I , like 90% of other Tokyoites, make a full-time job out of finding the prettiest sakura locations.
Cherry blossoms (sakura, as they are called in Japanese) only bloom for a few days at a time -which is why even Japanese locals freak out over them. It’s about luck and flexible plans. Even those who want to take part in hanami picnics can’t plan until the very last minute.
The best way to find out when and where to find cherry blossoms in Japan is to use a cherry blossom forecast calendar. The calendar suggestions will change and locations vary closer to the dates.
These have been our favourite spots over past the few years.
I highly recommend keeping an eye on instagram as you go to make sure you visit each spot at the right time.
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The most spectacular cherry blossom spot I’ve ever found was here. At Asukayama Park in Kita-ku.
It was at the end of the cherry blossom session and, in the same way that I love fallen leaves at the end of Autumn, I made the most magical pink carpet. I never wanted to leave.
It is approximately 18 mins from Tokyo Station if you travel by train to Oji Station.
Easiest way to get there with kids? Take the Yamanote to Otsuka Station and then just grab a taxi from the taxi rank for 12 mins!
See here for how to book a private driver to take you to some of or all of these locations in Tokyo.
The playground is incredible (although the slides are steep so, while my 4 year old was fine, I chose to ride with my 2 year old for safety reasons. There is a “toddler” playground if you prefer to avoid the big slides) There is an old tram and steam engine for kids to explore too. The park is particularly spectacular in Cherry Blossom season and I can imagine Autumn is also breath-taking.
There are plenty of restrooms and change tables and ramps around the park, which makes it really easy with strollers.
1-1-3 OJI, KITA-KU
北区王子1-1-3
30 mins by train from Tokyo Station to Asukayama Station.
Where to eat near Asukayama Park with kids?
Apron Mark is right inside the park
Make sure you have a reservation during cherry blossom season
141 Ouji Table (6 mins walk)
They have a kids menu and space for strollers
What else is near Asukayama Park?
This retro Robot Playground (7 mins by taxi)
The Swan Boats in Ueno (12 mins by train)
This is the most central of my Cherry Blossom recommendations – Roppongi.
I mention 3 spots in Roppongi and they are all a few steps from one another.
First one -just behind Tokyo Midtown department store is a large open park (Hinokicho Park) with a few pieces of playground equipment. There is also a pond and area to have a sit-down picnic. There are often art installations and special events held in certain sections of the park grounds.
Last year, the cherry blossoms were so lovely ! And If you make a reservation to have a meal at one of the restaurants overlooking the park – the views are truly spectacular. (I recommend booking an outside seat at Napule Pizzeria.)
Another restaurant that also looks over the park?
Another fabulous restaurant in the same complex (and if you sit on the terrace during the christmas season or cherry blossom season you can take in the amazing views of the park and lights) is Nirvana New York. This is an Indian Fusion restaurant. Babies and kids allowed and there is also space for strollers. This is the partner restaurant to the that of the same name in Central Park New York which opened in the 1970s. This is also a great space to dine with a large group or organise a private function. This restaurant offers some vegan dishes and some vegan courses (the vegan shishkebab is delicious!)
Lunch time is an all you can eat indian buffet for 3000 yen per adult! (a little cheaper on a weekday) and kids under 6 eat free!
Nirvana New York accept most major credit cards. This restaurant feels fancy but the prices are reasonable and the view is so lovely. They do take reservations.
At lunchtime I recommend budgeting for 3000-3500 yen per adult and at dinner more like 5000 yen.
NIRVANA NEW YORK
港区赤坂9-7-4 東京ミッドタウン ガレリア ガーデンテラス 1F
GROUND FLOOR, TOKYO MIDTOWN ROPPONGI IN THE GALLERIA GARDEN TERRACE SECTION (FACING THE PARK), 9-7-4 AKASAKA, MINATO-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY FOR LUNCH 11AM-3:30PM (LAST ORDERS 2:30PM)
OPEN EVERYDAY FOR DINNER 5PM-11PM (LAST ORDERS 10PM)
9-7-1 AKASAKA
赤坂9-7-1
OPEN 5AM-11PM
Mohri Park at Roppongi Hills! (see my Roppongi with kids blog post for things to do in this area because there is a free kids play area here and sooo many museums and kid-friendly restaurants.)
MOHRI GARDEN
ROPPONGI HILLS COMPLEX,
HILLSIDE SECTION, B2 FLOOR, 6-11-1 ROPPONGI
六本木6-11-1 六本木ヒルズB2
Just next to the garden is Mohri Salvatore Cuomo. (In case you can’t find it – go to Louis Vuitton on Keyakizaka, cross the road to Roppongi Hills and walk through the courtyard to the Mohri Garden. The restaurant is on your left.) Best to book but you can always try your luck for a walk-in (we have been lucky a few times.) If possible, best to sit on the terrace and take in the garden while you dine (they have heaters and blankets so you don’t need to worry about getting cold in the cooler months)
To dine here I recommend budgeting approximately 5000 yen per adult at dinnertime and more like 2500 yen at lunchtime. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. The staff speak English well and there is an English menu. They also have space to store a stroller while you dine.See the full Salvatore Cuomo menu here. Make an online reservation here or, even better, ask your hotel to make a reservation for you.
During the day: the lunch sets here are around 2,200 yen and come with a salad, main and a coffee or tea.
MOHRI SALVATORE CUOMO
六本木6-10-1 六本木ヒルズヒルサイド B2F
B2F ROPPONGI HILLS, HILLSIDE SECTION, 6-10-1 ROPPONGI
OPEN 11AM-2:30PM & 5PM-11PM (LAST ORDERS 10PM)
Also in the Roppongi Hills complex is Crisp Salad Works where you can choose all of your salad ingredients and how finely chopped you’d like it to be. Salads are between 1000-2000 yen. They accept most major credit cards. See the full Crisp Salad Works menu here. Crisp Salad Works have vegetarian, vegan, halan and gluten free options.
Be careful when searching online for the location within the complex as it has changed spots over the past few years. It’s on the same floor as the Golden Tiger dumpling restaurant.
CRISP SALAD WORKS, ROPPONGI HILLS
HILLSIDE SECTION ON THE GROUND FLOOR
Then you can walk to the Robot Park in Roppongi. At peak cherry blossom season – this whole park and the walk down the hill to the park are covered in cherry blossoms.
*If you are strictly gluten free – before or after Robot Park – go to one of the restaurants at the nearby Grand Hyatt Tokyo, Roppongi, for a meal. They are great at assisting those who need a strictly gluten free meal.
For other things to do in Roppongi, please see my post here.
See here for restaurants with high chairs in Roppongi.
Showa Kinen Park is a fantastic place to have a day out and spring is the best time!
It is gorgeous.
The park is so big that we have never covered all of the playgrounds in one full day – we have had to split it up. Actually, the park is one of Tokyo’s largest parks… it’s more than 1.49 square kilometres in size! Whether you are there for the play equipment, a picnic, the bouncy domes, the ride-on train or to rent bikes – it’s a beautiful day out. The food trucks are everywhere so if you forget your picnic there isn’t any need to worry.
You can book a private driver to take you here as it is a bit out of town. Alternatively, you can take a train from Tokyo Station to Tachikawa Station – it will take approx 40 mins.
SHOWA KINEN PARK
東京都立川市緑町3173
3173 MIDORI-CHO, TACHIKAWA CITY, TOKYO
OPEN: 9:30AM-5PM (CLOSES AT 4:30PM IN WINTER, OPEN UNTIL 6PM APRIL-SEPTEMBER)
CLOSED: MONDAYS (AND TUESDAYS IF MONDAY IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY)
PRICE: SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN 80 YEN, ADULTS 400 YEN
ACCESS: 50 MINS BY TRAIN OR CAR FROM THE CENTRE OF TOKYO
WEBSITE
Where to eat near Showa Kinen Park with kids?
As mentioned above, there are lots of food trucks and a few cafes inside the park.
You can also walk to Lumine Tachikawa shopping complex (15 min walk) and dine at Tsukiji Tama Sushi (has high chairs), Chibo Okonomiyaki (has high chairs & a kids menu) and To The Herbs (has high chairs.)
You could also take a taxi to Lalaport Tachikawa Shopping Mall for even more restaurant options.
What else is near Showa Kinen Park?
You can take the train for 15 mins from Tachikawa Station to transport playcentre/kids’ museum Keio Rail-Land.
If it turns out that you like the bigger parks outside of Tokyo, I think you’ll also enjoy this post on other lovely open park options.
Another cherry blossom suggestion in Tokyo:
The outskirts of the Imperial Palace – but start at Kudanshita Station and walk all the way along from the station to Kitanomaru Park (the walk takes around 5 minutes.).
The park has lots of open space so its pretty good for a picnic and great for kids to have a little run around and play.
*I don’t recommend visiting the Imperial Palace with kids, by the way. You can enter the grounds so it’s ok to use as some green space to run around – lots of mosquitos here too in the warm months – but there are plenty of other green spaces in Tokyo. You also can’t really see the palace and you also get stuck in no man’s land a bit while in there – limited snack and shade options.
I then recommend walking along (another 15 minutes walk) to Chidorigafuchi Park (its a strip of trees right by the water – there is a small playground half way along too.).
It is possible to rent a boat on the river in the same area too (at Chidoriga-fuchi moat.). See here for places to eat and play with kids before or after taking in the blossoms- not too far away from here is The Tokyo Station area. The Ginza area. Toranomon Hills is also not too far away. You can also easily visit Tony Roma’s for a meal (they have a kids’ menu), Royal Host (they have a kids menu and a toy for children) or Oasis at the Prince Hotel (kids menu & space for strollers.)
It was so beautiful that I went back again with my husband for date night a few days later.
It was just the most beautiful fairy garden. We didn’t even bring a picnic this time. Just the walk itself (Chiyodorigafuchi Park) itself was just so breathtaking.
KITANOMARU PARK
千代田区、北の丸公園1-1
1-1 KITANOMARUKOEN, CHIYODA-KU
