there!
Since you may be asking yourself, where do I see cherry blossoms in Tokyo, we have created a list of our 15 best places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo 2024 for this spring! We hope you find it helpful.
1. Meguro River (目黒川)
One of the most popular spots for cherry blossom viewing in Tokyo is Meguro River, which features over 800 cherry trees lined up along the riverside. We also recommend that you visit this site after peak season. The reason for this is that once cherry Blossoms finish blooming, all the petals are blown off the tree branches by the wind and cover the surface of the river, making for a sea of pink.
Meguro River Information
Location: Meguro River
Hours: Open 24 hours
Fee: Free
2. Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑)
Shinjuku Gyoen is one of the largest national gardens in all of Tokyo. The garden has around 1,000 cherry blossom trees and is 58.3 hectares big. It also has one of the most relaxing atmospheres. You can enjoy a relaxing walk, picnic and an amazing view of the cherry trees all in one place, and it is open every day of the week during the cherry blossom season.
Shinjuku Gyoen Information
Location: Shinjuku Gyoen
Hours: 9am – 4pm
Fee: ¥200
3. Chidorigafuchi Moat (千鳥ヶ淵)
Chidorigafuchi Moat is known as the most picturesque cherry blossom spot in all of Tokyo. Stroll along the Edo Castle’s moat on the northwest side of the Imperial Palace. Chidorigafuchi’s walkway is one of the most scenic spots around the moat, with a 700-meter-long tunnel of cherry trees blooming in the spring.
Chidorigafuchi Moat Information
Location: Chidorigafuchi Park
Hours: 9.30am – 8pm (last ticket purchase at 7.30pm)
Fee: Free, boat rental ¥800/30min
4. Ueno Onshi Park (上野恩賜公園)
Ueno Park is one of the largest parks in Tokyo, as well as one of the biggest tourist destinations. This park is one of the busiest places during the cherry blossom season in Tokyo as many visitors head here for “Hanami”.
Ueno Onshi Park Information
Location: Ueno Park
Hours: 5am – 11pm
Fee: Free
5. Tokyo Midtown（東京ミッドタウン）
Tokyo Midtown is an extremely popular location to see cherry blossoms at night. The 200-meter-long row of cherry blossom trees in the garden area of Tokyo Midtown will take your breath away with its beauty. In the daytime the vibrant pink color can be admired from above inside the building, while at night the trees are brilliantly lit up, mesmerizing you and making you want to stand under them and appreciate their beauty.
Tokyo Midtown Information
Location: Tokyo Midtown
Hours: 11am – 11pm
Fee: Free
6. Yoyogi Park (代々木公園)
With over 500 cherry trees, Yoyogi Park is a popular place that gets many visitors every year come spring. On a normal year (COVID may have an effect on things), there are food stalls set up where you can buy food and snacks, but many people also bring their own food and drinks to consume while taking in the beautiful surrounding cherry blossoms.
Yoyogi Park Information
Location: Yoyogi Park
Hours: Open 24 hours
Fee: Free
7. Shiba Park (芝公園)
Located at the foot of Tokyo Tower, Shiba Park is divided up into several separate areas in Minato City and is known as one of the oldest parks in Japan. You can visit Shiba Tosho-gu Shrine as well as take in the view of the sky-scraping tower while surrounded by cherry blossoms.
Shiba Park Information
Location: Shiba Park
Hours: Open 24 hours
Fee: Free
8. Sumida Park (隅田公園)
There is a stretch along the Sumida River all the way from Azumabashi Bridge to Sakurabashi Bridge that is known as Sumida Park. With a great view of Japan’s tallest building, the Tokyo Skytree, there are over 1,000 sakura trees lined up giving you a stunning view. This is a great place for a picnic or to just relax and take in the beautiful sakura.
Sumida Park Information
Location: Sumida Park
Hours: Open 24 hours
Fee: Free
9. Inokashira Park (井の頭恩賜公園)
Only a short walk from Kichijoji Station, Inokashira Park is a big beautiful park where you can both walk around or take a paddle boat out onto the water to enjoy cherry blossom viewing. With over 500 cherry trees, taking a boat out on the water can be a great way to relax and take in the short-lived sakura on a sunny spring day.
Inokashira Park Information
Location: Inokashira Park
Hours: boat rental 9:30am – 5pm
Fee: ￥600 ~￥700/30 minutes
10. Mt. Takao (高尾山)
Mt. Takao is on the far west side of the Tokyo area, but only about an hour from the center of Tokyo, and can be a great place to escape on a day trip. It is a nice place to take a hike while cherry blossom viewing as the whole area turns a light pink in March and April. This is a good option for you if you’re looking to get away from the big city crowds and want more of a rural sakura experience. If you’re lucky enough, Mt. Fuji might even make an appearance in the distance!
Mt. Takao Information
Location: Mt. Takao
Hours: 10:00am – 4:30pm
Fee: Cable car￥490
11. Showa Memorial Park
Known as one of the biggest parks in Tokyo, Showa Memorial Park has all different kinds of flowers that bloom throughout the year. So of course there are lots of cherry trees spread out in the park. Although it is a bit out of the center of Tokyo, it is worth the trip and you can even make a day out of it. You can expect to see around 1,500 trees that tend to bloom a bit later than the other trees in Tokyo.
Showa Memorial Park Information
Location: Showa Memorial Park
Hours: 9am – 5pm
Fee: 450 yen
12. Rikugien Garden
Rikugien Garden is a traditional Japanese garden located in the northern part of Tokyo. The Japanese atmosphere along with the beautiful pond makes for a pretty amazing combination when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The main point of attraction at this garden is the famous weeping cherry tree which is 15 or so meters tall and has been there for years. This is a spot you don’t want to miss if you are in Tokyo during this time of year. They also have a spectacular night light-up that takes place every evening after sunset from late March until early April.
Rikugien Garden Information
Location: Rikugien Garden
Hours: 9am – 5pm
Fee: 300 yen
13. Aoyama Cemetary
Walking through a cemetery might not be the first thing you think of doing when you want to go see the cherry blossoms in Tokyo. However, Aoyama is a surprisingly peaceful, quaint, and somehow calming place during the sakura season. Although you won’t be able to do hanami here, it is still a great way to appreciate the cherry blossoms and calm your soul.
Aoyama Cemetary Information
Location: Aoyama Cemetary
Hours: 24 hours
Fee: Free
14. Yaesu Sakura Street
You may have heard of or even walked by Yaesu Sakura Street, as it is located on the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station. This is a very convenient place to see the cherry blossoms and can be a great spot to stop at if you are planning on going somewhere via Tokyo Station. This street is cool because you don’t often see cherry tree-lined streets in the middle of one of the busiest places in the city. The trees on both sides of the street form a sort of tunnel that makes for a magical feel among the busy city life.
Yaesu Sakura Street Information
Location: Yaesu Sakura Street
Hours: 24 hours
Fee: Free
15. Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden is a beautiful place at all times of the year, with colors changing every season. With its creation dating back to the 17th century during the Edo Period, it is one of the few remaining gardens of the Tokugawa Clan. It is a massive garden, with various different kinds of cherry trees that bloom serenely in spring. Although sakura season is one of the best times to visit, you won’t be disappointed no matter what season you visit.
Koishikawa Korakuen Garden Information
Location: Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Hours: 9am – 5pm
Fee: 300 yen
We featured 15 spots in Tokyo, but of course, there are many more places where you can enjoy cherry blossoms while they are in full bloom. What spots do you want to check out the most? We hope you enjoyed reading about 15 of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo for 2024 and that you have a chance to make it out to some of them this year!
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