10 Of Tokyo’s Best Sakura-Themed Events And Specials For 2018

Welcome Spring With These Seasonal Cherry-Themed Food & Events

By The Savvy Team |
March 16, 2018 |
Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Seasonal Trends

Feel the first blush of spring with these premium events happening in the heart of Tokyo.

As we get ready to see the city turn pink, it’s important to remind ourselves that our favorite Japanese spring pastime, hanami, is not limited to sitting under the trees and admiring the pink canopy — the sakura is everywhere: in hotels, in restaurants, in shows, and in the food we get to enjoy in the early months of spring. To commemorate the near beginning of the hanami season, we’ve selected 10 of the capital’s best sakura-themed events and seasonal specials for the year. Catch them while you can!

Sweet Delights

The Peninsula's Sakura Afternoon Tea

Enjoy a gorgeous selection of sakura-inspired savory finger foods, sweets, and pastries at The Peninsula's Lobby, which is also decorated in beautiful cherry blossoms during this time of the year. This special afternoon tea set comes with a complimentary glass of Deutz Sakura Rosé and a selection of 20 teas at the background of live music.

Date: Until April 15, 2018
Time: 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: The Peninsula, The Lobby, 1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Fee: ¥5,000

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Close To The Stars

Rooftop Bar Sakura Dinner At Andaz

Overlooking Tokyo Bay and the city lights, Andaz’s 52F Rooftop Bar is one of the most popular spots for a special spring getaway. Featuring everything from a sakura tree-filled terrace to flower-inspired selection of foods, desserts and drinks, this event is bound to give you that unforgettable enchanted experience you've been looking for. The special hanami course this year includes sushi, Japanese beef, lobster bisque, caviar and a sakura-inspired dessert buffet.

Date: Fri, March 30 – Sun, April 15, 2018
Time: 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Andaz Toranomon, ROOFTOP BAR 52 FLOOR, 1-23-4 TORANOMON, MINATO-KU, TOKYO
Fee: ¥12,000 (¥16,000 for a 2h free flow drink plan)

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Sakura Way Or The Highway

Sakura Nights At Toshimaen

Apart from being a popular family destination, one of Tokyo's oldest amusement parks, Toshimaen, is also a well-known cherry blossom viewing spot. For this limited edition event, visitors are invited to combine a fun day at the amusement park with some after-hours hanami. The 500 trees in the park's spacious grounds will be lit up after 5:30 p.m., which will make your rides a bit more romantic and picture-perfect. Entries after 3 p.m. during this period will only cost ¥500 and you can pay for each ride as you go — or you can enjoy the all-you-can-ride special Night Pass available until early April.

Date: Sat, March 24-Wed, April 4, Sat, April 7-Sun, April 8, 2018
Time: From 5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
Location: Toshimaen Amusement Park, 3-25-1 Koyama, Nerima-ku, Tokyo
Fee: Night pass, free rides: ¥1,600 (Adults), ¥1,300 (Children above 130-cm height)

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All You Can Eat Sakura

Cherry Blossom Lunch Buffet At Hotel Chinzanso

Ready for a feast? This all-you-can-eat sakura-inspired buffet offers a wide selection of mouth-watering Japanese and Western foods from the seasonal menu, including Hokkaido’s raclette cheese and sakura soba. For dessert, enjoy the splendid view of the hotel’s Japanese-style garden, where over 120 sakura trees of 20 different kinds will be blooming just in time for your dining experience. Dinner buffet (¥8,500 for adults) is also available.

Date: Until Sun, April 8, 2018
Time: 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Location: HOTEL CHINZANSO BANQUET HALL, 2-10-8 SEKIGUCHI, BUNKYO-KU, TOKYO
Fee: ¥4,800 (Adults), ¥2,600 (Elementary school children), ¥1,600 (CHILDREN OVER 3)

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Blooming Entertainment

Sakura Aquarium By Naked

Produced by digital art masters Naked Inc, the team behind the ultra-popular show Flowers by Naked, this high-tech aquarium will be glowing in a variety of cherry blossom-inspired audiovisual programs and projection mapping played during the day and later in the evening. The entire aquarium will be celebrating the arrival of spring and there's really no other indoor event as Instagrammable as this one.

Date: Until Sun, April 15, 2018
Time: 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Location: Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa, 4-10-30 Takanawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Inside Shinagawa Prince Hotel)
Fee: ¥2,200 (Adults)

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Romantic Sakura

Tokyo Tower City Light Fantasia & Sakura Easter

If you can't wait for the real cherry blossoms, take a tour to Tokyo Tower which has staged a special spring mapping projection of sakura in full bloom against the Tokyo night sky. In addition, the main deck will also be decorated for Easter, combining sakura and egg decorations in celebration of a typical East and West spring. Day or night, Tokyo Tower's main deck will be turning into a place to impress your significant other (or your Instagram followers).

Date: Until SUN, MAY 6, 2018
Time: 6:30 P.M.-10:50 P.M. (City Light Fantasia), 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Easter display)
Location: TOKYO TOWER MAIN DECK, 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato, Tokyo
Fee: ¥900 (TO ACCESS THE MAIN DECK)

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Under The Sakura

Tokyo Midtown Chandon Blossom Lounge

During the cherry blossom season, Tokyo Midtown holds its annual “Midtown Blossom,” a wide range of hanami events with food, drinks, sweets and crafts. Take yourself out for a drink and some sakura-inspired nibbles at the outdoor Chandon Blossom Lounge under Midtown’s 150 trees, which are lit up from 5 p.m. until 11 p.m. The outdoor lounge can fit up to 100 people and there's no reservation requirement. This is the perfect venue for an after-work or late-night yozakura rendezvous.

Date: Until Sun, April 15, 2018
Time: 12 p.m.-8 p.m.
Location: Tokyo Midtown, Midtown Garden (area alongside Sakura Avenue), 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo
Fee: No entrance fee. Order a la carte (Chandon glass from ¥700, Hanami set with champagne for two: ¥7,500)

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Spring Rejuvenation

The Peninsula Spa's Cherry Blossom Body Treatment

If you think that sakura is only for viewing and eating, think twice. This year, The Peninsula is inviting guests and visitors to enjoy a post-cherry blossom-viewing treatment, which includes a full body sakura-inspired 110-minute rejuvenating treatment. Titled "Cherry Blossom Ceremony," the treatment features a foot scrub followed by an exfoliating body scrub and wrap, a cleansing facial, aromatic body massage and a refreshing scalp massage. And of course, it comes with a cup of cherry-blossom tea and a pink macaron served upon arrival.

Date: Until Fri, April 27, 2018
Time: Various. Book online.
Location: The Peninsula Spa, 1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Fee: ¥41,000 (¥37,000 on weekdays)

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Magical Sakura

Nihonbashi Sakura Festival

Nihonbashi has a mission to become the capital's coolest sakura viewing venue and, we must say, it's getting quite close. This festival features a series of sakura-themed events: from projection mapping, light-up, traditional performances, sakura-special food and drink menus, workshops and more! A must-see is the Nihonbashi Sakura Gate — a magical entry to the area, which has the entire street turned into a sakura-filled river, with a sky of countless sakura-colored strips of paper.

Date: Until SUNDAY, APRIL 15, 2018
Time: VARIOUS (SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS)
Location: NAKA-DORI STREET (BETWEEN COREDO MUROMACHI 1 AND COREDO MUROMACHI 2) AND MORE
Fee: Free!

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Floral Art

Sakura Japanese Art Exhibition

Witness the beauty of Japan’s most famous flower depicted through the eyes of 29 modern Nihonga (traditional Japanese paintings) artists in this unique art exhibition dedicated to Japanese cherry blossoms. A must-see event for anyone interested in modern interpretation of traditional Japanese art.

Date: Until Sun, May 27, 2018
Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Location: SATO SAKURA MUSEUM, 1-7-13 KAMIMEGURO, MEGURO-KU, TOKYO
Fee: ¥500

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