Cherry blossoms 2021: The best places to see sakura in Tokyo

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.

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.

If Tokyo’s Meguro River is your usual go-to sakura site, switch it up this year by heading out to Koedo in Saitama’s Kawagoe city, also known as ‘Little Edo’ for its historical streets and buildings. Behind the Hikawa Shrine you’ll find a gentle river flanked by grassy banks and cherry trees. Expect a gorgeous pink boulevard at peak bloom, but the river is especially photogenic near the end of the season when the water surface is completely covered in the fallen pink petals. You can even take a slow boat ride along the river.

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.

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.

Chidorigafuchi's sakura festival has already cancelled this year, but organisers are still considering allowing boat rentals during the day via an online reservation system.

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.

Note: Advanced reservations are required to enter the park and can be booked online until Sunday April 25. You can either pre-purchase a ticket online with a specified date and time or apply for a pre-booked numbered ticket. For more information, visit the booking website.

Located 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.

Take a stroll down Roppongi's Keyakizaka for a relaxing walk through the ritzy neighbourhood. Best seen during cherry blossom season in spring or in the winter when the trees are lit up with illuminations, it makes for an eye-opening tour of the Roppongi Hills area. The short street leads you from one end of the complex to the next, with cafés and restaurants lining your way to and from the mall.

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.

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.

An undulating 6.7 hectare park, Arisugawanomiya Memorial Park has been landscaped to take advantage of nature. During the Edo period, the grounds were originally the suburban residence for the Daimyo of the Morioka Nanbu clan. After becoming part of the imperial house of Arisugawanomiya in 1896, the area later became part of the imperial house of Takamatsunomiya. In 1934, Prince Takamatsu gave the land to the people of Tokyo, and it is now maintained as a public park. Inside the park, on its elevated eastern side, is the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library.