Conquer Tokyo's Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in One Day

Cherry blossom viewing in Ueno Park : Ueno Park is one of Tokyo's leading cherry blossom viewing spots which attract nearly 2 million people. Its charm lies in the mixture of the sacred and the secular, and the rich landscape. Two sacred spaces coexist with one of the most crowded flower viewing party's venues in Tokyo. The richness of the landscape offers its differences in elevation and water surface and creates a variety of cherry blossom scenes. This spot dates back to 1632, making it one of the first cherry blossom viewing spots in Edo (old name of Tokyo).

Cherry blossom viewing and appreciation of art on cherry blossom in Tokyo National Museum : Tokyo National Museum with a collection of the finest Japanese art holds an exhibition on traditional arts related to cherry blossoms, "Cherry Blossom Viewing at the Museum," in the cherry blossom season. The gardens, which are open during the cherry blossom viewing period, are also a beautiful combination of historical architecture and cherry blossoms.

Cherry blossom viewing in Yanaka Cemetery : Yanaka cemetery was opened in 1874. Many graves of famous people remain here. It has a rustic atmosphere rare in Tokyo downtown and is famous from rows of cherry trees. When the cherry blossoms fall, the ground in the cemetery is completely covered with petals, creating a beautiful sight.

Cherry blossom viewing in Rikugi-en Gardens : Rikugi-en Gardens is one of Japan's representative feudal lord gardens, which was built in 1702. The waterfall-like weeping cherry tree near the main gate and the cloud-like weeping cherry tree in the forest are exceptional. These two cherry trees dominate the vast garden like a village-vicinity mountain in early spring.

Cherry blossom viewing and lunch in Koishikawa Botanical Gardens : Our tour members have a lunch, except on rainy days. We take participants to a popular bakery to purchase a lunch. Koishikawa Botanical Gardens dates back to the Herbal Garden established by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1684. The attractive hilly topography gives it a mountain village feel. The cherry blossom grove on the cliff is magnificent. Unlike other cherry blossom spots that prune their branches, the cherry trees here with flower-filled branches hang down close to the ground and express freedom to be bound by nothing. It is also a very cozy place to have a picnic.

Cherry blossom viewing in Harima-zaka Cherry Blossom Avenue : This avenue is a beautiful street lined with four rows of cherry blossom trees. Its construction began as part of the earthquake reconstruction plan after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and as part of the war damage reconstruction project after 1945. But except this section, land acquisition has not progressed, and the road has not been completed. The center of the road was turned into a park, and people take a stroll and hold banquets. This is a rare place where the contradictions in the urban policy have created a famous cherry blossom spot.

Cherry blossom viewing in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden : This garden is one of the cherry blossom viewing spots with the most picturesque scenes in Tokyo nad 1,000 cherry trees of various varieties. Visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms from February to the end of April. Highlights include the large lawn area filled with picnickers, the water's edge, where the cherry blossoms combine beautifully with the buildings, bridges and borrowed scenery, and the cherry blossom grove, where visitor can experience the best cherry blossom snowstorms in Tokyo. This spot has a long history dating back to 1591 when it was a feudal lord's mansion, and after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, cherry blossom viewing parties sponsored by the Imperial Family were held here. It has been passed down to the current "Spring Garden Party" for diplomacy by Japanese government.

Cherry blossom viewing in Chidoriga-fuchi Moat : It is one of the most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Tokyo. Day and night, the effect of the water surface, the beautiful landscape of the Imperial Palace and the moat, and the combination of the cherry blossoms and Tokyo Tower make it unrivaled. In 1898, the British Ambassador to Japan planted a cherry tree in front of the British Embassy adjacent to Chidoriga-fuchi Moat. It was the beginning of cherry blossom here.

Cherry blossom viewing in Yasukuni Jinja Shrine : This shrine was founded in 1869 to commemorate the souls of government soldiers who died in the civil war, and later came to honor soldiers who died in the line of duty. The first cherry trees were planted in 1870, and there are now 400 trees. Many trees were donated in memory of fallen comrades by fellow comrades or families. One of the trees at the shrine is the standard tree that marks the date when cherry blossoms bloom in Tokyo, and during cherry blossom season, this plant are broadcast on television every day.

Cherry blossom and sunset viewing in Sanada-bori Moat : This is the most beautiful place in Tokyo to see cherry blossoms at sunset, and our tour members enjoy the sunset here. It is a remnant of the moat of the old castle for Shogun, and the cherry trees are planted on its bank. From the top of the bank, the view stretches into the distance without being obstructed by tall buildings. In the evening, when the setting sun make the cherry blossoms shine softlyt, and the cityscape is blurred by the evening haze.

Illuminated cherry blossom viewing at night in Chidoriga-fuchi Moat : It is one of the most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Tokyo. Day and night, the effect of the water surface, the beautiful landscape of the Imperial Palace and the moat, and the combination of the cherry blossoms and Tokyo Tower make it unrivaled.

Illuminated cherry blossom viewing at night in Nakameguro : This is one of the most stylish resaturante areas in Tokyo. Cherry blossom trees line the Meguro River that runs through the center of the area. The cherry blossoms cover the river like a canopy and are lit up beautifully at night. Our tour ends here. The tour members can return to the hotel or stay here to dine at a restaurant in the area afterwards.