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Family-friendly places to go for cherry blossoms viewing in Tokyo

By on March 22, 2023

The cherry blossoms season is upon us.  Anyone who’s been in Japan for a long time knows the drill.

Get your leisure mats ready and pick your spot at any of these four legendary ohanami parks for Japan’s traditional cherry blossoms viewing.

This is the only time of the year when drinking in public is allowed so don’t forget to grab a few beers on the way.

Aoyama Cemetery

１Try explaining to your friends back home that one of the most popular spots in Tokyo for cherry blossom  is a cemetery and they just won’t understand. It’s true! If you haven’t been to Aoyama Bochi (cemetery) for hanami, you are missing a full-on traditional sakura-viewing experience.

On peak nights, you’ll see a DJ with a complete set-up spinning tunes, and a sea of blue leisure sheets spread out on the wide, cherry blossom-lined paths between the graves. The atmosphere is anything but funereal, as you stroll past dozens of people with hibachis (teppanyaki grills), elaborate picnics, kegs of beer, and countless bottles of sake.

Address:
2-chōme-32-2 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062

Nearest stations:
Gaienmae Station by Ginza line or Nogizaka Station by Chiyoda line
No entry fee

 

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Inokashira Park

20150223_950529Inokashira koen is a great family destination at any time of the year, and is especially lively on weekends when street performers and artists set up alongside the lake. Children may prefer to do their blossom viewing while cruising the lake in the swan shaped paddle boats. This park contains several different areas: playgrounds, a temple, large woodlands, and a small zoo across the street from the main park. Located in Kichijoji, a bustling area filled with shops and cafes, this park has much to offer.

Address:
1-18-31 Gotenyama, Musashino-shi, Tokyo (0442) 47-6900.

Limited parking.
Nearest station:
Kichijoji Station, Chuo Line. Inokashira Koen Station, Keio Inokashira Line.

Koganei Park

３This bright sunny side of West Tokyo with rows of 1800 beautiful cherry trees and a huge playground, make it the most visited spot by families for cherry blossoms viewing. Keep close to the kids, as it is easy to lose them among the play equipment.

If you are in the mood for some cultural immersion, visit the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum  which is only a stone’s throw away from the park.

 

Address:
1-13-1 Sekino-cho, Koganei-shi. Tel. 042-385-5611

Directions:
Take the JR Chuo line and get off at Musashi Koganei station, then take bus no. 2 or 3 to the Koganei Kouen West Exit (Koganei Kouen Nishi-guchi) stop. Large parking area, but fills quickly at cherry blossom time.
Entry is free, open daily.

Shinjuku Gyoen National Park

Shinjuku GyoenA green oasis in downtown Tokyo, this popular park consists of 58.3 hectares (144 acres) of well-manicured lawns and formal gardens. If it weren’t for the Shinjuku skyscrapers rising in the distance, you would think you were in England.

There’s no playground here so bring a ball or frisbee. (Just be sure to watch out for all the amateur photographers with their expensive equipment!) The wide variety of cherry trees makes for an unusually long viewing season—typically from late March until mid-April. The park is also open at night during the Hanami week for 3D projection mapping.

A few park rules for runners.

  • Running is allowed only on specific designated areas.
  • Running in groups of 10 or more is prohibited.
  • Running in the garden between March 25 and April 24 except during the early opening hours,  is not allowed.
Address
11 Naitōmachi, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0014

 11 Naito-cho, Shinjuku-ku. Tel. 03-3350-0151
By train: 5 min. walk from Shinjuku Gyouen-Mae station on the Marunouchi subway line, or 10 min. walk from the South side of Shinjuku station. Parking area near the Okido Gate, but public transport is recommended.
Open 9 to 4.30, closed Mondays.

Admission fees

  • Adults 500 yen (Discounted to 400 yen if coming as a group)
  • Seniors (65 and over) 250 yen with a valid ID at the ticket counter.
  • Students 250 yen with a valid Student ID at the ticket counter.
  • Junior high school students or those 15 years old and under get in free
What to bring to a hanami
– picnic sheet
– picnic lunch (obentos are easy and portable!)
– beverages of your choice
– garbage bags to take your rubbish away with you
– wet wipes
– camera
– frisbee or ball if you’ll be someplace with open space to play
– Don’t have time to pack a picnic? Several places will deliver food directly to you while you are enjoying the ohanami. Bring your cel phone and the number of your local pizza/katsu/bento delivery place and be prepared to meet the delivery person at an accessible entrance to pick up your lunch.
– Bring a small folding chair or cushion if you’ll be picnicking at a place with limited lawn space. Sitting on the gravel paths at Aoyama Cemetery can be bumpy!
– Some very popular places (such as Shinjuku Gyoen) get extremely crowded. Consider dressing your kids in bright primary colors (even the same color!) so that they stand out in the crowd.
– For babies or young toddlers, consider a light tent or cabana so the little one has some respite from the crowds and the colors, and will perhaps be able to take a nap.

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