Here's your guide to cherry blossom viewing in Japan: 8 must-visit spots in Tokyo

▲ Cherry blossoms in full bloom at Ueno Park in Tokyo. (Photo provided by Wufu Travel)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The beauty of Japan’s cherry blossoms is renowned worldwide. Are you ready to witness this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle? As the capital city, Tokyo is a top travel destination for many visitors to Japan, and it boasts numerous famous cherry blossom viewing spots. Every spring, these locations attract throngs of tourists on a pilgrimage,Below is a list of 8 popular cherry blossom spots in Tokyo.

1. Ueno Park
One of Tokyo’s most unmissable cherry blossom destinations, “Ueno Park,” has been a highlight of spring since the Edo period. With over 1,000 pink cherry blossom trees forming a roughly 300-meter-long cherry blossom-lined promenade, the scenery is breathtaking.

▲ Showa Memorial Park. (Photo / kuma)

2. Showa Park
Spanning a vast area, Showa Memorial Park bursts into color in spring, with around 31 varieties of cherry blossoms blooming competitively. Especially in the “Cherry Blossom Garden” located north of “Everyone’s Lawn” near the center of the park, about 200 Somei Yoshino cherry trees grow densely together. Visitors can enjoy the blossoms under the expansive sky and among the blooming flowers.

▲ Cherry blossoms at Yasukuni Shrine. (Photo / fromthe official Yasukuni Shrine website)

3. Yasukuni Shrine
A landmark spot for cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Yasukuni Shrine offers night cherry blossom viewings. In the evening, numerous food stalls gather, creating an atmosphere as lively as a large Taiwanese night market.

▲ Chidorigafuchi. (Photo / fromthe Chiyoda City Tourism Association’s Facebook page)

4. Chidorigafuchi
A sea of blooming cherry blossoms seems to cover the entire moat of Chidorigafuchi, making it one of the most popular cherry blossom viewing spots. Dominated by Somei Yoshino cherry trees, about 260 cherry blossoms along the approximately 700-meter walking path bloom competitively, giving the impression of strolling through a cherry blossom tunnel. Night viewings are also available.

▲ Cherry blossom trees along Meguro River. (Photo / fromJapan Highlights Travelthe official website)

5. Meguro River
Nakameguro is a bustling street filled with popular eateries and shops. Along the Meguro River, which flows through the Nakameguro area, about 800 cherry blossom trees stretch across a roughly 3.8-kilometer-long area, making it one of Tokyo’s famous cherry blossom spots. The cherry blossoms droop low over the water on both banks, forming a pale red arch. The blooming blossoms seem to cover the Meguro River, causing everyone to stop and take photos.

▲ Breathtaking night cherry blossoms at Rikugien. (Photo / fromthe Walkerplus official website)6. Rikugien

6. Rikugien Garden
Rikugien can be said to be the earliest place in Tokyo where cherry blossoms bloom, and it is a very famous Japanese-style garden. People flock here to worship the garden’s “treasure” — an enormous weeping cherry tree, with each branch covered in pale pink blossoms all the way to the top. The magnificent sight, like a waterfall of petals cascading down, is breathtakingly beautiful and utterly enchanting.

▲ Shinjuku Gyoen Garden in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo / from Wikipedia)

7. Shinjuku Gyoen
Shinjuku Gyoen also ranks among the top in Tokyo for both the number and variety of cherry blossoms, with around 65 different types. Those who want to see multiple varieties of cherry blossoms in one go should come here. The garden’s small bridges, flowing streams, and cherry blossom arrangements make it the perfect spot for photos or picnics. The best time to enjoy cherry blossoms here extends into late April.

▲ Sumida River cherry blossoms. (Photo / fromgotokyo official website)

8. Sumida River
Every spring, the cherry blossom trees along the Sumida River bloom into a sea of pink and white, making it a famous cherry blossom viewing spot since the Edo period. There are about 1,000 cherry trees in Sumida Park. Stroll along the cherry blossom promenade or wander through the cherry groves, or take a water bus or yakatabune (traditional roofed pleasure boat) on the Sumida River to admire the riverside cherry blossoms from the water.