Tokyo cherry blossom guide

Compare Tokyo cherry blossom viewing spots, Chidorigafuchi and Shinjuku Gyoen rules and fees, and officially published 2026 event dates; 2027 dates remain unannounced.

Last checked:

  • Tokyo
  • Cherry blossoms
  • Shrines, temples and parks

This page is updated every year at the same address. Please note the last checked date.

For cherry blossom viewing (hanami, ) in Tokyo, first choose a location and then check its rules, as some places charge admission or require reservations. Using information from Tokyo’s official tourism website, Chiyoda Ward and the Ministry of the Environment’s Shinjuku Gyoen pages, the 2027 bloom forecast and event dates have not yet been announced. This page will be updated when they are released. The dates below are official records from 2026 for reference only. For more Tokyo information, see the Tokyo travel guide.

Key points

  • Tokyo’s official tourism website says cherry blossoms usually take about 1 week to 10 days from first opening to full bloom. The 2026 forecast was for blooming on 21 March (announced on 29 January and subject to subsequent changes).
  • Shinjuku Gyoen adult admission is 500 yen, and reservations may be required during cherry blossom season. Chidorigafuchi Green Way is a walking path about 700 metres long.
  • Blooming dates and cherry blossom festival dates for 2027 have not been announced.

Cherry blossom viewing spots

Location Highlights in official information Notes
Chidorigafuchi Green Way () About 700 metres along the Imperial Palace moat; Chiyoda Ward’s page lists about 140 cherry trees (page updated 2023-03-24) A 3-minute walk from Kudanshita Station exit 2; a 5-minute walk from Hanzomon Station exit 5
Shinjuku Gyoen () Adults 500 yen, visitors aged 65 and over and students aged 16 and over 250 yen, children aged 15 and below free Open every day during cherry blossom season (25 March to 24 April); advance booking may be required on busy days
Ueno Onshi Park Officially lists 800 Somei Yoshino cherry trees and 800 lanterns during the cherry blossom festival Dates not listed on the official page
Sumida River embankment About 1 km of cherry blossoms from Azumabashi Bridge to Sakurabashi Bridge, with evening illuminations including Tokyo Skytree Dates not listed on the official page
Nakameguro Cherry blossom festival with lanterns illuminated from 17:00 to 20:00 Officially described as 15 days after flowering begins
Rikugien Gardens About 70-year-old weeping cherry tree; seasonal evening opening and illumination Dates not listed on the official page
Koganei Park About 1,400 trees of roughly 50 varieties; late March to early April; about 40 food stalls Listed by the official page as a cherry blossom festival
Nihonbashi Sakura Fes from mid-March to early April, with buildings including Mitsui Main Building illuminated pink at night Listed by the official page as a cherry blossom festival

Shinjuku Gyoen opening hours

Official opening hours (checked on 2026-10-28):

Period Opening hours Last entry
15 March to 30 September (excluding 11 June to 31 July) 9:00 to 18:00 17:30
11 June to 31 July 9:00 to 19:00 18:30
1 October to 14 March 9:00 to 16:30 16:00
  • Closed: Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a holiday); 29 December to 3 January. Open every day during cherry blossom season (25 March to 24 April) and the chrysanthemum exhibition (1 to 15 November).
  • On weekends, holidays and other busy days in cherry blossom season, advance reservations may be required. The official page does not list prohibited items; check the garden’s rules page.

Chiyoda Sakura Festival (2026 record)

  • Event period: 5 March to 22 April 2026 (already finished). Night blossom illumination: 26 March to 6 April, starting at 18:00.
  • Chidorigafuchi boating: In 2026, 9:00 to 19:30, 12,000 yen per hour (including a donation to the cherry blossom restoration fund). Advance booking available.
  • Official guidance says dates vary each year with flowering times; check the official event website.

Before cherry blossom viewing

  1. Decide whether you want to walk, sit for a picnic, or see illuminated cherry blossoms; not every location is suitable for sitting down.
  2. For places with admission fees or reservations, check the official website first.
  3. Evening illuminations and festivals have different dates each year. This page does not predict 2027 dates.
  4. For cherry blossoms in other parts of Japan, see Fukuoka cherry blossoms.

Information for the coming season

  • Tokyo’s 2027 cherry blossom forecast: Not yet announced.
  • Chiyoda Sakura Festival and night illumination dates for 2027: Not yet announced.
  • Next review: 1 February 2027.

Sources