Top 5 Less-Crowded Cherry Blossom Spots in Tokyo 🌸✨✨
Every spring, most visitors go to the same cherry blossom spots in Tokyo and end up jostling their way through massive crowds.
What if I told you that there are many cherry blossom spots within Tokyo that are far less crowded and just as beautiful as the popular sakura spots? Do you want to know about them?
Tokyo has a large network of parks and riverside walks situated conveniently within each ward. And where there are parks, you’ll find cherry trees, lots and lots of them - minus the huge crowds.
Below is a guide to the less-crowded parks and riverside walks for cherry blossom viewing.
Kiba Park
This park is conveniently located right next to the hip ‘coffee town’ of Tokyo - Kiyosumi Shirakawa.
Every spring, locals picnic and barbeque on the spacious lawn while enjoying the view of the cherry blossoms.
I love this spot because not only you can enjoy the sakura but you can also enjoy the magnificent sunset and Sky Tree views.
Best Time to Visit
Late March - Early April
Access
Nearest Station: Kiba (Metro Tozai Line)
Kanda River
Just like the Meguro River, the cherry blossoms line both sides of the Kanda River as far as the eye could see. Literally anywhere on the river is a great place for cherry blossom viewing. This spot is an exact copy of the famous Nakameguro cherry blossom spot minus the crowd.
https://www.instagram.com/curry0321/
Best Time to Visit
Late March - Early April
Access
Nearest Station: Edogawa (Metro Yurakucho Line)
Aoyama Cemetery Sakura Boulevard
Beautiful as they are, cherry blossoms also represent the brevity of life. They fall as quickly and beautifully as they bloom. That is why you can find so many cherry trees in Japanese cemeteries.
Aoyama cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in Tokyo lined with hundreds of cherry trees that forms a sakura tunnel through the main road. A truly beautiful sight.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/collection/2017/03/best-of-places/best-parks-for-cherry-blossoms-in-tokyo/
Best Time to Visit
Late March - Early April
Access
Nearest Station: Gaienmae (Metro Ginza Line)
Asukayama Park
This park was one of the major cherry blossom viewing (hanami) spots in Edo Japan. It is also one of the first parks that allowed people to picnic and consume alcohol therefore the tradition of hanami began here.
https://old-tokyo.info/asukayama-park-back-roots-cherry-blossom-viewing-hanami/
Best Time to Visit
Late March - Early April
Access
Nearest Station: Oji (JR Keihan Tohoku Line/ Metro Namboku Line)
Harimazaka Sakura Avenue
This impressive sakura avenue is lined with hundreds of cherry trees right along the Harima slope. During the sakura season, vendors set up street stands to sell all sorts of street food under the cherry trees so you can eat and walk under the beautiful cherry trees.
https://www.instagram.com/kakuchannel/
Best Time to Visit
Late March - Early April
Access
Nearest Station: Myogadani (Metro Marunouchi Line)
Conclusion
Skip the crowd, go off the beaten path once in a while. You will discover pockets of cherry blossoms havens in Tokyo. And if you really want the place to yourself, go in the morning hours before 9am. Let me know if this guide was helpful and if there are any places you want me to write/research about.
