Cherry blossoms 2023: 17 best places to see sakura in Tokyo

This slice of zen in central Tokyo is looked after by The University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Science and covers a 16-hectare greenspace with roughly 2,000 plant species. The most photogenic spot to enjoy the blossoms is along the cherry tree alley that’s lined with beautiful somei-yoshino trees. Picnics are allowed under the sakura trees here, too, so pack a lunch and park yourself beneath the pink blossoms for a leisurely afternoon.

Another long-running favourite, the banks of the Meguro River always get packed with hanami-goers around the end of March. If possible, avoid crowds by moving away from the area around Nakameguro Station or head on over to the river during the morning for a less crowded stroll.

The Kanda River is a lesser-known sakura destination within central Tokyo that gets relatively little tourist traffic. Take the capital’s only remaining tramline, the Arakawa Tram (also known as the Sakura Tram), all the way up to Waseda Station and the river is just a short walk away. The scene here is similar to that at Meguro River but with far fewer crowds. The riversides and the bridges will be strung with festive pink lanterns, and since the cherry trees here are old, their sheer size and volume do make for a jaw-dropping impact when in full bloom.

Chidorigafuchi is famous for its spectacular sakura, which include around 200 somei-yoshino and yamazakura cherry blossom trees. Renting a boat at this boathouse, located in the centre of Chidorigafuchi Park, and paddling under the flowering branches as they reach out over the moat, is one of Tokyo’s sakura-season must-dos.

You might not expect to find tranquility in bustling Shinjuku, but stump up the ¥500 entrance fee and step into the entirely different world of Shinjuku Gyoen, possibly Tokyo’s most beautiful green space. Come sakura season, the whole place erupts into so much riotous pink, you’ll never want to leave the peaceful grounds.

While you’re in Roppongi checking out the blossoms down Keyakizaka-dori, it’s also worth visiting nearby Tokyo Midtown to see the greenspace behind the shopping centre flanked with beautiful sakura trees. You can also admire the trees around the Midtown Garden or have a picnic under the blossoms at the adjoining Hinokicho Park. What's more, Tokyo Midtown celebrates spring with its annual Midtown Blossom event, which includes the outdoor Blossom Lounge with spring-themed cocktails and seasonal food.

Take a spring time stroll down Roppongi's Sakurazaka street to see this ritzy neighbourhood's beautiful cherry blossoms. This short street leads you from one end of the Roppongi Hills entertainment complex to the next, with cafés and restaurants lining the way.

A cemetery might not seem a likely place to see cherry blossoms, but Aoyama Cemetery is a popular spot during sakura season. Rather than being an eerie location, this lush cemetery is filled with plenty of greenery and over 200 majestic sakura trees, with the central avenue featuring an uninterrupted 800m-long tunnel of cherry blossoms. It’s also easy to visit this central Tokyo cemetery, which is a short walk from Nogizaka, Aoyama-itchome and Gaienmae stations.

Located in western Tokyo, Kunitachi is one train stop away from Tachikawa's Showa Kinen Park, one of the city's top sakura spots. However, Kunitachi is worth a visit for its pink blossoms, too. The main road leading from Kunitachi Station towards Hitotsubashi University is lined with large cherry trees, which make for a scenic stroll while checking out the various shops, restaurants and cafés in the area. Walk up to some of the pedestrian overpasses for a breathtaking bird's-eye view of the street in full bloom.

Catch sight of cherry blossoms with Tokyo SkyTree in the background at Sumida Park near Asakusa. There are more than 600 cherry blossom trees to admire around the park with varieties including somei-yoshino and oshima-zakura trees. This picturesque park also straddles a small section of the Sumida River with sakura trees lining both riverbanks. Visit in the evening and you can see the beautiful sakura trees illuminated for yozakura (evening cherry blossom viewing).

Ueno Park is well-known for its zoo and museums, but it's also incredibly popular for the avenue of cherry blossoms along its main path. There are roughly 1,000 sakura trees here with 800 of them being the somei-yoshino variety. During peak cherry blossom season, the sakura trees along the main path are accented with 800 hanging lanterns that are also lit up in the evening.

This tree-lined street in the heart of Shibuya is a lovely spot to catch the cherry blossoms while on a stroll through the neighbourhood. A walk under the blooming trees during the day is always pleasant, but visit in the evening and you can see the blossoms illuminated from 5pm to 11pm. There's also a pretty wall of pink lanterns at the entrance of the street. This year's light up is on until April 9.

This massive park in Tachikawa, just 30 minutes by train from Shinjuku, is great for seasonal flowers, especially cherry blossoms. The sakura trees stand out here as they sit against rows of nanohana (canola flowers) for a beautiful blend of yellow and pink petals. You can also see an overwhelming array of cherry blossoms as the park is home to 31 different varieties including somei-yoshino and yamazakura trees.

This 2.5km stretch of sakura trees along the Tama River in Fussa is great for a less crowded cherry blossom experience. What's more, the Fussa Sakura Festival is finally making a comeback after four years with LED lanterns lighting up the cherry trees, plus plenty of events to keep you entertained. Over the weekends of April 1 to 2 and April 8 to 9, you can watch the likes of dance shows and taiko drum performances. This area along the Tama River is south of Mutsumi Bridge, which is roughly a 15-minute walk from Haijima Station in western Tokyo.

Just 15 minutes from the centre of Tokyo, this Kichijoji park has more than enough to occupy you for an afternoon, including a zoo, a pond with amusingly shaped rental boats, and playground facilities – plus some of the city's most spectacular cherry blossoms.

With its central location in Shibuya and close proximity to Meiji Shrine and Harajuku, Yoyogi Park is quite possibly the city's most popular location for cherry blossom viewing. Hence, also one of Tokyo's most crowded.

Along with Ueno Park, Asukayama Park is one of the oldest in Tokyo, and people from all over the city have been coming here to see the sakura in spring ever since shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune had the trees planted in the first half of the 18th century.