Spring has sprung in Tokyo! Here are scenes of cherry blossom season from around the city of the fully bloomed sakura both during the day and at night:
Cherry Blossom Season in Tokyo
First bloom of sakura began in Tokyo on March 22, 2019. Full bloom blossomed a week later. This year, 2019, that meant that the first week of April was the optimal time for viewing the cherry blossom trees in the city.
Cherry blossom trees along the pathways of Sophia University in Yotsuya. If you take the Chuo Line from Kanda towards Shinjuku, you can see the lush blossoms decorating the riverside on the right side of the train.A close-up. There are so many photo opportunities and angles when it comes to sakura season, like with these shots to take the contrasting colors of the white petals against the dark branches and the gorgeous blue Tokyo skies.Massive trees all around the city. There are the famous parks for cherry blossom viewings and picnic festivals, and there are also so many gorgeous trees planted through the city that make both tourists and locals stop to appreciate nature.Sakura in the city. Right in front of Tokyo Station (on the Yaesu side) are gorgeous trees lining both sides of the major street. Towards the end of the week, the green leaves of the trees began sprouting while the spring winds gently blew away a few petals at the time – this is the sign that sakura season is slowly starting to end.
Sakura-Dori Avenue
Sakura-Dori Avenue is one of midtown Tokyo’s best sakura viewings within the city. The street is tree lined for blocks which created this sakura tunnel for two weeks in the spring, hence the name, Sakura-Dori Avenue.The avenue of cherry blossom trees is right across from Tokyo Station on the Yaesu North side. This street is very popular among locals and office workers in the area who frequently stop to take photos both during the day and at night when it is gorgeous lit.The cherry blossom trees are strategically light from below and from the restaurant shop signs to show off the gorgeous white color against the dark evening sky. On Friday and Saturday nights during this full bloom, the street closes off to cars for pedestrians to fully enjoy the street.Capturing the contrast. While parks are best for viewing sakura during the day, Sakura Dori Avenue is best viewed at night because of the gorgeous contrast of white petals against the night sky.
Watch these clips of Sakura Dori Avenue from 2017: