Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo: 15 Best Places To See Sakura

Cherry blossoms symbolize new beginnings. The pink and white flowers are something Japan residents look forward to every year. The sakura flowers are so loved that this season has become one of Japan's busiest periods, with most tourists planning their trips solely to see the cherry blossoms in action. And thankfully, you don't need to wander far from Tokyo to see them!

Traveling to Kansai this spring? See the best places to see cherry blossoms in Osaka and Kyoto. 

Ginza's historic Yanaka district bursts into visions of pink, broken up only by this culture-rich area's traditional architecture, and now's your chance to see it for yourself.

Alongside seeing the glorious cherry blossoms of 2025, you'll get to try local snacks, explore Yanaka's street food and sip on sake and other drinks.

We're not done yet. You'll get to wander around local shops, an artist gallery and studio, and take a stroll through more cherry blossoms for photos.

Every year, the Japan Meteorological Corporation releases a cherry blossom forecast. This forecast helps hundreds of residents and tourists plan their trips to ensure they get to see the gorgeous sakura.

We'll be sharing the 2025 cherry blossom forecast as it's announced, but generally Tokyo's cherry trees will start to blossom around mid-March, reaching full bloom around the end of March.

If we're being honest, you'll probably see some cherry blossoms wherever you are in Tokyo. But if you want to make it an event and celebrate the season, then make some time to check out the city's top cherry blossom spots.

Keep reading for a brief introduction to each sakura spot on our list!

Ueno Park is one of the oldest public parks in Tokyo and is home to numerous museums and other cultural attractions like the Ueno Zoo. It's a great space to surround yourself with greenery year-round, but spring is particularly beautiful when the park's 1,000 cherry trees are in full bloom. 

There is also a festival that takes place during this time. It's the perfect opportunity to munch on classic Japanese street foods while enjoying the sakura above you. 

While you're enjoying cherry blossoms in Ueno, make time to experience a landmark with over 280 years of history: the historic teahouse of the Tokyo National Museum.

In this two-hour experience, you'll indulge in a premium meal of seasonal Japanese cuisine, learn to whisk matcha and enjoy it with accompanying sweets, all elevated by the teahouse's traditional tatami floors and fusuma paintings.

Want to wear kimono? Add our additional yukata or kimono-wearing option and you'll fit right in.

When it comes to where to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Chidori-ga-fuchi is undoubtedly the most picturesque location on this list. Walk along the 700-meter pathway along the moat of the Imperial Palace to see hundreds of cherry trees of different varieties. 

Expect some big, big crowds here, as this sakura spot is popular with tourists and residents alike. 

If you're looking to go all out and plan a cherry blossom-viewing party, or hanami, Shinjuku Gyoen is where you'll want to go. Only a 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, the park is home to 68 varieties of sakura that bloom at slightly different speeds, giving people ample time to visit. 

If you need help with planning a hanami, check out our guide. 

Along with Shinjuku Gyoen, Yoyogi Park is another popular option for hanami (though be prepared to claim your space well in advance), though just walking along the paths is enough to get your cherry blossom fix. 

It's easy to wander from Yoyogi Park to Meiji Jingu Shrine and, from there, to Harajuku and Omotesando, where you can continue to bask in the spring vibes. 

Opened in 1974, Tokyo's first public cemetery is also a stunning cherry blossom location. You can walk along the main path or venture deep into the cemetery to find the final resting places of some well-known Japanese figures, including Hachiko, the loyal Akita Inu.

Ensuring your Tokyo cherry blossom experience is complete requires a visit to Asakusa, a historic neighborhood east of central Tokyo. Noteworthy sakura spots include Senso-ji Temple and along the Sumida River. This area is popular with photographers, who can capture the essence of the cherry blossom season in Tokyo by snapping a shot of Tokyo Skytree framed in sakura flowers.

Another popular park if you want to see Tokyo's cherry blossoms, this time in west Tokyo, is Inokashira Park. Like many of the parks on this list, if you're looking to do the whole hanami shabang, it's better to set your tarp early because it will get busier as the day goes on. 

Alternatively, pass through on your way to one of the nearby attractions. Inokashira Park is home to its very own zoo and the Ghibli Museum. 

Meguro River is an 8-kilometer-long river that runs through south Tokyo. But where you'll want to head for cherry blossoms is the stretch that spans between Meguro and Nakameguro stations. Again, expect some crowds, but these views are some of the most iconic in the city. 

Nakameguro is one of Tokyo's chicest spots, and it only becomes more beautiful when its famous Meguro River becomes lined with beautiful cherry blossoms.

Your local guide will regale you with cultural facts about sakura season in Japan, showing you the seasonal fun and frenzy of a cherry blossom festival.

Of course, you're on a food tour, so save room for local snacks and drinks, ending with dinner at a lively izakaya pub nearby.

Slightly outside of downtown Tokyo, in Ota Ward, Ikegami Honmon-ji receives hundreds of visitors every spring who come to the temple's 500 cherry trees. 

While not the first park or garden that comes to mind when you think of Tokyo cherry blossoms, Korakuen offers a quiet retreat with just-as-beautiful sights. The garden has five weeping cherry trees, some over 80 years old. 

A lesser-known park to see sakura in Tokyo is Koganei. It's home to over 1,700 cherry blossom trees of different varieties, some over 100 years old. It's a bit far from central Tokyo (a couple of stations past Kichijoji on the JR Chuo Line), but it's a good option if you don't care for overcrowded areas. 

Many of the parks we mentioned in this list are vast, but Rikugien Gardens and Korakuen are the two Japanese gardens where you'll find a more traditional setting for cherry blossoms. 

Rikugien stands out as one of Tokyo's most renowned gardens and has a history that dates back to the Edo Period (1603–1868). The allure of Rikugien lies in the captivating evening illumination. This park is one of the few places on this list where we recommend going at night rather than during the day. 

Another quiet spot for cherry blossoms is Kinuta Park in Setagaya Ward. The park is deep in a residential area, so it's a bit of a detour to go, but you get only a portion of the crowds you'll see in more popular places. On your way to the park Yoga Station is a 1-kilometer sakura tunnel. Walking along this path is a truly magical feeling.

Roppongi, one of Tokyo's nightlife hubs, has a few cherry blossom spots you can check out between shopping and art gallery-hopping. Tokyo Midtown has stunning cherry blossoms, and just behind Roppongi Hills is Roppongi Sakura-zaka, a short street lined with sakura trees. Ark Hills, near Roppongi-itchome Station, hosts a sakura festival every year where you can walk down and up its cherry blossom tunnel (yes, another one!) and pick up some spring snacks at one of the food stalls along the way.

The cherry blossom may only be there for two to three weeks, but its presence is strongly felt wherever you are in Japan. No matter how you spend your time this spring, you'll surely see its pretty pink petals peek through.

Kasai Rinkai Park is a must-visit destination at any time of year as one of Tokyo’s largest seaside parks — just one stop away from Tokyo Disneyland, by the way. There's a Ferris wheel, an aquarium, an observatory, a cafe, a beach and all kinds of beautiful trees, including plentiful cherry blossoms. They look even better from the top of the Ferris wheel, we promise.

Explore the best things to do in Japan in spring, how to celebrate cherry blossom season, what to eat at hanami and the cherry blossom forecast.

Barring any extreme weather, cherry blossoms can last for up to two weeks. However, keep an eye on the weather forecast, but any strong rain, wind or unexpected snow can cut this time down dramatically.

As cherry blossoms are incredibly beloved and honored in Japan, the cherry blossom forecast is updated multiple times to capture the most accurate data. As a result, you can expect the forecast to be accurate to within a day or two.

You can still catch sakura in bloom in mid-April if you head north of Tokyo and into the Tohoku region. This area sees cherry blossoms at their peak at around mid-April, while Hokkaido can see blooming cherry blossoms as late as May.

This blog post was originally written by Lucy Baker. It was updated by the byFood team in November, 2024.