Free things to do in Tokyo this week

With the 2026 sakura season now here, this is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s many cherry blossom festivals. To get a feel of what hanami (the culture of cherry blossom viewing) was like back during the Edo period (1603-1867), you can visit the annual Oedo Fukagawa Sakura Festival that takes place along the banks of the Oyokogawa River near Monzen-nakacho Station.  The festival grounds are home to 270 somei-yoshino trees, which flank the river. For the best view of the flowers, we recommend hopping aboard an old school river boat to appreciate the gorgeous, low-hanging sakura branches. To replicate those Edo-era vibes, this special boat ride will be steered by a boatman with an oar. An accompanying boat will be trailing nearby (on March 22, 29 and April 4), carrying musicians playing the shamisen (traditional Japanese three-stringed instrument). If you prefer a more modern experience, larger engine-powered boats are also available.  For the traditional boat ride, you'll need to buy a ticket, which is distributed near Kurofune-bashi Bridge (near Monzen-nakacho Station) on the day from 9.30am (200 seats to be distributed per day, limited to 4 tickets per person), with queues starting 30 minutes prior. The 30-minute boat ride costs ¥1,000 per person and it's only available on weekends and holidays from March 20 to April 11, 10am to 3.30pm (more info here, in Japanese only). Along with the boat rides, the festival coincides with several spring events happening inside Tomioka...

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. This part of Nakameguro gets very crowded, especially on weekends during peak bloom, so there will be some restrictions and traffic control in place to manage the crowds. Eating and drinking while walking is discouraged, as is putting down a sheet to have a picnic under the trees. If you want to find some quieter spots, head over early in the morning or try to move further down the river away from Nakameguro Station. While the light-up runs every evening in late March (until March 31), 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. On Sunday March 29, you'll be able to enjoy live events including a brass band performance (from 10am), hula dances (2.10pm), awa-odori dance troupes (4.10pm), and much more. If you've missed the Nakameguro Sakura Festival and the light-ups, head South to Nakame Ohanami Park Festival for some delicious matsuri grub to enjoy under the cherry trees. Ten food trucks will gather at Meguro River Park daily from March 27 to April 5.

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. Check the lounge menu here. 

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...

Taking place every other weekend at the renovated Shibuya Municipal Kitaya Park, this outdoor vintage market is the place to pick up everything from American Levi's and handmade knit sweaters to candles and unique artisanal accessories. Boasting approximately 20-30 booths, the market offers a curated selection of shops selling on-trend vintage outfits and trinkets from local artists, making it an exciting day out for fashion fiends. Dates are subject to change. Check the event Instagram for more details.

This weekend, before hitting the bars and clubs in Roppongi, stop by Roppongi Hills for the beautiful cherry blossom illuminations. The annual Roppongi Hills Spring Festival is returning only for three days.  For this special occasion, the cherry blossoms at Mohri Garden and Roppongi Sakurazaka will be lit up from 5pm, allowing you to admire the illuminated sakura in two different settings. The former is a traditional Japanese garden while the latter is a 400m-long street flanked by 74 mature somei yoshino trees. The Roppongi Hills Spring Festival will be packed with fun activities and stage shows, including an outdoor nighttime Kyoto Takigi Noh theatre performance on April 3 from 6pm and 7pm, a daytime Oukakenran kabuki show by Hashigo Nakamura on April 4 at 2pm, and a Shinto theatrical kagura dance performance on April 5 from 2pm at the Roppongi Hills Arena. Moreover, restaurants from the shopping complex will be serving spring-themed dishes at their respective outdoor food stalls.   As a special treat, Keyakizaka Complex Rooftop Garden, which is normally closed to the public, will be open on Saturday and Sunday between 1pm and 4pm. Here you get to admire cherry blossoms up close, along with seasonal plants as well as a vegetable garden and rice field. Admission to the rooftop space is free, but you’ll need to get a ticket at the Roppongi Hills Arena reception, which is handed out from noon daily. There are four hourly sessions per day, limited to 30 people each. ...

The UNU farmers’ market is one of Tokyo’s longest running and best-attended markets. Taking place every weekend in front of the university’s Aoyama headquarters, this one always attracts a knowledgeable crowd. Organic and local fare is readily available every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, with the farmers themselves happy to provide details about their wares. Plus, there's always a few food trucks on hand if you wish to enjoy a quick meal.

See Tokyo Midtown Hibiya transformed into a floral paradise this spring at the annual Hibiya Blossom celebration, which is getting a Wicked makeover again, like last year. The Hibiya Step Square will feature a stunningly colourful flower dome crafted from over 15,000 artificial flowers. This year’s installation is refreshed in vibrant spring hues and connects to a whimsical yellow brick road inspired by the path to Oz, lined with colourful florals including wisteria, roses and rapeseed blossoms. The floral theme does not end there, as the staircase next to the dome will be completely covered in white, pink and yellow tulips, while Hibiya Nakadori street will feature several photogenic floral art sculptures. Be sure to stick around until sundown, as the floral dome will be lit up in brilliant shades of pink and blue, further accentuating the colourful blossoms. Additionally, a mesmerising light show set to the movie’s official soundtrack will take place every 10 minutes between 4pm and 11pm. For more information, check Hibiya Blossom's website.