photo by hkflc
The shivering winter is finally gone and the city smells like spring now. Perhaps you have already noticed, but the Japanese love having cherry blossom viewing party called “Hanami” in spring. Sometimes you see those people who are having a huge party on picnic blankets under the cherry trees. It seems cherry flowers somehow make Japanese people carried away. Also, a cherry flower is often used in the designs of advertisement materials for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. As can be seen, Japanese spring is represented by cherry blossoms and there are so many cherry blossoms viewing spots all over Tokyo city. So, let’s have a look on the 5 best cherry blossoms spots in Tokyo.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
photo by bugrabbit
Just 10-minutes walking from JR Shinjuku station, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a peaceful city garden open in the middle of Tokyo. This place has been loved by citizens of Tokyo as a peaceful oasis isolated from the city noises. Known for the beauty of seasonal plants and trees, spring is the best season to enjoy seeing blooming trees such as Japanese plum, magnolia, Japanese cherry and azalea. There are 65 types, roughly 1100 cherry trees here. Someiyoshino (Prunus yedoensis) starts blooming in late March and double-flowered cherry trees in April. Many viewers visit this garden to have a picnic during cherry blossom season every year. In fact, it is very handy place to have a “Hanami” picnic as it is the best access from any direction and there are plenty of places to get packed lunches around this garden.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Access
10-minutes walking from Shinjuku station south Exit of JR, Keio and Odakyu
5-minutes walking from Shinjuku Gyoen-mae station exit1 of Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line
5-minutes walking from Shinjuku 3-chome station E5 exit of Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line
5-minutes walking from Shinjuku 3-chome station C1/C5 exit of Toei Shinjuku Line
Opening hours
9:00～16:30, Monday closed except for 25 march – 24 April 2017
Admission fees
Adult 200yen, Primary and Junior high schooler 50yen, Pre-schooler free
Best view
Late March – early April
Rikugi-en
Constructed in middle of the Edo period, this famous garden is known for its beautiful seasonal views. The best view of this Japanese garden in spring time is the huge weeping cherry tree standing nearby the main gate. It is illuminated from mid-March to late April and attracts a huge number of viewers every year. Drinking party is strictly prohibited within the premise, but there are a few open cafes that sell light meals and drinks so that visitors can enjoy seeing cherry flowers with a cup of tea. Night time admissions are extremely popular every year so there normally is a queue to get in, but it is rather quiet during the daytime. There are only 40 cherry trees in this garden, but there also are other beautiful trees such as magnolias to watch around.
Rikugi-en
Access
7-minutes walking from Komagome station of JR Yamate Line and Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line
Opening hours
9:00～17:00（Gate closes at 16:30）, Open everyday during cherry season
Admission fees
Adult (Junior high school or over) 300yen, Over 65years 150yen
Best view
Mid-March – early April
Chidorigafuchi
photo by Marufish
Located northwest of the Imperial Palace, 260 cherry trees bloom along the both sides of the moat. This place is a well-known cherry blossom viewing spot in Tokyo, and visited by many people who enjoy watching beautiful flowers from boats on the water in spring time every year. Also, fully bloomed cherry trees can be seen on the moat water during annual Cherry Tree Festival period while trees are beautifully illuminated. This is no place for a picnic as eating and drinking is strictly banned, but many people enjoy just watching cherry blossoms from the footpath.
Chidorigafuchi
Access
5-minnutes walking from Kudanshita station exit2 of Tokyo Metro Tozai Line & Hanzomon Line, Toei Shinjuku Line
Opening hours
Footpath is open 24/7. Boat hire: 9:30～17:30（21 March – 14 April 2017）, 11:00～17:30（15 April – 31 October 2017）. Special time table 9:30～20:00 during Cherry Tree Festival (28 March – 6 April 2017)
Admission fees
Footpath is free. Boat hire: 80yen/30min, 1600yen/1h (Cherry tree season only)
Best view
Late March – early April
Sumida Park
Sumida Park is one of the most loved cherry blossom viewing spot of Tokyo since the Edo period which has its roots in the cherry trees that was planted in this place by Tokugawa Yoshimune, the 8th Edo Shogun. The beauty of cherry blossoms in Sumida Park was affirmed in a well-known song written in the Meiji period. Sumida Park Sakura-matsuri Festival is held from late March to early April and many visitors gather to see events and performances. Also, cruising on Yakata-bune boats and water-buses become very poplar particularly in this season. The view from the gentle river water is absolutely breath-taking as well as lovely scenery you can enjoy while walking along the footpath. Cherry trees on Taito city side of the Sumida River are illuminated from the dust to 22:00.
Sumida Park
Access
5-minutes walking from Asakusa station of JR Tobu-Isezaki Line & Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, or 7-minutes walking from Honjo-Azumabashi station of Toei Asakusa Line (Taito city side)
7-minutes walking from Honjo-Azumabashi station of Toei Asakusa Line (Sumida city side)
Opening hours
24/7
Admission fees
Free
Best view
Late March – early April
Tama Forest Science Garden
Someiyoshino (Prunus yedoensis) is the most commonly seen cherry tree species in Japan, but of course there are many more kinds of cherry trees you can see. In Tama Forest Science Garden, roughly 250 types, 1500 cherry trees are planted. It starts with kanhizakura blooming in February and is finished with kasumizakura blooming out in late April. A variety of cherry trees here come into full bloom one after another for the longest period with in Tokyo. Especially, the most of cherry trees start blooming in early-to-mid April. It is the best time to see many different type of cherry flowers. Just note that this place is established in order for scientific researches of plants and animals in the nature, so smoking, bringing alcohol drinks and use of fire is strictly banned here.
Tama Forest Science Garden
Access
10-minutes walking from north exit of JR Takao station
Opening hours
9:30～16:00（Gate closes at 15:30, opens 9:00 during April）
Admission fees
Adult 400yen, Child 150yen (April only). Adult 300yen, Child 50yen except for April
Best view
Early March – late April
Under a cherry tree, all burdens of life fly away
Of course, there are many more cherry tree spots in Tokyo other than these 5 places introduced in this column. Cherry trees rapidly grow leaves after blooming and turns as green as other kinds of trees. Therefore, we often encounter happy surprises to unexpectedly find out there are a bunch of beautifully bloomed cherry trees which we believed ordinary green trees. Illuminated cherry blossoms attract many viewers across Tokyo, but make sure to wear a warm jacket as it is still cold at night time.
