MarchCherry Blossoms · Tokyo & Around
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Central TokyoGarden🌸 Typical peak: Late Mar – Mid Apr
Overview
Overview
Shinjuku Gyoen is a national garden managed by the Ministry of the Environment and a central Tokyo hanami favorite, with about 900 cherry trees of about 70 varieties. Set against wide lawns, a Japanese garden and a landscape garden, the varieties bloom at different times, so you can enjoy cherry blossoms over a long period.
- Address
- 11 Naitomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0014
- Closed
- Usually Mondays (the next weekday if Monday is a holiday). Open every day during the cherry blossom season, Mar 25–Apr 24
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
Peak Time
When to See the Blossoms
Typical peakUsually late March to early April (Somei-yoshino), mid-April (yaezakura)
February
March
April
May
Bloom dates shift with each year’s temperatures. Check the Shinjuku Gyoen official website for the latest bloom information
Peak times are typical guides. Blooming and full bloom shift with each year’s temperatures.
Highlights
Highlights
The stars are about 300 Somei-yoshino, which peak from late March to early April. Yaezakura bloom in mid-April, and early-blooming cherries can be seen from January to early March. Cherry blossoms reflected on the Middle Pond are also recommended.
📷 Best views
Around the Middle Pond
Cherry blossoms reflected on the water and garden scenery
Cherry trees on the lawns
Large cherry trees spreading their branches over wide lawns
Hours
Opening hours
Opening hours (Mar 15–Sep 30)9:00–18:00
Last entry 17:30
Hours can change during the cherry blossom season and for events. Check the official website before you go.
Admission
Admission
General¥500
Age 65 and over / students (high school and up)¥250
Junior high school students and underFree
Prices may change. Check the official website before you go.
Tips
Tips for travelers
- ✓You can pay with a transit IC card at the entrance gates
- ✓With many early and late-blooming varieties, you may see cherry blossoms even outside the Somei-yoshino season
Access
Getting there
- Nearest station / bus stop
- Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line)About a 5 min walk from Exit 1 to the Shinjuku GateAbout a 5 min walk from Exit 2 to the Okido Gate
- Shinjuku-sanchome Station (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, Toei Shinjuku Line)About a 5 min walk to the Shinjuku Gate
- Sendagaya Station (JR Chuo-Sobu Line local)About a 5 min walk to the Sendagaya Gate
- From major stations & airports
- Shinjuku Station: Walk from the JR Shinjuku Station South Exit (About 10 min)
- By car & traffic restrictions
- Parking lot next to the Okido Gate. It gets very crowded during the cherry blossom season, so use public transportation
- Getting back
- The Shinjuku Gate gets crowded near closing time, so leaving by the Sendagaya Gate or Okido Gate is an option
Crowds
Crowds & best times
- Busiest
- On weekends at peak bloom, lines can form at the entrance gates
- Quieter times
- Weekdays right after opening
Weather
Temperature & what to wear
- Typical temperatures
- Tokyo normals: March high 14.2°C, low 5.0°C; April high 19.4°C, low 9.8°C (JMA)
- What to wear & bring
- If you’ll sit on the lawn, bring a layer and a picnic sheet to guard against the chill from the ground
Rules
Hanami rules & etiquette
- !No alcohol
- !No drones or radio-controlled models
- !No ball games, badminton or similar play equipment
- !No smoking (including e-cigarettes)
- !Do not climb trees or pick or damage plants
- !No bonfires or stoves
- !No tents or parasols (with some exceptions, such as sunshades for children)
Facilities
Facilities
- Payment
- Transit IC cards accepted at the entrance gates
- Accessibility
- Free wheelchair loans at each gate
Where to Stay · Agoda
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Prices and availability are shown on Agoda.
Events
Events & festivals in Central Tokyo
March
AprilBunkyo Azalea Festival
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Usually around April 1–30 (the 55th festival was held April 1–30, 2026). Peak bloom is usually mid- to late April
MaySanja Matsuri
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Usually mid-May, on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday around the third Saturday of May (May 15–17 in 2026, with the ceremony to install the deities in the mikoshi on the Thursday evening before)
JulySumida River Fireworks Festival
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Usually the last Saturday of July (19:00–20:30)
JulyShiman-rokusen-nichi / Hoozuki Market
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Every year on July 9 and 10
Every year on July 9 and 10 (same dates in 2027)
AugustTokyo Koenji Awa-Odori
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Usually the last Saturday and Sunday of August (around 17:00–20:00)
NovemberTori-no-Ichi
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Usually on the Days of the Rooster in November (2–3 days, 12 days apart). At Otori Shrine in Asakusa, it runs from midnight to midnight (0:00–24:00) on each Rooster Day
2026: two days, Ichi-no-Tori on Nov 7 (Sat) and Ni-no-Tori on Nov 19 (Thu) (no market on the days in between)
November–FebruaryMarunouchi Illumination
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Usually mid-November to mid-February of the following year (about 3 months)
2026: Nov 12 (Thu) – Feb 14, 2027 (Sun)
DecemberHagoita-ichi (Battledore Market)
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Every year December 17–19 (Senso-ji explicitly states "the three days from December 17 to 19")
2026: Dec 17 (Thu) – Dec 19 (Sat)
Attractions
Attractions in Central Tokyo
Theme parkTokyo Disney Resort (Tokyo Disneyland / Tokyo DisneySea)
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Located in Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, this resort centers on two theme parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. It’s about 20 minutes from Tokyo Station on the JR Keiyo Line, close enough for a day trip from central Tokyo. Park tickets are date-specific with variable pricing and must be bought in advance on the official website or official app.
Advance, date-specific tickets required
Studio tourWarner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
This indoor walk-through attraction takes you behind the scenes of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film series. It opened in June 2023 on the former site of Toshimaen. There are no rides; instead, you explore sets, props, and costumes on foot at your own pace.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendlyAdvance, date-specific tickets required
Theme parkSanrio Puroland
Tokyo & Around ・ Tokyo / Tama
A fully indoor theme park where you can meet Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, and other Sanrio characters. Parades, musical shows, rides, and character greetings are packed into a four-story building, so you can enjoy a full day regardless of the weather.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendlyAdvance, date-specific tickets required
ExperienceteamLab Planets TOKYO DMM
Tokyo & Around ・ Tokyo / Toyosu
An immersive museum by the art collective teamLab where you walk barefoot into the artworks. It's a series of vast spaces, including works you wade through water to experience, where your whole body becomes one with the art. It's scheduled to run until the end of 2027.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendly
ZooUeno Zoological Gardens
Tokyo & Around ・ Tokyo / Ueno
Japan's oldest zoo, located inside Ueno Park. With affordable admission, it's a central Tokyo zoo that's easy to combine with Ueno's art galleries and museums.
AquariumSumida Aquarium
Tokyo & Around ・ Oshiage / Tokyo Skytree Town
An urban aquarium on the 5th and 6th floors of Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi. It's entirely indoors and directly connected to the station, so you can drop by whatever the weather. It stays open into the evening, making it easy to pair with the Skytree observation decks or sightseeing in Asakusa.
☂ Mostly indoors · rain-friendly
AquariumKamogawa Sea World
Tokyo & Around ・ Kamogawa, Chiba
An aquarium on the Pacific coast of the Boso Peninsula where you can see performances by four species: orcas, belugas, dolphins, and sea lions. Admission includes all performances. It's about 2 hours from Tokyo Station by the Limited Express Wakashio or the direct Akushi-go highway bus (アクシー号), so it works as a day trip.
Amusement parkYomiuriland
Tokyo & Around ・ Inagi
An amusement park in Inagi, Tokyo, with something to enjoy year-round: pools in summer and illuminations in winter. Inside the park is PokéPark KANTO, an area where more than 600 Pokémon live. It's about 10 minutes from Keio-yomiuri-land Station by the Sky Shuttle gondola.
AquariumSunshine Aquarium
Tokyo & Around ・ Ikebukuro
An urban aquarium on the roof of the World Import Mart Building in Ikebukuro's Sunshine City. Themed as an oasis in the sky, it consists of indoor exhibits on two floors and the outdoor Marine Garden. It's within walking distance of Ikebukuro and Higashi-Ikebukuro stations, making it easy to drop by between other Tokyo sightseeing.
Cherry Blossoms
Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo & Around
Garden
RiversideNakagawa River Cherry Blossoms (Matsuzaki)
Tokyo & Around ・ Matsuzaki, West Izu, Shizuoka
🌸 Typical peak: Late Mar – Early Apr
✦ Night sakura
RiversideMeguro River Cherry Blossoms
Tokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
🌸 Typical peak: Late Mar – Early Apr
✦ Night sakura
Park
Riverside
Avenue & old townDankazura and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
Tokyo & Around ・ Kamakura & Enoshima
🌸 Typical peak: Late Mar – Early Apr
Park
Park
Castle
ParkArakurayama Sengen Park (Chureito Pagoda)
Tokyo & Around ・ Fuji Five Lakes
🌸 Typical peak: Early Apr – Mid Apr
Famous single treePeak periods, hours, prices and access are based on official sources such as the spot’s own website, local governments and tourism associations. Bloom conditions and event details can change, so check the official website before you go.
Last checked: 2026-10-06