Written by Alexandra Ziminski
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
Lights from March 28 to April 8Dusk (around 6 p.m.) to 9 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 p.m. for the ultimate yozakura photo ops.
2. Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown
Lights from March 14 to April 135 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
Lights from March 18 to April 65 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 are some regulations this year, namely don’t set up on pathways), 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 15 to April 136:30 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 22 to April 65 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 14 to 306:30 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 a.m. — and regular admission is ¥300.
| Advance sales: ¥900 | At the door: ¥1,100 | |
8. Meguro River
Lights from when the blossoms bloom to March 315 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 (note that these are only lit up for 14 days from when the first blossoms bloom), but there will also be lights. The narrow part of the canal near Nakameguro makes for a lovely, romantic stroll.
9. Rivers in Shinjuku
Lights from when the blossoms bloomDusk to around 9 p.m. (varies at each spot)
The irresistible sight of a pink canopy across water means many rivers in Tokyo are lined by cherry trees. In spots like Shinjuku, they go a step further and string them with lights. Times and dates are subject to change depending on the forecast, but these spots are illuminated every year:
- Kanda River (Akebono Bridge to Nakano Bridge)
- Kanda River (Seseragi Bridge to Otaki Bridge)
- Kanda Josui Park on Kanda River (5 minutes from Higashi-Nakano Station)
- Myōshōji River (near Nishi-Ochiai Park and Tetsugakudo Park)
- Ichigaya Moat (near Ichigaya Station)
10. Harimazaka Cherry Blossom Avenue
Lanterns from March 22 to April 6, lights till March 30From 5 p.m. (for lanterns) / 6 p.m. (for lights) to 8 p.m.
With a name like that, you’re bound to find some pretty blossoms along this avenue. The illuminations are part of the Bunkyo Cherry Blossom Festival — its main dates are March 29 and 30. Note that the lanterns and the actual illuminations have slightly different days and timings, so make sure to plan ahead.
11. Shakujii River
Lights from March 21 to April 36 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Another river running through Tokyo treats us with quaint cherry blossom night views. You can see it from the window of the Tobu Tojo Line train as you speed by or stop off and walk the illuminated section that runs from Kubota Bridge to Nakaita Bridge. The light-up is part of the Itabashi Sakura Week event, which also includes a small market on March 22. The closest station is Nakaitabashi.
12. Shibuya Sakura Stage
Lights from March 28 to April 4 and lanterns from March 25 to April 6
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The name Shibuya Sakura Stage promises some blossoms, and while this is still an entertainment complex in the middle of Shibuya, it does offer an iconic street lined with cherry trees — be warned, the glittering lights will have the influencers flocking. The lanterns will be erected on the second floor of the complex, and on March 28 and 29, there will be performances and live music.
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 March 2025 by Alex Ziminski.
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