Cherry Blossoming in Japan
Seeing cherry blossoms in Japan is definitely on my travel bucket list! My friend Selene has recently returned from a trip to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto with many useful tips and gorgeous photos. She’s a thorough researcher and prepared everything in advance to make the most of her limited time in Japan. She shares with us her top tips in navigating Japan and information on her favorite parks.
Selene’s Top Tips
- Check the dates for the next cherry blossom season online about three months prior to the end of March and book your accommodation as soon as possible. Hotels get booked up really quickly since it’s the most popular time to visit Japan.
- Buy the Japan Rail Pass online BEFORE you go to Japan and it will be mailed to you by courier. It’s not sold anywhere in Japan so buy it before you leave. The rail pass allows you 7, 14 or 21 days unlimited travel throughout the country on Japan Rail trains, buses and ferries. You’ll definitely end up saving money if you’re planning to explore different cities!
- The train system can be very complicated and most Japanese don’t speak English. Print or save on your phone the Japanese characters of the places you are going to and show them to station workers. They’ll help guide you to the right place!
- Enjoy a hanami (flower viewing) picnic like a local. Some parks have vendors selling all kinds of snacks from dumplings to burgers or you can buy food from the supermarket like many locals do.
NATIONAL PARKS IN TOKYO
Shinjuku Gyoen
Location: 10 minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station
Hours & Fees: 9 am to 4:30 pm (entry until 4:00 pm). 200 yen admission fee.
One of the largest national parks in Japan, Shinjuku Gyoen is Selene’s most favorite out of all the places she visited. It is home to more than 1,000 cherry trees and a variety of gardens. Get there when it opens because it gets really crowded by 1 pm with hordes of tourists.
Ueno Park
Location: Walking distance from JR Ueno Station
Hours & Fees: Lights will go off at 10 pm. Admission is free.
Ueno Park is famous for onsite museums and temples and shrines, but during the cherry blossoms festival, it’s the location for night time hanami picnics for Japanese office workers.
NATIONAL PARKS IN KYOTO
Philosopher’s Path
Location: Between Ginkakuji and the neighborhood of Nanzenji, a 5-10 minute walk north of Nanzenji’s main temple buildings.
This pedestrian stone path got its name due to one of Japan’s most famous philosophers, Nishida Kitaro. He used to practice meditation while walking along this path on his daily commute to Kyoto University. The 2 km path follows a canal lined with hundreds of cherry trees with gorgeous light pink flowers in bloom. Selene describes the walk as “absolutely ridiculously good!”
In Kyoto, you will see many girls dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos posing for photos during the cherry blossoms festival. They’re actually foreign tourists who rent the outfit for the day just to have their own personal photo shoots!
Maruyama Park
Location: Take the number 100 or 206 bus from Kyoto Station for about 20 minutes and get off at Gion bus stop. The park is just behind Yasaka Shrine. You may also walk there from Philosopher’s Path (1 hour walk).
Maruyama Park is also famous for its night time hanami parties and picnics. There are tables and cushions set up for visitors at the park. You can buy food from vendors and enjoy dinner amidst the beautiful surroundings. Selene said that this is the most interesting place in Kyoto and the atmosphere was fabulous.
If you’ve always wanted to experience the cherry blossom festival, be sure to do your research and follow Selene’s helpful tips to have a blooming good time!
Photos courtesy of Selene Daswani