10 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Tokyo

Shinjuku Gyoen was once an imperial garden built as part of the botanical garden on the site of the residence of the Naito family, lord of the Takato Domain. It was opened up to the public after the war. It has about 10,000 giant trees, including many foreign trees like Himalayan cedars, tulip trees, and plane trees from the botanical garden period. Attracting many visitors every spring are the park's 1,000 cherry trees, which were cultivated from the time when it became an imperial garden.

The western-style wooden building used as a rest station for the Emperor and the Imperial Family during the Meiji and Taisho periods is an Important Cultural Property. It's open to the public on weekends and vacations. It’s also known as the setting for the “Garden of Words” anime.

Asukayama Park was originally built as a recreation area by the order of the 8th shogun (commander-in-chief), Yoshimune Tokugawa, for the common people of Edo (the former name of Tokyo) who wanted to enjoy cherry blossoms, and later in the Meiji period it was converted into a park. Even today, it remains a popular cherry blossom viewing site for the people of Tokyo. The park also contains the site of the main residence of Eiichi Shibusawa, who was featured in the historical TV series “Reach Beyond the Blue Sky”, and you’ll also find the Shibusawa Memorial Museum here.

The parks has plenty of unique playgrounds, too, so families with young ones will be right at home. There are free monorail passes through the park, providing accessibility for pushchair and wheelchair users. There’s also an exhibition of streetcars and steam locomotives, as well as a deck where you can look at actual Shinkansen bullet trains and normal trains in operation.

At Edogawa Park, you can enjoy a view of beautiful cherry blossoms from a promenade along the Kanda River. The cherry blossoms illuminated and reflected on the river surface at night are a must-see. Despite being located in the city, the park is full of greenery, making it a great place to relax and take a leisurely stroll in nature. The promenade is shaded by many trees, and there are also benches and patios where you can take a break along the way.

There are play neighborhoods too, including large slides, so children can have a lot of fun here. The garden of Hotel Chizanso, which is connected to the park in the upper stream area, is another famous cherry blossom spot.

Cherry trees forming a tunnel of about 4 kilometers along both banks of the Meguro River are rightly regarded as a great site for cherry blossom viewing while walking. The streets along the river become pretty crowded during the blooming season in spring. Bridges where you can see both sides of the river provide excellent photo opportunities.

While the area is pleasant during the daytime, the illuminations at night enhance the atmosphere completely. Large branches of cherry trees lit by lanterns are the very definition of elegance. Enjoy walking around the town of Nakameguro, also known as Nakame, where you’ll find stylish cafés, restaurants, and shops.

Chidoriga-fuchi Park, located next to Chidorigafuchi moat, is one of Tokyo’s most famous cherry blossom viewing sites. There’s a boat pier, so you can enjoy cherry blossoms from the water while cruising along the moat. Many boats can be seen floating here during the cherry blossom season. There are also family-friendly features such as toilets and open spaces with playground equipment.

Another reason for its popularity is that it’s very safe because police are always stationed there, given its location right in front of the Imperial Palace. You can enjoy the cherry blossoms at night without anything to worry about. It's also a good place for runners to take a breather.

Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden is associated with the Mito Tokugawa family. Lord Mitsukuni, a well-known character from the Mito Komon TV series, completed this pond garden with small artificial hills reflecting Chinese Confucian culture. This is one of the must-visit tourist attractions in the Suidobashi area along with Tokyo Dome and Tokyo Dome City, and many people visit the garden in spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.

With the seasonal scenery visible in the arrangement of the pond and hills, the atmosphere is so peaceful that you won’t be able to believe you’re in the middle of Tokyo. In addition to cherry blossoms, the garden is also famous for its plum blossoms, irises, and autumn leaves. In fact, it’s designated as a National Cultural Property as a Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty.

Sumida Park is a popular cherry blossom viewing site and has 514 cherry trees, mostly of the Somei-Yoshino variety. It’s also a popular spot for taking pictures of cherry trees along the Sumida River with Tokyo Skytree in the background. The view from pleasure boats and water buses is breathtaking.

There are plenty of cafés in the area where you can take a break. Also be sure to check out Tokyo Mizumachi, a new commercial complex, and Sumida River Walk, a promenade that connect Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree.

There are 1,700 cherry trees planted in Koganei Park, so it’s a non-stop party here during the cherry blossom viewing season. Highlights include the cherry blossom garden area, along with the rows of cherry trees at the nearby bank of Tamagawa Aqueduct. Enjoy a picnic on the vast lawn and you'll feel as if you're anywhere but one of the biggest cities in the world. Pleasant jogging and cycling trails surrounded by nature are also popular with the locals.

With sports facilities, a dog park, barbecue area, and a big playground, there’s plenty of fun to be had here. Don’t forget to visit the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum as well.

The 599-metre-high Mount Takao has many hiking trails, and the main trail (Number 1), which is the main approach to Yakuoin Temple, is especially famous as a cherry blossom viewing site. Most of the cherry blossoms are in full bloom from mid-April onward, a little later than the flowering time in downtown Tokyo.

Icchodaira, which covers the area from the top of the mountain toward Mt. Kobotoke-Shiroyama, is particularly popular for its cherry trees, fondly known as “the thousand cherry trees”, and is crowded with hikers in peak season. Here you can enjoy a spectacular view of wild cherry blossoms, and if the walk is too much for you, simply use the aerial cableway or lift to make your journey easier.

Many kinds of flower gardens are spread across the vast Showa Memorial Park, delighting people in all seasons. Giant cherry trees, mainly of the Somei-Yoshino variety, are planted in the area called Cherry Blossom Garden. The branches of the cherry trees hang down very close to the ground when in full bloom, making this an idyllic picnic spot.

In the middle of the park is the vast lawn known as Everyone’s Field, where you can freestyle it, running around or playing sports. Whatever you like. Don't miss the Japanese garden landscaped around the pond.