Lake Sagami Sakura Festival

Famed for its spectacular winter illumination show, the risquely named Sagamiko Resort Pleasure Forest is also an excellent blossom-viewing spot. Accessible in an hour from central Tokyo, the expansive park is home to a whopping 2,500 sakura trees, which are lit up in the evening and make for a sight you won't find within the city limits. The highlight here is the 400m walking route, lined by a total of 500 trees on both sides and decorated 'to resemble the Milky Way'. We're curious to see what that means in practice – plenty of sparkling lights at least, that's for sure. Visitors can also use the amusement park rides (including the ferris wheel) at night, so take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the spring scenery from a different viewpoint.