It seems like every Tokyo area blessed with cherry trees is putting on a spring festival of its own, but this Bunkyo bash stands out for its pedestrians-only zone that makes wandering around under the flowers that much more convenient. The Bunkyo Sakura Festival on March 30 and 31 is one of the five major flower festivals within Bunkyo ward, alongside the area’s plum, azalea, hydrangea and chrysanthemum festivals. Expect to see free live performances, workshops and exhibits throughout the day from 11am-3pm.
Use this opportunity to stroll the rest of Bunkyo too – the 'sakura boulevard' where the event takes place is less than ten minutes away from Myogadani Station on the Marunouchi Line. A paper-lantern light-up in the evening adds to the charm.