The Full Facets of Spring! 16 Popular Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Tokyo

On February 1, 2024, the "Weather News"outletpublished its forecasted dates for cherry blossom flowering and 2024 full bloom season as follows.
The best time to see cherry blossoms is expected around March 26th to April 3rd.
Tokyo specifically is one region likely to see some of the earliest cherry blossoms across Japan in 2024.

Located in Taito Ward, Tokyo, Ueno Park's official name is "Ueno Onshi Park." Managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Construction Bureau, the park spans an impressive 530,000 square meters, making it one of the largest and most historical parks in Tokyo. The park is loved by many near and far as a true Tokyo destination, drawing eyes from around the globe in spring who come to see the cherry blossoms.
On the grounds are Ueno Hill and Shinobazu Pond, brushed with canopies of green and waterside landscapes, serving as an urban oasis. With about 1,200 cherry trees, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Somei Yoshino and Yamazakura cherry blossoms overhead. The park also offers light-up events that glimmer with a soft glow, making the fantastical nighttime cherry blossom viewing a must-see. Once in bloom the park also hosts the Ueno Sakura Festival, drawing crowds of ready travelers who come to see the blooms.

This park located inTaito Ward stretches along the western bank of the Sumida River, while the park along the eastern bank is managed by Sumida Ward. The park, boasting over 10 hectares, is home to many cherry trees centered around Sakura Plaza. The sought-after Somei Yoshino and Oshima cherry trees are obvious sites, while other famed, ancient varieties like descendants of the Miharu Takizakura, a weeping cherry tree in Miharu Town, Fukushima Prefecture, known to be over 1,000 years old have become a local symbol. During cherry blossom season, the park becomes a famous viewing spot visited not only by locals but also by people from other prefectures.

Inokashira Onshi Park, straddling Musashino City and Mitaka City in Tokyo, opened in 1917 as Japan's first Onshi (Imperial Gift) Park, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2017. The park covers about 380,000 square meters, equivalent to about nine Tokyo Domes, and is divided into four areas: the area around Inokashira Pond, Gotenyama, Nishien, and the Second Park. It features a baseball field, an outdoor stage, a boating area, and the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, making it a popular destination for events and tourism. There are about 400 cherry trees throughout Inokashira Onshi Park, with approximately 200 around Inokashira Pond. The ability to view cherry blossoms from a boat offers a unique, personal space to enjoy them. The reflection of the illuminated cherry blossoms on the pond surface is exceptionally beautiful.

Spread over an area equivalent to about 40 Tokyo Domes, Showa Kinen Park features vast lawns, fountains, sports courts, gardens with seasonal flowers and ponds where intriguing aquatic plants await just beneath the surface. Here’s where to find a number of ways to think about living together with plants and nature, with ample event programming across the year. The park is home to about 1,500 cherry trees of 31 varieties, allowing visitors to enjoy different cherry blossom scenes in each area. Many of the trees are over 50 years old, providing a the full awe and glam of cherry blossoms. For an evening delight, check out the cherry blossoms bathed in the glimmer of designed lighting and natural moonlight.

Shinjuku Gyoen originated from an Edo period samurai residence, becoming a royal garden in 1906 and is now open to the public. The vast 58.3-hectare garden comprises Japanese traditional, formal, and landscape gardens, considered a masterpiece of modern Western gardening. Shinjuku Gyoen, located right in the heart of Shinjuku, is an urban oasis where about 1,000 cherry trees bloom in spring, offering a stark contrast between nature's beauty and the artificiality of surrounding buildings.

Yoyogi Park, with its 544,711.27 square meters, offers a landscape of abundant water and greenery, uncommon in the city center. The park is divided into the northern forest park and the southern plaza area, which includes an outdoor stage and sports facilities. About 700 cherry trees bloom within Yoyogi Park, including the early-blooming Kawazu cherry trees. Its openness allows for a pleasant cherry blossom viewing experience, perfect for strolls. The spacious layout and proximity to the cherry trees make it an ideal location for photography.

Asukayama Park, Japan's first park opened to the public about 300 years ago by Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune, is one of Tokyo's premier cherry blossom spots with about 600 cherry trees. The park's old-time charm is unique to Asukayama Park, offering a one-of-a-kind scenery where the beauty of cherry blossoms blends harmoniously with the atmosphere. Evening illumination is provided for a limited time, enveloping the cherry blossoms in a world of pure fantasy.

A 700-meter-long promenade maintained along the moat of the Imperial Palace, Chidorigafuchi Greenway is enveloped in rich nature, making it a perfect spot for leisurely walks. About 260 cherry trees are planted along this walkway, turning beautifully pink from late March to early April each year, making it one of Tokyo's most popular cherry blossom spots. Strolling along the path for cherry blossom viewing is one surefire way to see the best blooms. During Chiyoda Sakura Festival there are evening illuminations as well, reflecting the shimmy and blossoming boughs on the moat's water surface for a time of magical romance not available during the day.

Tokyo Midtown is an urban complex composed of vast greenery and six buildings to boot. Here you’ll find an array of shops, restaurants, offices, hotels, green spaces, and an art museum. About 130 stores line the streets, offering high-quality shops and authentic flavors from domestic bites to global fare. As the days begin to warm look out for the Spring Promenade where some 100 cherry trees, mainly Somei Yoshino, let out their blooms. From mid-March to early April, when the cherry blossoms are at their peak, visitors can enjoy relaxed cherry blossom viewing in the heart of the metropolis, complemented by about 40 cherry trees blooming in the adjacent Minato Ward Hinokicho Park. Illumination is also provided during the cherry blossom season.

Roppongi Hills, a landmark complex facility that opened in 2003 in Roppongi, centers around the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, a 54-floor skyscraper standing 238 meters tall. The facility is lined with numerous luxury brand shops and upscale dining options. The "Mori Garden" within Roppongi Hills features cherry blossoms blooming in a Japanese garden, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the scenic cherry blossoms. "Roppongi Sakurazaka" has a 400-meter-long cherry tree-lined path with 75 cherry trees planted. Looking up, visitors can enjoy cherry blossoms with high-rise buildings in the background, and the illuminated dazzle and cherry blossoms are also a highlight.

Yaesu Sakura-dori leads from the Yaesu exit of Tokyo Station towards Nihonbashi. Just steps from the major sightseeing starting point for many, Tokyo Station, you can easily walk to Nihonbashi for a day away to shop and stroll. Along the way you’ll find that Yaesu Sakura-dori keeps a scrumptious selection of dining options to delight your inner foodie. The stree is hugged by some 150 cherry trees, making for a perfect snap of cherry blossoms in the city. If you visit after sundown there’s even an evening illumination with fewer crowds and cozy, twinkly cherr blossom vibes.

Tokyo Skytree is a broadcasting tower and tourist hub located in Oshiage, a neighborhood of Tokyo’s Sumida Ward, with a global record height of 634 meters, logged in the Guinness World Records as the tallest tower in the world.
At its foot you’ll find Sumida Park, known as a famous cherry blossom spot for many years for its gorgeous trees along both banks of Sumida River just steps away.
With about 1,000 cherry trees in bloom, the park is selected as one of the "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan”.
You’re in for a treat if you manage to catch Tokyo Skytree along with cherry blossoms.
Even at night the Sumida River glitters with evening illuminations that reflect off the river alongside Skytree and the cherry blossoms for a view you won’t soon forget.

Tokyo Tower first hit the scene in 1958 at a whopping height of 333 meters, surpassing the Eiffel Tower in Paris as the world's tallest self-supporting steel tower at the time.
Located in Minato Ward at the heart of Tokyo, its observation deck offers panoramic views of the city.
Even today the tower is constantly revamped with all-new things to see.
Shiba Park, one of Japan's historically significant parks, is recommended for those wanting to see Tokyo Tower and cherry blossoms together.
The park simply bursts with Somei Yoshino cherry trees, allowing you to enjoy cherry blossoms in a uniquely Japanese atmosphere.
The collaboration of pale cherry blossoms, the red Tokyo Tower, and the blue sky is stunning.
A side street next to Tokyo Prince Hotel is a hidden spot where you can see both cherry blossoms and Tokyo Tower simultaneously.
Enjoy the roadside cherry blossoms while taking in the full awe of Tokyo Tower right before your eyes.

Founded in 1869 by Emperor Meiji against the backdrop of a chaotic world following the Meiji Restoration, Yasukuni Shrine was established to console the spirits of those who sacrificed their lives for the country and to pass on their deeds to future generations. The name "Yasukuni" embodies the wish to build a peaceful nation. About 500 cherry trees can be found at Yasukuni Shrine, where the solemn architecture harmonizes beautifully with the cherry blossoms, making it a spot where visitors can simultaneously experience deep history and Japanese sentiment. During the evenings there are even illuminations along the trees for a whole new way to enjoy the magical blooms at night.

Rikugien Garden is a strolling-style Japanese garden with undulating landscapes, created over seven years starting in 1695. Designated as a special place of scenic beauty by the country, it is considered one of the two great gardens of Edo, alongside Koishikawa Korakuen. Rikugien features 30 to 40 cherry trees, notably a large weeping cherry tree known for its beauty, resembling a waterfall with its height of about 15 meters and width of about 20 meters, evoking a deep sense of nostalgic beauty. Illuminations have kicked off again as of 2023, transforming the grounds into a place of whimsical delight after dark.

Located in Bunkyo Ward's Korakuen, Koishikawa Korakuen is a strolling-style Japanese garden centered around a pond. The garden expresses four landscapes: sea, mountain, river, and countryside, with changing views as one walks. Features such as the Engetsu Bridge and Seiko embankment incorporate Chinese scenic beauty and styles, creating a world where Japanese and Chinese elements harmonize. About 30 cherry trees are found in Koishikawa Korakuen, notably the "Baba Sakura," a weeping cherry tree near the entrance, which is about 80 years old. The beauty evoking historical sentiment is complemented by other cherry tree varieties, including Somei Yoshino. The weeping cherry trees bloom a few weeks earlier than Somei Yoshino, making it a perfect spot to see a wave of different blooming stages at once.

Ikegami Honmon-ji, preserving and passing on the Dharma light for over 700 years since the demise of Nichiren, the founder of Nichiren Buddhism, features the impressive Niomon Gate at the top of a 96-step stone slope called "Kono E Nanmon Sakamichi." The precincts are home to several important cultural properties and buildings. The five-storied pagoda, erected in 1608, is designated as an important cultural property of Japan. About 100 cherry trees are planted across the grounds, but the sought-after snap that awaits over by the trees around Niomon Gate are particularly beautiful. The matching white hues of the cherry blossoms while making strides up the stone steps draw you in for a personal sense of earned beauty. Although there is no illumination for the cherry blossoms here, the lights are turned on for night visits so you can still enjoy the blossoms after dark. For historic buildings and cherry blossoms backed by authentic architecture, this is the place to go.

Kiyosumi Garden is a stroll-style garden centered around spring water, hills, and a dry landscape, designated as a scenic spot of Tokyo in March 1979. The garden features three different "isowatari" stepping stones, offering changing views that reveal as you go. On rainy days or after the rain, the various stones placed throughout the garden become wet and glimmer with dew, providing a different look than your average day. The western side of the garden includes a lawn area and pergola, with about 20 cherry trees planted, making it a beloved spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring. Three types of cherry trees are planted, allowing for an extended cherry blossom viewing period from early March to mid-April that visitors always love. Stroll through the Japanese garden and enjoy a time away with blossoms under the spring breeze.

Satte Gongedo Cherry Embankment is a famous cherry blossom spot in the Kanto region. The contrasting colors of the pink tunnel of cherry blossoms, formed by around 1,000 Yoshino cherry trees over a length of 1km, and the yellow color of the rape blossoms that bloom below the embankment create a truly stunning view. The area has also been used as a set location in many movies bringing the crowds of movie-fans who’ve come to see the locations from their favorite scenes.
During the cherry blossom festival, held every year from the end of March into April, there are around 100 stalls opened in the area, and around 1 million people come to visit. From June through mid-July, around 100 different species of hydrangeas bloom into nearly 10,000 flowers. What’s more, in September the embankment is covered in 3 million blooms of red cluster amaryllis, also known as red spider lilies, and in January half a million stunning daffodils, which stand proud in the cold winter air, burst into full bloom.

Located at the southern foot of Mt. Akagi, "Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura" is a beautiful row of cherry trees with approximately 1,400 Someiyoshino cherry trees blooming on both sides along a 3.5 km path.
Once the trees were cut down and only a path remained, the current row of cherry trees was completed after three years of maintenance starting in 1956. 1990 saw the area selected as one of Japan's "100 Best Cherry Blossom Places," and it is known as one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan.

Located in Naka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Shizumi Furusato Park spans 12 hectares and features a variety of spots to enjoy including full-on playground equipment, seasonal flowers and plants, expansive lawns, walking trails through the forest, and a ground golf course. The park, selected as one of the "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan," bursts into a riot of color in spring with about 2,000 double-flowered cherry trees and approximately 200 Somei Yoshino cherry trees. The sight of fully bloomed cherry blossoms in collaboration with other flowers offers a quintessential spring spectacle. During the peak bloom, the "Yaezakura Festival" opens up for visitors to enjoy illuminated night cherry blossoms and traditional performances such as festival music and Yosakoi Soran dances on stage.