|Location: Tokyo Japan|

Cherry blossom season is upon us and two of the most famous places to enjoy the pretty pink flowers are in Tokyo and Washington DC.  I have been lucky enough to experience Cherry Blossom season in both sides of the world and today wanted to share where to catch the Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo!

The Japanese word for Cherry Blossoms is Sakura, and in the March-April timeframe you can find Sakura goodies all throughout the city.  The Sakura trees blossom all over Japan but only last for a few weeks before the blossoms fall to the ground.

The Japanese are so enthusiastic about the Cherry Blossoms, they have the word Hanami, which means the act of enjoying the Cherry Blossoms.  I just love this!  I look at it as the Japanese version of American tailgating… there are of course lots of differences, but in general everyone comes together and sets up underneath the Sakura trees to hang out and enjoy the day!

How to Hanami

Before I share my favorite Hanami spots, I want to explain how to Hanami.  First up, you’ll need to pick up a blue tarp at the 1¥ Yen store.  Get more than one tarp if you’ll be a large group.  When you Hanami, you sit on your tarp all day (without shoes of course) and use it to claim your spot at the beginning of the day if needed.

Next up, you’ll want to get goodies to enjoy your Hanami experience.  We picked up Sakura style bento boxes, saki, Asahi beers, and a few treats like bean curd cakes (they are really delicious!).

The prime Hanami spots fill up early in the morning, so make sure to stake your spot as early as you can.  Once you’ve set up your spot, enjoy sitting under the Sakura trees amongst your friends and potentially thousands of other people enjoying the Sakura and the spring air!

Without further ado, my favorite Hanami spots in Tokyo, or the best places to enjoy the Cherry Blossoms!

Ueno Park

The Buzzing Spot

This was my very favorite spot in Tokyo to enjoy Hanami. It is busy with action and there is a grand avenue of Sakura trees to walk down that is magic.  Expect a buzzing atmosphere and be on the lookout for girls in their traditional kimonos snapping pictures.  This was the first place Dave and I took part in the Japanese style Hanami and it was so much fun.  If you would rather stroll the area and save the seated Hanami for another day, you can walk the entire park filled with Sakura and there is even a food festival park.  Ueno is the place to be!

To get your Hanami snacks and drinks, head to the Yoshiike grocery store, just a 3 minute walk from the Ueno train station.  The basement level has a great food market where we picked up speciality Sakura bento boxes and drinks for our Hanami.  Then we were able to snag a prime spot under the gorgeous avenue of Sakura trees right next to a large group of business men.  It was a fabulous day!

^^Our perfect Hanami spots 🙂

Hanami is very popular with business groups.  The interns have to set up and save their spot until the rest of the group arrives after the work day.  Then it’s an afternoon spent eating and drinking well under the Sakura!

In Japan, you ALWAYS take off your shoes and wear socks on the tarps.

We were right on the main through-fare, I loved it.

^^So it’s kind of weird this picture shows we sat near the trash cans BUT I also love this picture because this is the one time you’ll EVER find Japanese trash cans in public!  Any other normal day if you have an empty water bottle, you have to carry it with you for hours until you get back to your hotel.  It’s the little nuances about exploring new cultures that I love 🙂

If you don’t want to bring your own Hanami gear, stroll through the Ueno Park food festival area and grab some food from the vendors selling street style food and drinks.  They have tons of seating areas to enjoy your meal under the Sakura.

Chidorigafuchi Park, Chiyoda

The Romantic Spot

Chidorigafuchi Park is the most scenic and romantic with a river running through the park, covered by Sakura trees.  It is stunning.  You can even rent a row boat as seen below and cruise down the river with your sweetheart!  If you opt to Hanami in the park area, you won’t be as enveloped by the Sakura as you would be in Ueno, which makes for a more relaxed atmosphere.

Yoyogi Park

The Relaxed Friends Spot

Yoyogi Park is right off of Shibuya (Tokyo’s famed version of NYC’s Times Square), and the atmosphere is in-between bustling Ueno and romantic Chidorigafuchi.  It’s still very lively, but a bit more organic and relaxed – you can also spread out if you’d like and enjoy the day.  The Sakura trees abound and it’s the perfect place to meet up with a large group of friends.

 

Have you enjoyed Cherry Blossoms throughout the world?  I’d love to hear where!  If you’ve been to Tokyo, let me know what you think about Japanese Hanami and your favorite spot in the comments!  I am so thankful I was able to experience this unique cultural event! 🙂

xo