Every Spring, the Japan Meteorology Corporation forecasts the arrival of cherry blossoms or sakura. It’s an impossible science, but the Japanese study these reports diligently. The flowers bloom gradually from south to north, starting in Okinawa and ending somewhere in the northern island of Hokkaido.
Last Spring, my Tokyo cousin warned me the blooming may begin as early as March 15, meaning the full bloom or mankai would occur the following week. Mankai usually lasts for only one week. My heart sank. I wasn’t scheduled to be in Tokyo until early April.
But as it turned out Mother Nature was on my side and timed the spring season perfectly for my arrival. Tokyo embraced us with clouds of pink and white blossoms. It was as if the entire city was swathed in cotton candy in various shades of pink. It’s hard to describe the experience. These opulent flowers were beyond just “pretty.” They were wildly gorgeous.
The sakura season signifies the rejuvenation and appreciation of life and a much-needed relief after a long dreary winter. Locals and tourists alike celebrate the season – at city parks, along riverwalks, and at local lakes – as if it were a week-long national holiday. Seen everywhere are the Hanami or flower viewing parties where friends and families gather under the giant cherry trees to relish the moment.
Where are the best places to view cherry blossoms in Tokyo? Here were my favorite Sakura moments.
Shinjuku Gyoen Park Google Map
The High Point: A magnificent park in the midst of a massive city!
This expansive 144-acre park with its lush gardens, cobblestoned walkways, koi ponds, and pedestrian bridges is absolutely stunning during the mankai season. Bring a boxed bento lunch (which you can buy at the train stations) and picnic with the rest of the locals under the cherry trees. I saw wedding couples having their photographs taken against a backdrop of pink blossoms. Honeymooners, young families, the elderly, and high schoolers reveled in the beauty of the season.
Naka-Meguro Riverwalk Google Map
The High Point: All the “pink” and sakura-themed food!
Once you get off at the Naka-Meguro station, head south and follow the crowd. The meandering river (though it’s more of a canal) flanked by cherry blossoms takes you to the row of “pink” food booths selling such delectable treats as sakura mochi (pink confectionary wrapped in pickled cherry leaf), cotton candy, and pink champagne. I drank glasses of Chandon Rose with reckless abandon. Stop by the Coeur et Coeur Café for gumbo stew (not very Japanese but delicious anyway) and spend a peaceful retreat from the crowd.
Ueno Park Google Map
The High Point: The street food!
Brimming with ponds, temples, and museums, this gargantuan city park is known for vendors selling everything from grilled crab skewers to takoyaki (fried octopus balls) to sticky dango (sticky rice cakes). Street food can’t get any better than this. Divide your visit over a two-day period. There’s so much to do, see, and eat here. Spend a day to enjoy the views and the food, and another day to visit the temples and museums. You can easily spend an entire week here.
Inokashira Park Google Map
The High Point: The white swan paddle boats!
Hundreds of cherry trees hug the perimeter of an oblong-shaped lake located in the center of the park. Rent a whimsical swan-shaped paddle boat for a totally different view of the blossoms. What I treasured most was the stroll through the charming town of Kichijoji bordered by shops and cafes in order to reach the park. Inokashira Park also serves as a gateway to the Park Zoo and to the Ghibli Museum (showcasing the work of Hayao Miyazaki). A fantastic place for kids.
Chidorigafuchi Moat Google Map
The High Point: The fairy-tale views!
The wide moat threading its way through the grounds of a 130-year-old Imperial Palace with blossoms cascading gently over the water is simply magical. I felt like a princess in a fairy tale about to meet my handsome prince. If you have time for only one venue while in Tokyo, the impossibly gorgeous Chidorigafuchi would be the place.
Spring seemed to soften Tokyo, a dizzying metropolis of 10 million. Every place you went, the locals were engulfed in conversations about the best viewing spots for hanami. Joyfulness and infectious laughter flourished everywhere. I felt blessed to have experienced this extraordinary seasonal moment.
Skies painted in pink.
Blossoms glittering like stars.
Gently gone too soon
