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Spending time in Japan during cherry blossom season is a sight to behold. If you are planning a trip to Japan and trying to maximise your cherry blossom experience, here are some good to know information. The basics The progression of the cherry blossom bloom is as follows: - Around a week from the first buds opening (開花) to being at full bloom (満開). - Then about a week to enjoy the bloom before they make way for green leaves. When should you go? As an overall view of main land Japan, the opening of petals begin around late March, ending towards mid/late April in the North. It’s definitely recommended to do some bespoke research online as each year there are official predictions based on forecasts (such as https://www.kyuhoshi.com/japan-cherry-blossom-forecast/). Keep the 7 days of opening in mind when working out an itinerary, along with the week that the bloom last for. It's always best to travel with low expectations and you won’t be disappointed since Tokyo is such an amazing place anyway. All it takes is for some wind or rain and everything goes out of the window. Here are some of our top places to experience Cherry Blossom whilst in Tokyo. 1. Yaskuni Shrine Yaskuni Shrine is a beautiful area located in Central Tokyo and the Japanese garden at the back was picture perfect. 2. Chidorigafuchi (chi dory gaf chi) This was my favourite few hours of cherry blossoming in Tokyo with some peaceful experiences and awesome photo opportunities. Looking at a map, it’s the large area around the Budokan, (Bu DOH kan) just north of the imperial palace. This entrance on the east side is nice enough anyway but walking from here around the moat and along the walk way was a sight and a half. Capping off this walk, is the chance to row your own boat with a quintessential backdrop. Queues can build up quickly and we waited for almost an hour, so allow plenty of time. Also, be aware that it can close if it’s too windy, but it’s definitely worth checking out as it still ranks as one of my favourite Tokyo moments. 3. Yoyogi Park This is a great place to visit since it’s a fairly unique experience. It’s a Japanese tradition where the locals will arrive armed with blue picnic blankets to eat, drink and be merry into the late hours. Stick around for the festival like atmosphere and get a feeling of how much the Japanese really love this annual ritual. 4. Meguro River Meguro river is a place that is truly transformed with the addition of the cherry blossom. A long river that runs through central Tokyo, the trees line the walkways magnificently, especially at night. An energetic vibe fills the area with street food and drinks, along with some awesome restaurants which are well worth checking out. All of above can be done in two days, as they are all in the centre of Tokyo. For more information on things to do in Tokyo, check out my other guides, along with places to visit just outside of Tokyo. And, if you’re feeling adventurous, our complete 14 days in Japan are all wrapped up in one monstrous movie. Click for more, full guide below!
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AuthorWe are a couple of travel lovers, photographing and film making as we go. ArchivesCategories |