Looking to plan a trip to Tokyo this coming cherry blossom season? With so many interesting things to do and see, Tokyo is arguably one of the best places to visit in Japan in the spring.
If you’re a first-time visitor, planning a trip to Tokyo can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you are not sure where to go to see the cherry blossoms. Some hanami spots in Tokyo are really huge, and surprisingly, you can easily spend a day there!
This is our itinerary for a wonderful trip in Tokyo including delicious food and drinks, walks, culture, and views.
We highly recommend staying around Asakusa for your 5 days in Tokyo. We prefer staying at this hotel. This area boasts a number of popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo and offers an excellent walk along the Sumida River.
Day 1 – Sumida Park, Sensoji Temple, and Ueno Park
Asakusa has it all: Tokyo’s oldest temple, beautiful Sumida River with great views of Tokyo SkyTree, Coffee shops, shopping streets, rickshaw tour, and so much more.
Start your first day with an early stroll along the riverbanks of Sumida River. As you take a walk, you will come across a number of locations to take pictures of the iconic Tokyo Skytree.
The walk will also let you experience one of the popular cherry blossom festivals in Tokyo, known as the Sumida Park Cherry Blossom Festival. There are many cherry trees along the river that bloom in late March every year.
After spending one hour or more in the park, head over to Asakusa Station (Ginza Line). Enjoy a short subway ride to Ueno Station. From there just take a short walk to reach Ueno Park.
With over one thousand cherry trees, Ueno Park is considered one of the most popular cherry blossom spots. A lot of visitors gather here to enjoy hanami. They also enjoy stage performances, and mouthwatering traditional Japanese foods sold by food stalls there.
When you are in Ueno Park, be sure to pay a visit to Toshogu Shrine. After a look around, head over to Shinobazu Pond. There you will find many cherry trees along the pathway. To make the most of your visit, you can rent a boat to get a unique view of sakura.
Before sunset, make your way to Asakusa Station (Ginza line). Then, head straight to Sensoji Temple.
Asakusa’s main attraction is none other than the famous Sensoji Temple (Asakusa Kannon Temple). Built in 645 AD, this is considered the oldest temple in Tokyo.
The statue of Kannon is enshrined in the temple’s main hall. You will also find a shrine there, located near the main hall, but the most impressive structure there is the five storied pagoda.
Walk around the area, simply enjoy the architecture and don’t forget to stroll along the famous shopping street called Nakamise. It is located on the main approach to Sensoji Temple, is lined on both sides with shops selling varieties of street foods, snacks, and souvenirs.
In the evening, cherry trees in the Sumida Park are lit up beautifully, making the area a great sight to behold. Viewing cherry blossoms at night is called Yozakura. Don’t miss this unique hanami experience when you are in Asakusa.
There are many good places to eat in Asakusa. Imahan Honten is a perfect dining spot, which serves traditional sukiyaki.
Day 2 – Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu, Yoyogi Park, Naka-Meguro Cherry Blossom Festival
There’s no shortage of things to do and see in Tokyo, though this suggested itinerary is for those looking to explore some of the top cherry blossom spots in the city.
On the second day of your 2-day Tokyo itinerary, we recommend starting your day with a visit to Shinjuku Gyoen. First, get to Kuramae Station on the Toei Oedo Line from your hotel and hop on the subway train to Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station.
Shinjuku Gyoen National Park can be accessed on foot from Shinjuku-nishiguchi station. This popular hanami spot in Tokyo is home to about 900 cherry blossom trees of 70 different varieties. You will be surprised to see many different types of cherry trees there.
It takes time to explore all the areas in the park, so don’t rush but walk and experience the rich nature and feel its festive atmosphere.
From Shinjuku Gyoen, it is easy to get to Meiji Shrine, one of the most important shrines in Tokyo. You will find a number of massive torii gates there as you approach to the main shrine building.
Take the JR Yamanote Line from Yoyogi Park to Harajuku Station. It’s a 3-minute ride. You will be greeted by a massive torii gate, which marks the entrance to the main shrine building. Take a walk along the forested approach to reach the shrine.
The shrine was built in 1920 as a tribute to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken. To learn the history of Meiji Jingu and Yoyogi Park, you can explore the Meiji Jingu Museum.
After exploring the main shrine building, head over to Yoyogi Park. This is another popular hanami spot in Tokyo, which sits next to Meiji Jingu Shrine. No matter the season, Yoyogi Park provides a good space for relaxation.
Its grounds feature a great array of plants including maple, ginkgo, zelkova, and cherry trees. The park boasts around 700 cherry trees and visitors can enjoy picnicking under the sakura trees. When they are in full bloom, the park becomes one of the most charming places to visit in Tokyo.
Lastly, your next destination for the day is Meguro River. The Naka-Meguro Cherry Blossom Festival is held along the river banks of Meguro River. This stunning cherry blossom spot in Tokyo is famous for yozakura (viewing sakura at night).
For a stunning display of cherry blossoms, you have to walk along the river banks of Meguro River, lined by around 800 cherry trees on both sides. There are many food stalls that pop up along the river for this mind-blowing flower viewing event.
The festival venue is a short walk from Nakameguro Station. To access Nakameguro station from Harajuku Station, you have to take the JR Yamanote Line to Shibuya Station, and then transfer to Toyoko Line to reach Nakameguro Station.
On the way back to Asakusa, be sure to take the Hibiya Line from Nakameguro Station to Ueno Station. Then make a simple transfer to the Ginza line and reach Asakusa Station (a 5-minute ride).
Day 3 – Tokyo -> Chureito Pagoda -> Lake Kawaguchiko -> Tokyo
Do you want to see the majestic view of Mount Fuji? We particularly recommend two amazing Mt. Fuji viewing spots: Chureito Pagoda (part of Arakurayama Sengen Park), and Northern shores of Lake Kawaguchi.
When you have a few days to spare in Tokyo, it’s best to go to see Mount Fuji! There is a list of great day trips you can make from Tokyo.
You can easily make a day trip from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchi by train and enjoy breathtaking views of Mount Fuji.
The fastest way to access Lake Kawaguchi from Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station is the Fuji Excursion train. This direct limited express train is all you need to get there. Be sure to get off at Shimoyoshida Station.
From that station, take a short walk to Chureito Pagoda. Many visitors enjoy the beautiful display of cherry blossoms and pagoda with Mount Fuji in the background. From early April to mid-April is the best time to see the cherry blossoms there.
To get to the northern shores of Lake Kawaguchi, hop on a train bound for Kawaguchi Station from Shomoyoshida Station on the Fujikyu Railway Line.
After passing through the ticket gate, you wait for the red Kawaguchiko Line Omni bus which runs along the eastern and northern shores of Lake Kawaguchiko. Get off at Kawaguchiko Konohana Art Museum bus stop.
Take a leisurely stroll along the shore of Lake Kawaguchiko and marvel at the iconic Mt. Fuji in the distance.
If you miss the last train of the Fuji Excursion from Kawaguchiko Station, the best way to access Shinjuku is by bus. For reservation click here.
Day 4 – Tokyo -> Odawara Castle -> Kamakura -> Tokyo
A one-day adventure on the outskirts of Tokyo can let you discover some of Japan’s must-see destinations like Odawara Castle and Kamakura Daibutsu.
Hop on the Romancecar, a limited express train by Odakyu Railway at Shinjuku Station, and get off at Odawara Station. The castle is a 10-munute walk from the station.
If you plan on visiting at least one Japanese castle during your stay in Tokyo, you must visit Odawara Castle. In addition, the castle grounds offer plenty of cherry trees to see. You can go inside the castle and head towards the top floor to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city and the Sagami Bay.
After exploring the castle, we recommend coming back to Odawara Station to make your way to Ofuna Station. It’s easy to reach Kamakura Station from Ofuna Station (within 10 minutes).
In Kamakura, you can visit at least two places: Kamakura Daibutsu at Kotokuin Temple and Kamakura Hasedera Temple.
You are advised to visit Hasedera temple before you pay a visit to Kamakura Daibutsu.
The view of this bronze Buddha statue always looks impressive, no matter the season. This is considered the second-tallest bronze Buddha statue in Japan!
On the other hand, Hasedera Temple’s main building houses the famous eleven-headed statue of Kannon. It’s one of Japan’s largest wooden sculptures.
The entire temple grounds offer a lot of interesting objects and items to see including the little Jizo statues. The traditional Japanese garden at the temple itself is a beautiful sight to behold!
Day 5 – Chidorigafuchi Park, Tokyo Imperial Palace
When you are in Tokyo during the cherry blossom season, you must visit Chidorigafuchi Park and Tokyo Imperial Palace. These two iconic sightseeing spots are among the best places to see sakura in Tokyo.
Chidorigafuchi is a moat near the famous Imperial Palace. The Chiyoda Sakura Matsuri is held when sakura start to bloom around the moat.
It features a 700-meter-long tunnel of 200 cherry trees. I like to take a stroll along the walkways around the moat, which allows me to take beautiful photographs of sakura. You can rent a boat and have a great time in the moat.
After exploring the moat, head over to Tokyo Imperial Palace. It’s a huge area with a lot of interesting things to see including gardens, gates, museums, castle ruins, stone walls, parks, and different kinds of plants.
Besides, don’t forget to visit Kitanomura Park, located near the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. It’s a place popular with visitors who come to admire its beauty and walk in the surrounding area. We bet that you will love exploring its sakura trees!
There are many wonderful places in and around Tokyo to explore, especially those that are famous for viewing cherry blossoms.
If you can extend your stay in Tokyo, we recommend visiting Mount Takao, Inokashira Park, and Show Memorial Park.
