Written by Patrick Balfe
Tokyo events for Monday, March 23, to Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Grab your blue sheets and chūhais ’cause sakura season has finally arrived. This week, we’re covering some of the major cherry blossom festivals to check out, as well as some slightly more obscure options. On top of that, we’ve got traditional music, theater, improv, sports, and anime events for your consideration.
Looking for more cherry blossom events to head to this week? Check out our main sakura festival roundup here.
Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival
Grab something to eat and drink, and relax on a picnic rug or walk around and take in the festivities. This week, there will be live music, DJs, and comedy, including classical music and idol performances, along with tons of stalls selling food from Ueno and beyond.
Rikugien Gardens Cherry Blossom Nighttime Illuminations
Tokyo’s Rikugien Gardens, apart from being an Edo-era formal garden, are home to some of the city’s most beautiful night illuminations. During sakura season, a giant weeping cherry tree takes center stage.
| Advance sales: ¥1,000 | At the door: ¥1,200 | |
Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival
The trendy Nakameguro Canal is one of the most visited cherry blossom spots in Tokyo. But there are a LOT of trees along the Meguro River, meaning you can find a quieter spot — if you know where to look.
Odawara Kamaboko Cherry Blossom Festival
Every year, the festival showcases Odawara’s local culture through various stalls selling specialty products and performances. Skilled craftsmen do live demonstrations showing how to make Odawara kamaboko (steamed fish cake).
Shibuya Sakura Stage Cherry Blossom Festival
From March 27 to April 5 (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.), all the cherry blossom trees along Sakurazaka Hill in Shibuya will be illuminated with a gorgeous pink color, and pink lanterns will glow.
Nihonbashi Sakura Festival
Major local landmarks, the Mitsui Building and Coredo Muromachi, are illuminated at night, while the street leading to Fukutoku Shrine features a cherry blossom noren (fabric divider) avenue.
Bokutei Sumida Park Cherry Blossom Festival
The festival centers around Sumida Park’s kilometer-long line of cherry trees and features night illuminations and festival stalls.
Bunkyo Cherry Blossom Festival
Heading into its 54th year, the Bunkyo Cherry Blossom Festival is one of Tokyo’s most popular spots to see sakura. This creates a stunning scene through the trees — and the perfect spot for some photos.
Jindai Botanical Gardens Cherry Blossom Festival
The Jindai Botanical Gardens is home to 60 varieties of cherry blossoms, spread out across 750 trees. The mix of species and tree locations keeps them blooming brightly throughout the season, so every day is a new tapestry.
| At the door: ¥500 | ||
| At the door: ¥0 | ||
| At the door: ¥250 | ||
Other sakura festivals happening this week
Looking for some slightly less crowded cherry blossom options? Here’s some other places to check out:
- Fuchū Citizens’ Cherry Blossom Festival
- Ark Hills Cherry Blossom Festival
- Koganei Cherry Blossom Festival
- Gotenyama Cherry Blossom Festival
- Midtown Blossom 2026
- Edo Fukagawa Sakura Festival
- Hadano Sakura Festival
Free Shakuhachi Concert in Tokyo
The shakuhachi is a traditional Japanese bamboo flute with a history stretching back centuries. At this concert, you’ll hear performers from several major schools of shakuhachi, including Fuke Myōan-ryū, Kinko-ryū, and Tozan-ryū.
Go Japan Spring Cup
The Go Japan Spring Cup is a futsal tournament that brings together teams from diverse countries and cultural communities in Japan, all competing for a remarkable prize pool of up to ¥300,000. In addition to the matches, all attendees can explore promotional booths, enjoy a variety of food options, and win special giveaways through the event’s raffle.
Pirates of Tokyo Bay: English & Japanese Improv Comedy
For over a decade, The Pirates of Tokyo Bay have been creating hilarious improvised comedy scenes, stories, and songs based on audience cues.
| Advance sales: ¥2,500 | At the door: ¥2,500 | |
Family Anime Festa
It is open to children of elementary school age and younger, along with their guardians. There will be plenty of arts and crafts to try, like drawing your own anime panels and creating character accessories to take home.
Anime Japan
Anime Japan has everything you’d expect: exhibitions, goods, special anime-business collaborations, and stage appearances and performances by some of the biggest names in the industry.
| Advance sales: ¥2,500 | At the door: ¥2,800 | |
ART: A Comedy by Sheepdog Theatre
Sheepdog Theatre is an international company recognized for its bold performances and inventive productions, including a bilingual Romeo and Juliet, a sold-out run of Hamlet, and a powerful staging of Samuel D. Hunter’s The Whale.
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