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Tokyo Cherry Blossom Festival Season in Photos! (2019)

Tokyo Cherry Blossom Festival Season in Photos! (2019)

Last updated: 22 December 2020

Tokyo's 2019 cherry blossom season officially kicked off on March 21! Follow along as we share how the bloom is progressing around Tokyo, plus give updates on when and where to see cherry blossoms in Japan.

When does the Tokyo cherry blossom festival season start?

Cherry blossoms budding on a tree in Tokyo's Nihonbashi neighborhood. Photo taken on March 21, 2019.
Cherry blossoms budding on a tree in Tokyo's Nihonbashi neighborhood. Photo taken on March 21, 2019.

Tokyo's cherry blossom festival season officially starts around March 21! This is after an official from the Meteorological Agency confirmed that at least five blossoms had opened on a sample Somei Yoshino cherry tree at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine - the standard for determining when Tokyo's blossom season starts.

After this, blossoms are expected to continue opening around the greater Tokyo area, with peak bloom about seven days later.

Weeping cherry blossom in front of Nihonbashi Bridge. Photo taken on March 21, 2019.
Weeping cherry blossom in front of Nihonbashi Bridge. Photo taken on March 21, 2019.

In other areas around Tokyo, budding blossoms could be seen in several neighborhoods, including in Nihonbashi, Asakusa, and Shibuya.

Tokyo 2019 Cherry Blossom Report

Cherry blossoms at Nihonbashi Bridge. Photo taken on March 21, 2019.
Cherry blossoms at Nihonbashi Bridge. Photo taken on March 21, 2019.

Live Japan will be bringing you updates from some of Tokyo's most popular cherry blossom areas as well as showing off some of the other trees in bloom.

1. Nakameguro: Perfect Spot for Japan's Cherry Blossom Festival!

Nakameguro: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Nakameguro: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

Just three days after the Tokyo cherry blossom festival season officially started, trees around the city have been speckled with pink buds. The Meguro River is very famous for its sakura, particularly at night when they are illuminated. At this time, crowds converge to snap photos and stroll beside the river, picking up a drink or some light snacks at stalls set up along the streets. This is such a fun way to celebrate the cherry blossom festival in Japan!

Nakameguro: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Nakameguro: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

As of March 24, while some trees are already decorated in pale pink blossoms, many of the buds are still waiting to open.

Just two days later, however, the scene was completely changed! Check out the video below.

  • Meguro River
    • Address Meguro-ku, Tokyo Setagaya-ku, Shinagawa-ku, 153-0043
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Meguro Station (JR Yamanote Line / Tokyo Metro Namboku Line / Toei Mita Line / Tokyu Meguro Line)
      5 minutes on foot

2. Yoyogi Park: Open area to celebrate your own cherry blossom festivals in Japan!

Yoyogi Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Yoyogi Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

As with Nakameguro, the blossoms in Yoyogi Park are still on their way to opening. Clear blue skies and cool air created an inviting space for hanami flower viewing picnics and shutterbugs. And the perfect spot to spread out a goundcloth and celebrate your very own Tokyo cherry blossom festival!

Yoyogi Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Yoyogi Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

People gathered underneath the trees partially in bloom, merilly chatting away while enjoying cans of beer and chuhai. Although the real crowds have yet to descend on the park, this will undoubtedly change over the coming week!

3. Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Ueno Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Ueno Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

Ueno Park is extremely popular as a Tokyo cherry blossom festival destination. Despite only a few trees in bloom, while the majority are still budding, crowds of people circled around the area.

Ueno Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Ueno Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

Many more were crowded along the park's main avenue: groups of friends relaxing on blue tarps and enjoying a picnic underneath the buds and blossoms. As is common on weekends, street performers playing drums, accordions and other instruments beckoned onlookers.

Ueno Park area as seen on March 30, 2019 - just around peak bloom
Ueno Park area as seen on March 30, 2019 - just around peak bloom

As the bloom progressed, blossoms began opening around the Shinobazu Pond area as well, treating all to a magnificent view.

  • Ueno Park
    • Address Uenokouen, Taitou-ku, Tokyo, 110-0007
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Ueno Station (Hokkaido Shinkansen Line / Tohoku Shinkansen Line / Akita Shinkansen Line / Yamagata Shinkansen Line / Joetsu Shinkansen Line / Hokuriku Shinkansen Line / JR Keihin-Tohoku Line / JR Yamanote Line / JR Tohoku Main Line / JR Utsunomiya Line / JR Takasaki Line / JR Joban Line / JR Ueno Tokyo Line / Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
      1 minute on foot
    • Phone Number 03-3828-5644

4. Asakusa - Sumida Park Cherry Blossoms

Sumida Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Sumida Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

One of Tokyo's popular old neighborhoods and home to the city's oldest temple, Asakusa is also famous for its cherry blossoms. While cherry trees grow in several areas around Asakusa, the area beside the Sumida River is particularly popular in this season. This area is called Sumida Park, located in Taito Ward.

Sumida Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Sumida Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

Although the cherry trees are budding, most have not really begun to open in bloom. This didn't dissuade crowds of visitors from enjoying a relaxing stroll on a beautiful spring day, in search of the perfect sakura snapshot!

Sumida Park in Asakusa on March 30, 2019
Sumida Park in Asakusa on March 30, 2019

5. Sumida Park Cherry Blossoms

Sumida Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Sumida Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

Across the Sumida River from Asakusa is a continuation of Sumida Park - this one in Sumida Ward. Here the blossoms along the river are also still budding but not quite in bloom, but they do make for very pretty scenery nevertheless and will be opening up over the next few days.

Sumida Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom
Sumida Park: March 24 - 3 days after Tokyo's first official bloom

A sizable portion of Sumida Park (Sumida Ward) is under construction. However this hadn't dissuaded people from setting picnic sheets down under the cherry trees. Cherry blossoms here are still a few days from opening in earnest as well. Generally this park is much quieter than other blossom areas, given it is a 15 minute walk from Asakusa Station. It nevertheless offers a space for picturesque photos!

  • Sumida Park
    • Address Sumida-ku, Tokyo, 131-0033
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / Toei Asakusa Line / Tobu Isesaki Line (Tobu Sky Tree Line) / Tsukuba Express)
      5 minutes on foot

Other Areas

Chidorigafuchi Park on March 31, 2019
Chidorigafuchi Park on March 31, 2019

Chidorigafuchi Park is another of Tokyo's most famous spots for cherry blossoms. When we visited on March 31 (10 days after first bloom; 4 days after peak bloom) many of the flowers were still open, but with green leaves growing through. Still, its gorgeous blossom canopies still brought crowds of shutterbugs and people looking to enjoy a picnic under the sakura petals.

In front of the National Theatre of Japan, March 31, 2019
In front of the National Theatre of Japan, March 31, 2019
Weeping cherry blossoms and yaezakura at Hamacho Park in Ningyocho on March 31, 2019
Weeping cherry blossoms and yaezakura at Hamacho Park in Ningyocho on March 31, 2019

March 31, 2019 (10 days after first bloom; 4 days after peak bloom): As the Somei Yoshino blossom variety begins to fade, other varieties, such as the pom-pom-shaped yaezakura, are coming into bloom around the area. If you fly in to Tokyo soon, don't worry: you can still find plenty of spots still in bloom!

Cherry Blossom Festivals in Japan: Related Links

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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