Deep Dive #1: Go big or go home
These are the biggest, baddest cherry blossom spots in Tokyo, two of them lit up at night!
Visit them in this order for maximum time being there and minimum time getting there:
Shinjuku Gyōen National Garden: Open every day but Monday, 9:00 – 17:00*
Yoyogi Park: Open every day, 24 hours
Meguro River: Open every day, 24 hours; lit up from 17:00 – 20:00 March 19 – 31, 2024
Chidori-ga-fuchi Imperial Palace Moat: Open 24 hours; lit up from 18:00 – 22:00 from March 22 – April 2 (2024)
Here’s the 2024 Cherry Blossom Forecast so you can plan for peak bloom
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Shinjuku Gyōen National Garden
Why this spot is epic: It’s a beautiful park with lots and lots of huge, spectacular cherry trees that hundred percent deliver the cherry blossom experience you’re dreaming of
If you go early, when the gates open at 9:00,* you can catch the reflections on the big pond before the breeze stirs the water…
If you come early in The Season, you’ll see the weeping cherry trees…
If you come at peak bloom, you’ll see epic clouds of pinkness for miles…
And if you come late, you’ll see the double-petaled, late-blooming ones.
Here’s where the different kinds of cherry trees are in the garden:
Admission: ¥500
*Shinjuku Gyōen requires a reservation during peak days. It’s not hard, and you can do it online in English. Here’s How to get into Shinjuku Gyōen During Cherry Blossom Season
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Yoyogi Park
Why this spot is epic: This vast public park is famous for eccentric amateur performances on Sunday afternoons and epic hanami parties during cherry blossom season.
Here’s where the cherry trees are:
Admission: Free
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Meguro River near Nakameguro Station
Why this spot is epic: It’s an especially lovely example of a Tokyo “river” (i.e. cement-lined canal) lined with blooming cherry trees.
If you time your arrival at this popular cherry blossom spot, you can see it during the day when it’s a bower of pinkness…
and at night, when it’s lit up. But before you decide whether to stay later or not, you need to decide…
…if you want to see the Imperial Palace moat during the day as well as lit up at night. If so, head over there before it gets dark. If you’d like to linger at the Meguro River until they switch on the lanterns, they’re lit from 17:00.
Here’s where the cherry trees are:
If you stay, this is a good place to grab a few bites to eat from the food stalls lining the canal before heading on to the Imperial Palace moat—there’s no food over there.
Admission: Free
Note: They severely trimmed these trees in 2024, and until they grow back, the branches won’t meet over the water and make a tunnel o’flowers like the photos above. They’re still a pretty example of a typical “cherry-lined Tokyo canal” with festive food stands and evening light-up, but not quite as special as when I took the photos above. Also, they’ve banned taking pictures from the bridges near Nakameguro Station. Walk down toward the Starbucks Roastery building for uninhibited bridge views.
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Chidori-ga-fuchi Imperial Palace Moat
Why this spot is epic: Ahahaha I think you can see for yourself. This is arguably the most jaw-dropping cherry blossom display in all of Tokyo, day or night.
And the best part is that even though it draws the kind of crowds you’d expect, none of them will be standing between you and these gorgeous cascades of flowery branches.
Here’s where the various kinds of cherry trees are. The photos above were taken on the side between Kudanshita Station and Hanzomon Station:
Admission: Free
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Coming soon: Perfect Cherry Blossom Day #2: Live the Dream Without the Crowds
Back to:
Navigation buttons to the other “7 Perfect Days”
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If you’d like to browse all the gardens or shrines or individual neighborhoods in Tokyo, links are on The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
If you’d like info on seasonal secrets and beyond Tokyo destinations, subscribe to my monthly e-magazine Japanagram (it’s free!)
and if you’d like to discover super quirky things to do, do a search at Only In Japan
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 