Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba 17:00
From ¥7,500, primary school students ¥3,000, free for younger children
Enjoy a special cherry blossom-themed sky lantern festival this April in the heart of Shinjuku at the Hanami Toya, an indoor event with live music performances, unlimited booze, festival grub and more. The lantern release here is purportedly the largest in Japan, with 1,500 sakura-coloured lanterns released simultaneously around the centrepiece sakura tree.
Returning to the airy Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Sankaku Hiroba event hall, Hanami Toya lets you enjoy a blossom-viewing experience without worrying about pollen, unpredictable spring weather or finding somewhere to sit. Tickets start from ¥7,500 and include four hours of unlimited alcohol and soft drinks, plus your own sky lantern. Add ¥2,000 to get date-change and cloakroom privileges, an expanded drink line-up, and a full refund if the event is cancelled.
Purchase a ticket through the official website.