2023, 2024, 2025 Japan's Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots
TOKYO, OSAKA, AND KYOTO - The Best Spots Not to Miss
In Japan, the locals have a traditional custom called "flower viewing", which is actually cherry blossom viewing. Every spring, the Japanese will invite relatives and friends to hold a banquet under the cherry blossom tree, and gather together while viewing the flowers. Pink cherry blossoms have a magical power to make people feel good, and of course they also attract people from all over the world. The most popular cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan are concentrated in the Japanese capitals of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. This article will focus on recommending the best cherry blossom viewing spots in these three areas! The flowering day is actually just the buds to bloom. To see the full bloom of the cherry blossoms, most of them are 7 days after the flowering day.
Please review the 2023 cherry blossoms cruises and 2024 cherry blossom cruises shore excursions to see if they include the following best cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. You may request our private tours to those places that you should never miss.
TOKYO
上野恩赐公园（Ueno Park）
Ueno Onshi Park is the earliest urban park in Japan. It was established in 1873 and can be said to be a cultural forest recording the local history. Ginkgo, camphor, zelkova, lotus, etc. are planted in this garden, among which there are as many as 1,200 cherry trees. The types of cherry blossoms here include Someiyoshino cherry, Shan cherry, Guanshan cherry and Hanfei cherry. This park is a popular local cherry blossom viewing spot, and arriving a little early may avoid the crowded scene.
千鸟渊绿道（Chidori-ga-fuchi Green Way）
The moat is located in the Imperial Palace. There is a 700-meter-long greenway along the river, and more than 200 cherry trees are planted, including Yoshino cherry and Oshima cherry. Chidorigafuchi is a famous spot for viewing cherry blossoms. When you come here, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms while rowing on the moat. The cost of rowing for 30 minutes is 500 yen. You can also choose to come to Chidorigafu at night, where the Chiyoda Cherry Blossom Festival will be held, and the LED lights will be turned on to illuminate the cherry trees, creating a romantic night cherry blossom. When the flowers fall, the petals of cherry blossoms fall on the water, and the color of cherry blossoms dyes the river, which has a unique artistic conception.
目黑川（Meguro River）
The Meguro River is a small river about 8 kilometers long. There are more than 800 cherry trees planted on both sides of the river, mainly Yoshino cherry trees. The most concentrated place for cherry blossoms is from Meguro Station to Naka-Meguro Station. There are walking trails along the way, and there will be bridges when crossing the river, so tourists can stroll among them. In spring, the cherry blossoms in full bloom stretch to the top of the bridge, forming a tunnel of cherry blossoms. The night scene here is even more unique. The night cherry blossoms illuminated by lights and the lanterns hanging high are like stars dotted the night. At night, people gather here in the flower room, and there are many food stalls and izakaya around, which is very lively.
六义园（Rikugien Garden）
Rikugien Garden is a daimyo garden that builds spring water in a migratory style. There are 40 weeping cherry trees in the garden, and the one planted in the square in front of the gate is the most eye-catching. The branches of this type of cherry blossoms are relatively drooping, and the flowers are densely poured down like a pink waterfall, which is extremely gorgeous and beautiful. The cherry blossoms illuminated at night have a dreamy atmosphere.
Kyoto
岚山(Arashiyama)
Arashiyama is famous for its unique beautiful scenery and quaint buildings. Whether it is to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring or maple in autumn, tourists come to Arashiyama in an endless stream. Take the Lanshao train to the mountain, you can walk across the transitional moon bridge, and you will see the scene of up to 1,500 cherry blossoms in the surrounding area. The Weeping Cherry Blossoms in Nakanojima Park also hold an event to light up the night cherry blossoms, which makes Arashiyama look more romantic at night.
平安神宫(Heian Shrine)
When it comes to the cherry blossom viewing spot in Kyoto, Heian Shrine is undoubtedly the most popular spot in the area. In the garden behind the shrine, there are more than 300 weeping cherry trees with Yae red branches. The pink and white cherry blossoms bloom layer by layer, outlining the unique style of the weeping cherry.
醍醐寺(Daigo-ji Temple)
Daigo-ji Temple is an important world cultural heritage in Kyoto, and it is even selected by many people as the top spot for cherry blossom viewing if only one place can be chosen in Kyoto. It has the reputation of "Flower of Daigo". The cherry blossoms here are diverse and huge. There are Kawazu Cherry Blossoms, Somei Yoshino, Mountain Cherry Blossoms and Yae Cherry Blossoms located in Xian Shenlin Garden, weeping cherry blossoms in Lingbao Hall, Weeping Cherry Blossoms in Sanbaoyuan and Dashan Cherry Blossoms next to Jintang are all blooming, even forming a cherry blossom corridor. Indescribably beautiful. Every year in the second week of April, the "Fengtai Pavilion Flower Viewing Procession" is held, and the cherry blossom viewing activities are very lively.
清水寺 (Kiyomizu-Dera Temple)
Kiyomizu-dera Temple is a 100-year-old shrine and one of the most representative attractions in Kyoto, the ancient capital of a thousand dots. The temple is built on a mountain, and in spring, cherry blossoms are full of flowers. When you come to the temple to enjoy the cherry blossoms, the mood seems to become calm. Under the decoration of lights, the night cherry blossoms with the temple as the background are even more dreamy.
岚电樱花隧道 (CHERRY BLOSSOM TUNNEL)
Landian Cherry Blossom Tunnel is a relatively unpopular cherry blossom viewing spot, and there are not so many crowds. Walking across the railway while riding the Landen train, you can admire the cherry blossoms planted on both sides through the window. Even if it is only a short 200 meters, it is enough to make people feel excited.
Osaka
大阪城公园 （Osaka Castle Park）
As the most famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Osaka, it can be said to be crowded with people every time the spring flowers are blooming. There are up to 3,000 cherry trees in the park, and about 300 Someyoshino cherry blossoms can be seen in the Nishinomaru Garden. The castle tower is looming with the beautiful cherry blossom scenery, and the beautiful moments here are recorded with the lens.
大阪造币局（Japan Mint）
The Osaka Mint is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in this place. It is only open to the public for one week a year, which means that as long as it is open, you can see a particularly bright group of cherry blossoms blooming. There is a 560-meter-long Cherry Blossom Avenue, where tourists can witness up to 134 kinds of cherry blossoms up close, the main variety is Yae cherry, which blooms relatively late, in mid-April. It can be crowded on weekends, so try to visit on weekdays.
万博纪念公园（Expo’70 Commemorative Park）
The Expo'70 Commemorative Park was built after the Japan World Expo was held in 1970. The park has green forests and vast grasslands, and is famous for its plum and cherry blossoms. In mid-March, Yoshino cherry trees, weeping cherry trees, mountain cherry trees and Oshima cherry trees dye the park a large pink, which is gorgeous and charming. At night, the "Sakura Lighting" event is held in the park, and the night cherry blossoms rendered by lights are worth seeing.
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