Cherry Blossom Season in Tokyo: Everything You Need to Know

From the history to the best spots to see sakura, learn how to hanami and find out about the best ways to enjoy the cherry blossom's this year whether it be through cosmetics, our favorite recipes or our annual Savvy sakura contest!

Happy sakura (cherry blossom) season in Tokyo! With the blossoms finally blooming, why not take the time to learn everything there is to know about Japan’s favorite season of spring blooms?

Learn Something New

The History Of Hanami: Cherry Blossom Viewing Over The Ages

© Photo by Toyohara Chikanobu

With over 300 varieties, from white to dark pink, there is so much more to learn about sakura. For centuries Japan has worshipped cherry blossoms—sometimes as a goddess, always for their beauty and often as a good excuse for a party.

All You Need to Know About Japanese Cherry Blossoms

It’s hard to fully comprehend how deeply this time of year resonates with the Japanese people. Perhaps you can embark on that journey by knowing the different types of cherry blossoms and how they are worshipped.

The Fine Line Between Sakura And Romance

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Cherry blossom season in Japan symbolizes both ends and beginnings. It’s the end of the cold winter days, school, your last job—or residence. Simultaneously, it also opens the buds of everything new in Japanese people’s lives: new jobs, new academic year and even relocation. Is it accidental that this also implies to relationships? Not really. Here’s why.

Where To Go

Tokyo Cherry Blossom Viewing: The Most Beautiful Spots for 2024

© Photo by iStock: Eikichi Takeda

Plan your sakura viewing course with these stunning 10 spots! See the cherry blossoms at their best in Tokyo.

Tokyo’s Top Family-Friendly Hanami Spots

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While cherry blossom viewing often involves alcohol consumption and is a popular corporate outing in the spring, it is also a great way for families to spend time outdoors while letting the kids blow off some steam. Here are our picks for the most family-friendly places to enjoy cherry blossom viewing.

How To Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing)

Cherry Blossom Season in Japan 2024: Your Hanami Handbook

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Whether you’re enjoying a picnic in the park or admiring the blossoms from above, hanami is an unforgettable experience that celebrates the beauty of spring and Japanese culture. Here is Savvy Tokyo’s guide to savoring spring by learning how to embrace the tradition of sakura, exploring ways to celebrate, and, of course, unlocking Tokyo’s top hanami spots.

100 Yen Shop Must Haves For Cherry Blossom Viewing 2024

Get these basic 100 yen shop must-haves for the hanami season!

Events/Things To Try & Do

Savvy Tokyo’s Sakura Reel Contest 2024

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Submit your best sakura shots to our Instagram reel contest for 2024 for a chance to be featured on Savvy Tokyo, our official Instagram and win a fabulous ¥10,000 prize!

Spring Music and Art Festivals with Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo 2024

© Photo by iStock: Akarawut Lohacharoenvanich

Across Japan, the arrival of spring is celebrated through festivals, some of which feature grand performances and exhibitions that capture the season’s beauty. Here are a few music and art festivals in Tokyo where you can feel the creativity of spring blooming against a backdrop of soft pink sakura.

15 Cherry Blossom Cosmetics for 2024

Add a touch of sakura to your spring self-care routine!

Meguro River Cherry Blossom Walk

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This walk along Meguro River is enjoyable at any time of year but particularly lovely when the cherry blossoms are blooming.

5 Fresh and Light Japanese Sweets to Welcome Spring

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From Japanese nightingales to the rosy hues of plum and cherry blossoms, spring influences have long inspired Japanese confectioners to produce wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) that are as beautiful as they are tasty.

Sakura Recipes

Recipe: Sakura Basque Cheesecake

© Photo by Rika Hoffman

This sakura cheesecake recipe has all the hallmarks of a burnt basque cheesecake: deeply burnished surface, rustic crinkled edges and a no-crust, no-fuss attitude with the addition of freeze-dried sakura. This classic dessert becomes fit for your next hanami picnic.

Recipe: Sakura Mochi

Prepare for your hanami picnic by making Japanese treats commonly eaten during this special spring flower season. Start with the famed sakura mochi—you’ll be surprised to learn how easy it is to make it yourself!

Recipe: Matcha Macarons

As sakura flowers bloom in Tokyo, we decided to provide you with a perfect matching recipe! Try and make these green matcha macarons, the ideal treat to snap with pink cherry blossoms in the background.

Recipe: Maki Zushi (For Hanami & Picnics)

© Photo by Fiona Uyema

Here is a quick and favorite traditional Japanese recipe to enjoy at your cherry blossom picnic in Japan or anywhere else in the world!

Savvy Sips: Sakura Sayonara Cocktail

This cherry blossom cocktail using sakura liquor can read a little sweet, so a salty-sweet snack will create more balance on your palate. This is an effortless four-ingredient drink that everyone can mix at home!

How will you be spending cherry blossom season in Tokyo this year? Let us know in the comments!

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