Make the Most of Cherry Blossom Season in Japan

Japan is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. But that popularity goes into overdrive when it comes to cherry blossom season in Japan. It seems like every traveller wants to see what Japan is like decorated with the white and pink flowers from its wealth of cherry trees.

So, planning a trip during cherry blossom season in Japan comes with high expectations. Managing those expectations and knowing where to go are two big parts of getting the most from your hanami experience. Allow me to share things you need to know about Japan’s cherry blossoms and give you some locations worth knowing. That way, you’ll get to enjoy the experience and leave with few or no regrets.

Visiting Japan in the cherry blossom season

Before getting into the details and advice, it’s worth going over a few things, to make sure it’s crystal clear what we’re talking about.

During spring, the flowers on cherry trees blossom in bursts of white and pink. These flowers in Japanese are known as sakura. This annual magical transformation across Japan has led to the tradition of hanami, a custom of enjoying the cherry blossoms by visiting parks and having picnics or social gatherings under the trees.

Timing is the main factor you need to be aware of for the season. Cherry blossoms first emerge in the tropical south and gradually make their way north to chilly Hokkaido. The tricky part is that the best time for cherry blossoms in Japan changes from year to year. 

Some years it’s earlier, others it later, but the general time frame is between mid-March and mid-April. Look for a cherry blossom forecast in the lead-up to the season for a more accurate timeframe for that year. I arrived in late March to the trees already bloomed through the regions of Kanto, Chubu, and Kansai.

Disadvantages of a Japan spring trip

A big part of getting the most from visiting Japan during cherry blossom season is knowing what to expect. You may see countless photos of cities and attractions decorated with sakura, but they rarely reveal the downside and disadvantages of visiting at this time of year.

Even if many of the disadvantages are obvious, I think they bear repeating:

• The crowds – the spring months of March and April are two of, if not, the busiest months to visit Japan. Everyone wants to see the cherry blossom and you can feel it. Cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are heaving with people; even smaller cities can be overwhelming.
• The cost – with high demand comes higher prices. More people competing for hotels and flights means you’ll end up spending more on your trip, even when trying to do regular things unconnected to hanami.
• The weather –  it’s hard to predict what you’ll get visiting Japan in spring. It could be hot and humid while you’re exploring one city and then pouring rain the next. March to May isn’t technically the rainy season, but look at raincharts and it isn’t that far off. And if you go anywhere near the mountains, expect it to get colder quickly.

As for the upside, the following photos should take care of that.

Where to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo

People rarely skip Tokyo when going to Japan, so chances are you’ll want to see cherry blossoms there. The good news is that Tokyo has lots of great spots to experience sakura season in Japan.

Probably the most famous scenic cherry blossom spot in Tokyo is the Imperial Palace, with the sakura along its moat. Regrettably, I didn’t go there as it was out of my way. Yoyogi Park, next to the Meiji Jingu, is another common place to go, but I didn’t know about it at the time.

Even without deep research, I was able to find a nice selection of Tokyo cherry blossom spots. Here are popular places to go during cherry blossom season in Tokyo.

Ueno Park

Ueno Park is one of Tokyo’s best parks and a popular place to visit among tourists normally. But it gets a major boost at spring when its trees are suddenly bursting with blossom.

The day I arrived in Japan, I pretty much stepped off the airport train at Ueno Park and within five minutes was surrounded by sakura. At that stage in my trip, it was captivating, but even now I can see why it’s a popular spot for hanami in Tokyo.

Because Ueno Park is so large, I recommend starting at the island in Shinobazuno Pond. There, you’ll see a line of trees along the lake’s paths that’s hard to miss. You’ll also come across plenty of sakura up behind Gojoten Shrine and lawns where Tokyo locals will come for picnics under the blooming trees.

Nihombashi

I’m not sure whether most tourists would normally have reason to go to the business district of Nihombashi. The neighbourhood borders Tokyo Station and mostly has malls, shops, and commercial buildings.

But this makes Nihombashi quite a different backdrop for hanami to most places mentioned here. Bright white blossoms line many of the area’s busy streets and almost look like they’re filling the space between the buildings. Just remember, this is an inner city area, so be mindful of traffic when taking photos. 

Meguro River

One of the stars of cherry blossom season in Tokyo is the Meguro River. Found way out in the Meguro Ward south of Shibuya, you’re unlikely to come to this area by accident or for any other reason than sakura.

But the journey out is well worth it, as you have sakura as far as the eye can see if you walk along the river. The banks of the river are like one long, uninterrupted pinkish cloud that seems to grow as the river narrows and narrows.

The most famous hamani spots here are near Nakameguro Station and the Sakura Bridge. Not only are the blossoms here the densest, but you also get the festivities that usually come with hanami. In the area, you’ll find lots of venues to eat and drink at, where you can enjoy the scenery and soak up the atmosphere.

I do want to mention though, that you can see cherry blossoms right along the river, all the way from Meguro Station. The scenery there is more open, but still very impactful, and also much less busy.

Sakurazaka in Akasaka

Akasaka is a neighbourhood in the upscale midtown area of Tokyo, just up from lively Roppongi. Beyond a few venues and Harry Potter-themed businesses, it’s a little understated for tourists.

However, Akasaka does have a selection of cherry blossom sites, including one particular street outside Akasaka Biz Tower. Sakurazaka winds up behind the shopping mall and is beautifully lined with cherry trees, although it also felt a little melancholy there without anyone about to admire them.

Where to see cherry blossoms in Kyoto

Just as Kyoto is a wildly popular city to visit in Japan, it’s also a phenomenal place to go in spring. Kyoto is home to a lot of temples, gardens, and parks, making it a prime location for hanami.

Like Tokyo, there’s a lot of ground to cover in Kyoto, so I can’t say I know all the best places. Apparently, the Kyoto Botanical Garden is one of the best Kyoto Japan cherry blossom spots, but I wouldn’t know from firsthand experience.

Instead, I can recommend the following places, as well as the wonderful gardens at Tenryuji Temple, which deserve an honourable mention.

Shirakawa Lane in Gion

Kyoto’s Gion District is probably the most famous area of the city thanks to its geisha district and classic traditional scenery. There’s so much to see that you might just miss the particularly beautiful pocket of Gion, Shirakawa Lane.

Following a small stream and home to several scenic bridges, it’s a pleasant area that is transformed when its many cherry trees blossom. You will see cherry trees elsewhere in this part of the city, but a walk down Shirakawa Lane is hard to beat.

Keage Incline

A strange landmark of Kyoto is the Keage Incline, a small stretch of old railway tracks. But this spot is also one of the most magical come spring, as trees on either side bloom, creating a brilliant tunnel of blossom.

Getting photos here can be a little tricky if you come later in the day like I did. The Keage Incline is quite a long, narrow space, so unless you’re there early, you’ll probably be sharing it.

Philosopher’s Path

Another spot that’s well-paired with the Keage Incline is the Philosopher’s Path. This meandering path along a stream is guaranteed to be beautiful and scenic at any time of year, but the cherry blossom takes it to the next level.

A walk along this park takes about 20 minutes each way, but you’re bound to lose track of time with the trees and other things to see along the way.

To-ji Temple

To-ji Temple, an 8th-century Buddhist temple, is one of Kyoto’s most important historical and cultural sites. Its pagoda is the tallest wooden building in all of Japan.

And yet, your attention is pulled elsewhere if you visit Kyoto in spring or autumn. The gardens of To-ji Temple are famous for the way the leaves change during autumn, but the cherry blossoms are also quite magical.

Where to go for cherry blossoms in Osaka

Osaka has seemingly fewer large green spaces than Tokyo or Kyoto. Finding cherry blossoms in Osaka is harder as a result or at least it was for me. If you’re visiting Osaka and want to see the sakura, you may find that you need to look beyond the city to nearby cities a short trip away.

Osaka Castle Park

For Osaka cherry blossom you only need to go to one attraction that you’d go to anyway. Osaka Castle Park, home to the city’s iconic castle, is also where you’ll find stunning groves of blossom.

Near the actual castle keep you’ll find Osaka Castle’s Plum Grove where you can see plum blossom rather than cherry blossom. But on the other side of the moat, the outer side, there are so many blossoming trees.

On a nice weekend, you’ll also find as many people here having picnics as you will trees. It’s the best representation of locals enjoying hanami I’ve yet experienced.

Nara Park

Nara isn’t far from Osaka (or Kyoto), so it’s a very common day trip option for travellers visiting the city. There are many reasons to go to Nara, most of them in Nara Park. Sakura simply add another reason for you to visit.

While there are the occasional trees around temples such as Todai-ji, I only found one spot that went overboard with cherry blossoms. There may be more in Nara, this was just what I found.

Head to the Ukimido gazebo on the south side of Nara Park. Leading down to the gazebo and the lake that it’s on is a little grove of cherry trees, creating a particularly pretty spot for photos.

Himeji Castle Park

If you’re not going to Nara, then there’s every chance you’ll instead make a day trip to Himeji from Osaka. Himeji isn’t as famous as Nara, but it’s still quite popular. Again, the centre of attention is a castle and the park that surrounds it.

At Himeji Castle, you’ll immediately discover its sakura. Cherry trees pretty much lead from the main gate all the way up into the castle complex. And yet, I think the most picturesque spot for blossoms is on the outside of the castle walls and moat. There you see cherry trees along the water’s edge, as well as the ones on top of the castle walls.

Follow the moat and you’ll eventually reach Senhime-no-Komichi Park, which sits on an island. Walk along its pedestrian path and you’ll soon have plenty of cherry blossoms overhead – a great place for photos in Himeji. 

Where else to add to your Japan cherry blossom itinerary

While I’ve shared where to see sakura in the main tourist destinations, these aren’t the only places you can see cherry blossoms in Japan. Countless articles online can offer you other popular places to go including the Fuji Five Lakes and Hirosaki Castle Park.

But of the places I went during cherry blossom season in Japan, two destinations stood out.

One was Kanazawa; you will find cherry blossoms at some of the best places to visit in Kanazawa. They pop up around the castle and along the city’s riverfronts, especially at Kazuemachi Chaya. The highlight though is Kenroku-en Garden, which while already beautiful, is dreamlike thanks to the cherry blossoms along its streams. 

As for the second, it’s the many postal towns along the Kiso Valley. Here and there in and near post towns such as Tsumago and Narai-juku you can find beautiful and vivid blossoms. The teahouse on the walk from Magome to Tsumago in particular stands out in my memory because of the trees there.

Have you ever travelled there during the cherry blossom season in Japan? Where would you recommend people go, especially if they want to escape the crowds? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.