The rows of cherry blossoms blooming on street corners, roads, parks, temples in Japan… with fresh pink color full of vitality is a charming beauty that everyone wants to see at least once. To not miss the upcoming cherry blossom season in 2023, don’t forget to refer to the cherry blossom forecast.
* Cherry blossom schedule is announced annually at: https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/sakura/
Cherry blossoms in the Tokyo area are expected to bloom in late March – early April (from March 18). If you are planning to go to Tokyo to see cherry blossoms (hanami) this spring, the following 3-day itinerary is definitely a reference that cannot be missed. Let’s see what our schedule has!
Day 1 – Explore central Tokyo with its iconic cherry blossom viewing spots
Sumida Park – 1 of “100 most beautiful cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan”
A corner of the park overlooking Tokyo Skytree
Sumida Park, located between the banks of the Sumida River and the Sakura Bashi Bridge, has been a famous cherry blossom viewing spot since the Edo period. It has also been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Japan”.
Along the river is a beautiful scene with a combination of brilliant cherry blossoms and behind is the iconic Tokyo Skytree tower. The cherry blossom festival in Sumida Park is also very famous, attracting many visitors every year. You can choose to sit under the cherry trees to enjoy food, chat with friends or experience the yakatabune tourist boat to see the cherry blossoms from the Sumida River.
Visit Sensoji – one of the oldest temples in Tokyo
Just a 3-minute walk from Sumida Park is Sensoji Temple – one of the famous tourist attractions in Tokyo and Japan. The temple is a favorite place for domestic and foreign tourists of all ages and genders with many attractions. During cherry blossom season, this is also an ideal place for couples to take souvenir photos and wedding photos. You will also see many boys and girls wearing kimonos walking together in the temple grounds and the surrounding roads leading to the temple. This is also an ideal experience for you. It is not difficult to rent kimonos and accessories because there are many shops around the temple that provide this service to visitors all year round.
Ueno – more than a park
Just 16 minutes by train from the nearest station of Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, you will arrive at Ueno Hirokoji Station and walk about 7 minutes to Ueno Park. Every cherry blossom season, Ueno Park attracts visitors from all over the world to experience the hanami culture here. It is said that there are about 1,000 cherry trees in the park and when they bloom, can you imagine the impressive beauty? When you come here, it will be like walking under a sky full of flowers because the cherry trees here are old with many canopies covering the entire path.
After admiring the cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, visit Ameya Yokocho – a bustling shopping street. There are many small shops selling seafood, fruits, vegetables, groceries, clothing, accessories, cosmetics, etc. Ameya Yokocho is also a paradise for street food and snacks such as yakitori grilled chicken, takoyaki octopus balls, okonomiyaki Japanese pancakes, etc. In addition to Japanese dishes, Ameya Yokocho also has many restaurants serving Chinese, Thai, Indian, Korean and Vietnamese food!
Day 2 – Experience a poetic yet dynamic Tokyo
Meguro Flower River
On both sides of the river are rows of cherry blossoms covering the path.
The Meguro River Cherry Blossoms are one of Tokyo’s most famous viewing spots, located in the Nakameguro area near Shibuya in central Tokyo. You will be amazed by the breathtaking view of over 800 cherry trees stretching for 4 km on both banks of the Meguro River.
The best time to see the flowers here is after they have fully bloomed and started to fall. The cherry blossom petals gently fly in the wind and then quietly land on the water, creating a stunningly beautiful pink river.
At night, when lit up, the river with blooming cherry trees takes on a splendid beauty, helping you feel a completely different Meguro than during the day.
Shiba Park – with a view of Tokyo Tower
Fresh air with a clear view at Shiba Park
Shiba Park is a 10-minute taxi ride or 30-minute train ride from Meguro River, the next stop on our second-day itinerary. Cherry blossom season is the most colorful season in the park, with about 200 cherry trees of the Yoshino, Yamazakura and Satozakura varieties.
Cherry blossoms bloom next to the ancient temple
From the park, you can easily reach the iconic Zozoji Temple and Tokyo Tower. This helps you feel the extremely interesting contrast between traditional and modern beauty. A photo with the gentle pink of cherry blossoms, the bright red of Tokyo Tower and the clear blue sky on a sunny spring day in the Japanese capital is a precious moment that helps you feel that your trip is really meaningful!
Remember to take pictures with Tokyo Tower and spring cherry blossoms! (Photo: ©Instagram @1min.traveller)
Harajuku – a unique colorful world
The gate on Takeshita Street is always newly decorated to welcome visitors.
The last activity of the day is to stroll around Harajuku. Located right next to the bustling and youthful Shibuya, Harajuku is equally bustling and youthful. This is considered the center of kawaii (cute) fashion culture and street art. Remember to take a photo at the gate on Takeshita Street, where any foreign tourist wants to verify in. This gate will lead you into a world of many new things such as cosplay shops, vintage fashion, unique cafes, crepe shops, street food…
Day 3 – Day Trip to “Little Kyoto” in Saitama
On the third day of this itinerary, leave Tokyo for a quaint town called Kawagoe. It is only about an hour away from major stations in Tokyo by train, so you can definitely consider it as a day trip.
The poetic beauty of cherry blossoms on the banks of the Shingashi River
The poetic beauty of the Shingashi riverbank every spring
The famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Kawagoe is the Shingashi River bank, which lies quietly behind the sacred Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. When you come here, the beauty of 100 cherry trees on the 500-meter long road along the river bank will make you feel like you are stepping into a poetic spring natural picture with gentle pink tones.
A very charming and graceful image that brings out the unique beauty of this viewing spot is the image of a wooden boat with a man in a happi coat and a traditional sugegasa hat rowing under the cherry blossoms. If you come at the right time, you can also see the river covered in pink woven from the cherry blossom petals falling into the water.
Visit Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine for Love
Because the Shingashi River is located right behind Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, visitors often stop by the shrine after viewing the cherry blossoms here. Of the five deities enshrined at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, two are married couples, so it is believed that this is the shrine of “happy families” and “matchmaking”. Therefore, whether you are married or looking for your other half, make your wish to the deity in the shrine when you come here.
If you have something to wish for, write it down on a wooden Ema and hang it in the Ema tunnel or take a photo at the colorful Wind Chime Corridor when visiting the shrine!
Tokyo và hoa anh đào có thể nói là 2 biểu tượng của Nhật Bản. Tại Tokyo, du khách từ muôn phương luôn có thể cảm nhận được một thành phố vừa năng động vừa cổ kính. Vào mùa hoa anh đào, Tokyo mang vẻ đẹp vừa tinh khôi vừa lãng mạn. Chúng tôi đã cố gắng đưa những đặc trưng đó vào hành trình khám phá quanh Tokyo trong mùa hoa anh đào lần này.
Hello vọng bạn sẽ thích lịch trình gợi ý trên và sẵn sàng để trải nghiệm Tokyo trong mùa hoa anh đào năm nay nhé!