Cherry blossoms look great against a blue sky, but don’t let nightfall stop you. Japan has a long tradition of appreciating the blossoms when the sun goes down. There is even a word for it — yozakura.
Several of Tokyo’s best cherry blossom locations and festivals also moonlight as yozakura spots. At dusk, the lanterns and illuminations come on, creating a magical atmosphere.
Here are the very best of Tokyo’s nighttime cherry blossom light-ups. Some have food stalls and/or space for picnics, so you can make an evening of it.
1. Chidorigafuchi Park
March 22 to April 2 (extended to April 7)Dusk (around 6 p.m.) to 10 p.m.
Chidorigafuchi Park, which sits on the opposite side of the moat from the Imperial Palace, has about 260 cherry trees that line the water. They’re illuminated in the evening during the Chiyoda Cherry Blossom Festival, which extends to nearby Kitanomaru Park and Yasukuni Shrine.
During the festival, you’ll be able to take a rowboat out onto the moat until 8:30 p.m. for the ultimate yozakura photo ops.
2. Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown
Lights from March 15 to April 145 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Both Roppongi Hills’ Mohri Garden and nearby Sakura-zaka (literally “Cherry Slope”) have cherry trees that come aglow in spring. Mohri Garden has the popular Somei-yoshino variety and weeping cherry trees, while Sakura-zaka has all Somei-yoshino.
Swanky Tokyo Midtown, meanwhile, also has illuminations in the evening. Find them in the complex’s Hinokichō Park and elsewhere as part of the Midtown Blossom event.
3. Ueno Park
March 16 to April 75 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Ueno Park is already famous enough for cherry blossoms during the day. While its light-up is nothing too spectacular, its space and reputation as a picnic spot make it an optimal place for dinner under the trees.
If it’s too hard to stake out a hanami spot during the day (there may also be regulations), you might have slightly more luck at night. Emphasis on slightly.
4. Spain-zaka and Ark Hills
Lights from late March to early April (the main flowering period)5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The mature cherry trees lining the roads around Roppongi’s Spain-zaka are amongst the most spectacular and least known in Tokyo. While there aren’t really any places to put down a mat for a picnic, the area is great for an evening stroll.
Spain-zaka runs up the hill next to Ark Hills, from Roppongi-dōri towards the Embassy of Spain. To get there, take the Ark Hills exit from Roppongi-itchōme Station and follow the modest crowds. While the area’s sakura festival only lasts for a few days, the cherry blossom light-up will last for the entirety of the blooming period.
5. Sumida Park
Lights from March 16 to April 76:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Visit historic Asakusa to see this park by the river, where you can have a picnic underneath illuminated cherry blossoms and see Tokyo Skytree in the background. The Sumida River has been a famous cherry blossom festival spot for centuries. There are over 600 trees in the park alone.
6. Monzen-Nakachō, Fukagawa
Lights from March 16 to April 75 p.m. to 10 p.m.
This quiet neighborhood in Kōtō Ward has a low-key vibe, but it’s a great place to check out during cherry blossom season, as it hosts the Oedo-Fukagawa Sakura Festival. There will be food stalls on the weekend and illuminations of the blossoms in the evening from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. But what sets it apart is that you can take a cruise on a wasen, or traditional Japanese boat, to admire the cherry blossoms from the water.
7. Rikugien Garden
Lights from March 16 to 24 (extra dates added: March 29 to 31, may be extended)6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Rikugien is best known for its shidare-zakura, or weeping cherry tree. Described as magical and mystical, the evening illumination makes the massive cherry tree look like it’s floating in the dark.
A special ticket is available from ¥900 to view the garden at night during cherry blossom season. The park is also open in the daytime — as early as 9:00 a.m. — and regular admission is ¥300.
| Advance sales: ¥900 | At the door: ¥1,100 | |
8. Meguro River
Lights from March 19 to March 31 (may be extended)5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Over 800 cherry trees grow on a stretch of the Meguro River, spanning almost 4 km and transforming an otherwise ordinary river into a beautiful sight.
Paper lanterns are strung along a kilometer-long section in Nakameguro — between Nambu Bridge and Saikachi Bridge — as part of the local cherry blossom festivals. The narrow part of the canal near Nakameguro makes for a lovely, romantic stroll.
For other fun and creative ways to enjoy cherry blossom season in Tokyo, see our alternative guide to hanami.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. This post was first published in March, 2015. Last updated in February, 2024, by Alex Ziminski.
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