16 spectacular cherry blossom illuminations in Tokyo in 2026

This cherry blossom festival, one of Tokyo's most popular, takes place along the 700m-long Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo promenade near the Imperial Palace, around which there are some 230 sakura trees. During the day, you can take a stroll along the Chidorigafuchi moat or even rent a rowboat to see the cherry blossoms from the water. By night, you can enjoy the pink flowers lit up with LEDs from March 26.

Cherry blossom viewing isn’t just limited to the daytime. Just a five-minute walk from the west exit of Shibuya Station is Sakurazaka, a winding street lined with beautiful cherry blossom trees that are illuminated each evening with pink lights and 250 pink lanterns from March 27 to April 3. The around 30-or-so somei-yoshino trees along the 200-metre road reach peak bloom from late March to early April.

Celebrate spring's arrival at Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi, where the annual highlight is the illumination of the 200m avenue lined with cherry blossoms in the Garden Area. This spot is especially scenic between 5pm and 11pm during the spring festival when all of the trees are lit up. Before the cherry blossoms bloom, they're bathed in bright pink light. Once in full bloom, the lights shine a bright white, letting you admire the blossoms in all their splendour.

For an extra leisurely experience, grab a seat at the Roku Midtown Blossom Lounge (12pm-8pm) in Midtown Garden, where you’ll find exclusive spring-inspired cocktails and dishes prepared by chefs from the nearby Ritz-Carlton hotel.

The annual cherry blossom light-up at Roppongi Hills illuminates the sakura trees in the Mohri Garden and along the 400 metre-long Sakura-zaka slope behind Keyakizaka-dori street, providing the perfect opportunity for after-dark flower viewing. You can see four kinds of cherry blossoms here – somei-yoshino, maihime, yoko and yamazakura. The trees will be lit from 5pm to 10pm, starting around March 19, when the blossoms begin to bloom, and continuing through early April. Exact dates may vary depending on the blooming season.

Sankeien in Yokohama is a traditional Japanese garden that houses an impressive three-storey pagoda from Kyoto, a mansion that once belonged to a daimyo lord. During the spring, 250 cherry blossom trees start to bloom here, and visitors from March 27 to April 5 can catch a special light-up event in the evening from 6pm to 9pm (last entry 8.30pm). The garden will be open until 9pm, but some paths, including the one that leads to the three-story pagoda, will be closed after 5pm.

To see the sakura light up, you need to pay the entrance fee of ¥900 (children ¥200). 

The one-kilometre path along Sumida River from Azumabashi Bridge to Sakurabashi Bridge has over 340 Yoshino cherry trees, making it one of the most popular sakura attractions near Sensoji Temple. These trees were planted in the 18th century by order of the 8th shogun, Tokugawa Yoshimune, so they carry extra historical significance. 

Come in the evening from March 20 to April 5 to see the blooming cherry blossoms light up from 6.30pm to 9pm daily. And on weekends when the sakura are in peak bloom – including March 28-29 and April 4-5 – you can expect a vibrant atmosphere, with plenty of street food stalls and games set up near Sakurabashi Bridge and Sumida Park Soyokaze Square.

From March 25 to April 5, you'll even find a ‘geisha’ teahouse hosted by the Mukojima Bokutei Association. Tea will be served at Sakurabashi Deck Square.

Check the event website for the latest details. 

If you’re looking for the most OTT cherry blossom illumination in Tokyo, this is it. To celebrate the coming of spring, Yomiuri Land has commissioned veteran lighting designer Motoko Ishii for a spectacular light show that will dazzle even the most ardent illumination sceptic.

Highlights include the Sakura Promenade, where all the cherry blossoms along a 180-metre-long path will shine with electric pink LED lights. There are around 800 cherry blossom trees in the park. For the best bird's-eye view of these seasonal trees, catch a ride on the high-speed Bandit roller coaster, or hop on the Sky Shuttle gondola.

Covering several cherry blossom-lined roads that total a kilometre in length, the Ark Hills Sakura Festival is returning for three days this year from March 27. Taking place across several venues, including the roofed Karajan Place, the festival will feature live music performances, outdoor food stalls and an antique market (March 29), all within walking distance from the beautifully illuminated cherry blossoms surrounding the venue.

The cherry blossoms are lit up from 5pm to 10pm in two locations: roads surrounding the Ark Hills complex from Spain-zaka Street near Azabudai Hills to Sakurazaka Street, and around Izumi Garden near the US Embassy. See the event website for more details on the antique market and live music performances.

The Nihonbashi neighbourhood is once again celebrating sakura season with all things pink. As a yearly tradition in the neighbourhood, the first-floor plazas at Coredo Muromachi Terrace, Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, and Coredo Muromachi 1, 2 & 3 are decked out with pink noren curtains. There are seven designs, each inspired by a different variety of cherry blossoms, like somei-yoshino, okame-zakura and kawazu-zakura. There are also a few events, including a pop-up parfait expo from March 18 and live music performances scheduled for the evenings of March 28 and March 29. 

Swing by for the Nihonbashi Sakura Yatai on March 28 and 29 and you'll find a host of food and drink stalls around Fukutoku Shrine, representing restaurants, department stores, hotels and other major businesses in Nihonbashi. You can also expect sakura-themed cocktails, bento boxes, pastries and course meals at about 200 venues in the neighbourhood. Check the list of participating outlets on the website.

Come evening, Nihonbashi’s Edo Sakuradori street will light up with pastel pink-coloured illuminations. On March 28 and 29, you’ll also find a night market beneath the trees, featuring food trucks selling festival grub and a cheerleading performance. While Edo Sakuradori arguably boasts the most stunning cherry blossoms, you can also catch illuminated sakura outside the Bank of Japan Head Office and at Coredo Muromachi 1, 2 and 3. Non-illuminated sakura trees can be found in front of several nearby office buildings as well, including Nihonbashi Honmachi Tokyu Building, Mitsukoshi, Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower and Coredo Muromachi Terrace, among others.

Amusement park Sagamiko Mori Mori in Kanagawa prefecture is known for its extravagant illuminations during the winter, boasting six million LED lights that span across the entire park. Come spring, the park hosts one of the Kanto area’s largest sakura festivals, with 2,500 cherry blossom trees in bloom. From March 20 to April 19, you’ll get to see the park adorned with six million fluorescent pink, gold and blue lights that illuminate the cherry blossom trees and make for a magical evening. 

You must pay the park’s entrance fee (from ¥2,000 for adults, ¥1,300 for children) to see the illumination, which runs from 5pm to 8.30pm daily.

Note: Sagamiko Illumillion is closed between April 9 and April 16.

Japan’s mountainous regions are renowned for their beautiful cloud formations known as unkai (‘sea of clouds’), which appear in the morning hours of spring and autumn. Now you can experience this scenic view at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, where the garden features its own misty sea of clouds against a backdrop of beautiful cherry blossoms. While entry to the garden is free, it's only open to guests who are shopping, dining or staying at the hotel.

This spring, the garden and its 20 species of cherry blossoms – 100 trees in total – will be illuminated with brilliant lights in the evening. Expect to see a special light show with unkai clouds every hour from 6.40pm, 7.40pm, 8.40pm and 9.40pm daily.

Nakameguro is one of Tokyo’s most popular sakura spots, with 800 cherry blossom trees lining the Meguro River that runs through the neighbourhood. This area is renowned for its cherry blossom trees, which create a canopy of pink over the water. You’ll find local restaurants and shops with stalls set up along the river, and the sakura trees lit up with pretty pink lanterns from 5pm to 8pm.

While the light-up runs every evening from late March to early April (dates yet to be announced for 2026), the Nakameguro Sakura Festival is happening for one weekend only on March 28 and 29 at the Goryuten Playground on the south side of Nakameguro Station.

Catch the sight of cherry blossoms before anywhere else at the 60th floor observatory of Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City this spring. From February 26 to May 10, the relaxing indoor park with artificial turf will be decorated with colourful cherry blossom decorations, including branches from real Somei Yoshino cherry trees nearby. These will be set up mainly around the Tembo no Oka (‘observatory hill’) area.

Since the observatory’s whole hanami experience can be enjoyed indoors, there’s no need to worry about the weather or any irritating pollen flying around. During the event period, the Tembo Park Cafe will be offering a special hanami menu featuring treats such as the Sakura Peach Soda Float and the Haruno-otozure (coming of spring) parfait. You can borrow a picnic blanket at the venue and sit down on the turf with your refreshments. 

If you’re visiting after nightfall, don’t miss the chance to try the glowing Yozakura Soda, which is inspired by illuminated cherry blossoms in the night sky. It’s the perfect complement to the beautifully lit cherry blossom ornaments and eye-catching views of Tokyo. Handheld lanterns are also available to borrow after dusk, further enhancing the atmosphere.

Even among Tokyo's innumerable flower-viewing spots, Ueno Park stands out with its sheer scale and tasteful lantern decorations. Turned on at sunset, these beautiful lights help make Ueno's nighttime sakura a must-see spectacle.

This year, the 20-day event unfolds across three areas within the park, all centred on the theme of food. At Takenodai Square (also known as the Fountain Square), food trucks from all 47 prefectures across Japan will serve regional specialities and festival favourites. The park's South entrance area near Keisei Ueno Station will feature food stalls from local Ueno vendors, cooking up their best dishes in bento form. Meanwhile, the square overlooking Shinobazu Pond will showcase food trucks offering piping hot ramen bowls.

Note that the festival period may change depending on the cherry blossom blooming dates.

Light up daily from 5pm to 10pm.