Things to do in Tokyo today

Cherry blossom viewing isn’t just limited to the daytime. Just a five-minute walk from the west exit of Shibuya Station is Sakurazaka, a winding street lined with beautiful cherry blossom trees that are illuminated each evening with pink lights and 250 pink lanterns from March 27 to April 3. The around 30-or-so somei-yoshino trees along the 200-metre road reach peak bloom from late March to early April. Sakurazaka's cherry blossom illuminations run from March 27 to April 3.

Nakameguro is one of Tokyo’s most popular sakura spots, with 800 cherry blossom trees lining the Meguro River that runs through the neighbourhood. This area is renowned for its cherry blossom trees, which create a canopy of pink over the water. You’ll find local restaurants and shops with stalls set up along the river, and the sakura trees lit up with pretty pink lanterns from 5pm to 8pm. This part of Nakameguro gets very crowded, especially on weekends during peak bloom, so there will be some restrictions and traffic control in place to manage the crowds. Eating and drinking while walking is discouraged, as is putting down a sheet to have a picnic under the trees. If you want to find some quieter spots, head over early in the morning or try to move further down the river away from Nakameguro Station. While the light-up runs every evening in late March (until March 31), the Nakameguro Sakura Festival is happening for one weekend only on March 28 and 29 at the Goryuten Playground on the south side of Nakameguro Station. On Sunday March 29, you'll be able to enjoy live events including a brass band performance (from 10am), hula dances (2.10pm), awa-odori dance troupes (4.10pm), and much more. If you've missed the Nakameguro Sakura Festival and the light-ups, head South to Nakame Ohanami Park Festival for some delicious matsuri grub to enjoy under the cherry trees. Ten food trucks will gather at Meguro River Park daily from March 27 to April 5.

With the 2026 sakura season now here, this is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s many cherry blossom festivals. To get a feel of what hanami (the culture of cherry blossom viewing) was like back during the Edo period (1603-1867), you can visit the annual Oedo Fukagawa Sakura Festival that takes place along the banks of the Oyokogawa River near Monzen-nakacho Station.  The festival grounds are home to 270 somei-yoshino trees, which flank the river. For the best view of the flowers, we recommend hopping aboard an old school river boat to appreciate the gorgeous, low-hanging sakura branches. To replicate those Edo-era vibes, this special boat ride will be steered by a boatman with an oar. An accompanying boat will be trailing nearby (on March 22, 29 and April 4), carrying musicians playing the shamisen (traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument). If you prefer a more modern experience, larger engine-powered boats are also available.  For the traditional boat ride, you'll need to buy a ticket, which is distributed near Kurofune-bashi Bridge (near Monzen-nakacho Station) on the day from 9.30am (200 seats to be distributed per day, limited to 4 tickets per person), with queues starting 30 minutes prior. The 30-minute boat ride costs ¥1,000 per person and it's only available on weekends and holidays from March 20 to April 11, 10am to 3.30pm (more info here, in Japanese only). Along with the boat rides, the festival coincides with several spring events happening inside Tomioka...

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government No 1 Building in Shinjuku serves as the backdrop for a jaw-dropping and record-breaking projection mapping show. Covering an area of a whopping 13,905sqm, the after-dark spectacle has been certified by Guinness World Records as the largest permanent display of its kind in the world. The nightly showcase features a range of visual wonders created by a mix of local and international artists. Some shows are inspired by Tokyo’s rich history, while others draw on themes like the lunar cycle.  Currently, on weeknights, you can catch striking visuals synchronised to ‘800’ and 'Zankyosanka' by hit Japanese pop singer and lyricist Aimer as well as ‘Pac-Man eats Tokyo’, ‘Lunar Cycle’, ‘Synergy’, ‘Tokyo Resonance’ and ‘Evolution’. On weekends, you can look forward to the aforementioned ‘Zankyosanka (Aimer)’, as well as ‘Godzilla: Attack on Tokyo’ and ‘TYO337’, a display featuring motifs of traditional Japanese performing arts such as Kabuki paired with electronic beats.  From March 20, Pokémon Trading Card Game ‘Tokyo Luminous Night’, a brand-new projection-mapping show featuring Pokémon cards on a massive scale, has been running on weekends and holidays from 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 9pm. Be sure to check the event website for more details. Shows take place every night at fifteen-minute intervals from 6pm (Mar from 6.30pm, 7pm from Apr, 7.30pm from May to Aug) to 9.45pm. For more details and to check the full programme of daily projection mapping shows,...

This expansive exhibition is the largest in the Doraemon franchise’s 56-year history, bringing together manga panels, animation, sculptures, limited-edition merch and a themed food menu all starring the world’s favourite blue robot cat and his friends. It launched in Hong Kong in July 2024, attracting over five million visitors during its month-long run. Since then, it has continued to captivate fans across Asia, making its way through several cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Bangkok, and Kaohsiung in Taiwan.The exhibition space contains over 100 distinct Doraemon figures, each with its own expression and costume. In addition to showcasing the content from the previous cities, the Tokyo exhibition also features Japan-exclusive works. Here you can see Doraemon transformed into a shiba inu, a sumo wrestler and a few other forms inspired by Japanese culture, as well as view two original animations not seen elsewhere.‘100% Doraemon & Friends’ runs until September 30 and is open from 10am to 6pm daily (last entry 5.30pm). Tickets start from ¥2,400 for adults, ¥1,800 for primary and secondary school students and ¥1,600 for children four years old and below – purchase yours here. As an added bonus, upon arrival exhibition visitors receive one of nine Doraemon-themed acrylic pins and one of four promotional cards (both chosen at random).

Celebrate spring's arrival at Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi, where the annual highlight is the illumination of the 200m avenue lined with cherry blossoms in the Garden Area. This spot is especially scenic between 5pm and 11pm during the spring festival when all of the trees are lit up. Before the cherry blossoms bloom, they're bathed in bright pink light. Once in full bloom, the lights shine a bright white, letting you admire the blossoms in all their splendour. For an extra leisurely experience, grab a seat at the Roku Midtown Blossom Lounge (12pm-8pm) in Midtown Garden, where you’ll find exclusive spring-inspired cocktails and dishes prepared by chefs from the nearby Ritz-Carlton hotel. Check the lounge menu here. 

Even among Tokyo's innumerable flower-viewing spots, Ueno Park stands out with its sheer scale and tasteful lantern decorations. Turned on at sunset, these beautiful lights help make Ueno's nighttime sakura a must-see spectacle. This year, the 20-day event unfolds across three areas within the park, all centred on the theme of food. At Takenodai Square (also known as the Fountain Square), food trucks from all 47 prefectures across Japan will serve regional specialities and festival favourites. The park's South entrance area near Keisei Ueno Station will feature food stalls from local Ueno vendors, cooking up their best dishes in bento form. Meanwhile, the square overlooking Shinobazu Pond will showcase food trucks offering piping hot ramen bowls. Note that the festival period may change depending on the cherry blossom blooming dates. Light up daily from 5pm to 10pm.

This cherry blossom festival, one of Tokyo's most popular, takes place along the 700m-long Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo promenade near the Imperial Palace, around which there are some 230 sakura trees. During the day, you can take a stroll along the Chidorigafuchi moat or even rent a rowboat to see the cherry blossoms from the water. By night, you can enjoy the pink flowers lit up with LEDs from March 26. If you’re interested in viewing the cherry blossoms from the water, boat rentals (3 seats maximum) are available but require payment. A pre-reservation system is available to minimise wait times. Advance online reservations cost ¥12,000 per boat and allow you to select your preferred date and time. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Chiyoda Ward Sakura Fund for the conservation of the Chidorigafuchi landscape. (change of date and time can be made until 8pm of the day before the desired date, availability permitting) Same-day tickets purchased onsite at the Chidorigafuchi boat pier cost ¥3,000 per boat for one hour of use, which is inarguably the more affordable option. Be sure to get in line fast though, as tickets will be distributed from 9am daily and are sure to run out quickly.  For those who can’t get a hold of tickets during the peak period between March 15 and March 31, shorter 30-minute rides are available for ¥1,000 from April 1. For the sakura illuminations that start at sunset, expect lights out at 9pm. The boats, on the other hand, will be available from 9am...

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.

The annual cherry blossom light-up at Roppongi Hills illuminates the sakura trees in the Mohri Garden and along the 400 metre-long Sakura-zaka slope behind Keyakizaka-dori street, providing the perfect opportunity for after-dark flower viewing. You can see four kinds of cherry blossoms here – somei-yoshino, maihime, yoko and yamazakura. The trees will be lit from 5pm to 10pm, starting around March 19, when the blossoms begin to bloom, and continuing through early April. Exact dates may vary depending on the blooming season.