2019 Japanese Cherry Blossom Forecast! Top 5 Best Places to See Japanese Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo
The schedule for 2019 Japanese cherry blossom bloom dates has been released!! For those who plan on traveling to Japan in the spring, this is an important time! The cherry blossom season in 2019 is expected to arrive in Japan slightly earlier than usual due to the temperature being slightly warmer this year, speeding up the cherry blossom blooming. The forecast expects the cherry blossoms to start blooming as early as March 19 in Fukuoka and ending in Hokkaido as late as May 4. Some of the most popular places to see sakura (cherry blossoms) in Japan:
🌸Nagoya and Hiroshima: March 22~25
🌸Tokyo and Mount Fuji: March 23
🌸Kyoto: March 24
🌸Osaka: March 26
Following the 2019 cherry blossom forecast, JAPANKURU made a list of 5 of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo to help you plan your schedule.
🌸Best Places to See Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) in Tokyo🌸
According to a popular Japanese site, below are the 5 most famous and popular cherry blossom spot in Tokyo. (Reference site)
① Meguro River (目黒川の桜)
Located in the Nakameguro area near Shibuya, Meguro River (目黒川) is this year’s ranked most popular and best place to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo. There are over 800 cherry blossom trees lined along the river for about 4km (2.5 miles). Along the river in front of the trees are lanterns hanging, so once it gets dark you can see the river and cherry blossoms being lit up by these lanterns. It is a really beautiful sight. During the Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival, there are a few restaurants, convenience stores, and food and drink stands nearby, however keep in mind there aren’t any places to lay down a tarp and eat like other places. But walking along the river drinking and eating is just as nice.
Google Maps
Access: 5min walk from JR Meguro Station
② Rikugien (六義園の桜)
Around the cherry blossom season, Rikugien is most famous for their weeping cherry blossom tree that is 15m (almost 50ft) high and 20m (65ft) wide. At night there is a light up of the weeping cherry blossom tree that makes it one of Tokyo’s most famous cherry blossom viewing spots at night. The garden itself is a beautiful traditional Japanese garden that was first built in 1695 under the orders of the famous Tokugawa warlord.
Google Maps
Access: 7min walk from JR Komagome Station
⏰Park hours: 9am～5pm
Light up: sunset～9pm
💴300yen
③ Sumida Park (隅田公園)
It is famous for its watery cherry trees that pour like waterfalls. The cherry tree, a symbol of Rikugien, is about 15 meters high and 20 meters wide, with pink-colored petals pouring over waterfalls! The cherry blossoms at night are lighted up for a limited time.
Google Maps
Access: 5min walk from Asakusa Station
④ Chidorigafuchi Park (千鳥ヶ淵公園)
This is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo, 5 minutes from the nearest station. There are about 170 cherry trees between the hut of the Imperial Palace and the British Embassy! The appearance of the cherry blossoms in the water is also beautiful, and it is always crowded with people at this time.
Google Maps
Access: 5min walk from Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Station Exit 5
⑤ Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (新宿御苑の桜)
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, where about 65 species and over 1000 distinctive cherry trees bloom, features a variety of cherry blossoms for a long time because the flowering season is different depending on the kind of cherry trees. It is also close to the station, so accessibility is convenient.
Google Maps
Access: 5min walk from Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station (Exit 1 on Marunochi Line, Exit C1 or C5 on Toei Shinjuku Line)
10min walk from JR Shinjuku Station South Exit
Other great places to see cherry blossoms in the Tokyo area are Ueno Park (上野公園), Inokashira Park (井の頭公園), Yoyogi Park (代々木公園), and Hibiya Park (日比谷公園). Many of the cherry blossoms are expected to be in peak bloom around March 29th, so you can still see some of Tokyo’s cherry blossoms into the beginning of April. Everyone has their favorite place to go, maybe you will be able to find yours too!
Originally published at www.japankuru.com.
