Spring in Japan: Where to view Cherry Blossoms

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If you’re spending Spring in Japan, then chances are you want to know where to view cherry blossoms. I was lucky enough to go there in search of sakura a few years ago. I started my trip in Tokyo, travelled to Hakone and Odawara, before ending my travels in Kyoto. This blog post highlights some of the places I was able to admire the cherry blossoms and is written from first hand experience.

In Japan, the act of admiring the blossoms is referred to as ‘Hanami’ (flower viewing) and the Sakura (cherry blossom) season is celebrated all over the country, every spring. We were visiting Japan at the beginning of April so were pretty hopeful to catch some of the best blossoms in during our stay.

Where to view cherry blossoms in Tokyo

Naka-Meguro Canal

On our first day in Tokyo, we hopped on the train to Naka-Meguro to see the blossoms surrounding the canal. It was pouring down with rain but hey – we’re British! We’re used to it! We weren’t about to let the weather dampen our spirits.

The canal itself was very pretty although shame about the amount of surrounding concrete. We didn’t spend too long in the area but it was a great place to spot our first blossoms of the season.

Getting to Naka-Meguro Canal by train

• Depending on where you are staying, take the JR Yamanote Line to Ebisu. Then the Metro Hibiya Line to Nakameguro Station. OR alternatively, if you’re coming from Shibuya Station take the Toyoko Line to Nakameguro Station.

Ueno Park

The next day we decided to visit Ueno Zoo. To get to the entrance of the zoo we needed to walk through the famous Ueno Park – a highly rated hanami hotspot. The park itself was very crowded (more so than the zoo!) and people had already started laying out the blue tarpaulin for hanami parties later that day. The Japanese ‘reserve’ their spaces under the blossom trees with blue tarpaulin, where they will later enjoy a picnic. And amazingly, everyone respects this.

Getting to Ueno Park by train

• Take the JR Yamanote Line to Ueno Station, then follow directions for the Park Exit.

Inokashira Park

Our next location for sakura spotting was Inokashira Park – a short walk from Kichijoji train station. We’d purchased ourselves some pretty little bento boxes and were planning on having ourselves a lovely lunch under a canopy of pink. But when we arrived at the park we realised that half of Tokyo had descended! If we thought Ueno Park was busy then Inokashira Park was just a sea of people and blue tarp!

Turns out it was far too cold for a picnic anyway!

I’m sure Inokashira Park is lovely but it wasn’t my favourite spot for cherry blossoms, it was far too crowded. But if you’re into Studio Ghibli, the museum is located here.

Getting to Inokashira Park by train

• From central Tokyo take the Keio-Inokashira Line (a 30 minute ride from Shibuya Station) to Kichijoji Station.

Where to view cherry blossoms in Odawara

Odawara Castle

If you’re planning on travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto with a stop off to see Mount Fuji in between, then an overnight stay at Hakone is a great idea. On the day after our Mount Fuji tour, we were headed for our first night in Kyoto. But before travelling to Kyoto, we caught the train to Odawara to visit the beautiful castle there. It was an excellent decision as the blossoms surrounding the castle were quite possibly my favourite. It was a gorgeous sunny day too!

Odawara Castle was originally built in the mid 15th century. It was once home to the Hojo Clan and has been rebuilt several times due to damage, mainly from a large earthquake. It is the closest castle to Tokyo, so if you haven’t got time to see a more traditional side to Japan beyond the bright lights of the capital, a trip to Odawara comes recommended.

Getting to Odawara Castle

• From Tokyo: you can take the JR Tokaido Line from Tokyo Station, this takes around 90 minutes. The bullet train is quicker.
• From Hakone: take the Odakyu Line from Hakone Yumoto Station, this takes around 15 minutes.Odawara Castle is a short walk from Odawara Station.

Where to view cherry blossoms in Kyoto

Gion

The last notable stop on our cherry blossom trail was the Gion district of Kyoto. As a fan of ‘Memoirs of a Geisha‘, a stroll around Gion was high up on my Japan wish list. This was something made all the more magical with the blossom petals gently blowing through the air.

Gion is famous for being Kyoto’s geisha district and although you are unlikely to see geisha just wandering about among the tourists, you may be lucky to spot one of these beautiful ladies nipping through a quiet alleyway between tea houses. We in fact did spot a geisha or maiko (apprentice) whilst walking through Kyoto one evening.

Getting to Gion by bus

• Gion can be reached by bus from Kyoto Station. Get off at Gion stop. The journey takes around 20 minutes.

Is spring in Japan a good time to visit?

Absolutely! The weather can be hit and miss but I think April is a great time to visit Japan. The country is dotted with cherry blossom trees during this time of year, but the places I have written about above were some of the more prominent spots for picnicking and picture taking. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get that Starbucks sakura frappucino I fancied, but I did try a weird McDonalds sakura drink concoction… let’s just say I won’t miss it! Sakura green tea kitkats, on the other hand, are actually pretty good!

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