Free things to do in Tokyo this week

The Nihonbashi neighbourhood is once again celebrating sakura season with all things pink. The first floor plaza at Coredo Muromachi Terrace is decked out with pink noren curtains. There are seven designs, each inspired by a different variety of cherry blossoms, like someiyoshino, okame-zakura and kawazu-zakura. There are also a few events, including a pop-up bar on March 21 and live music performances scheduled for March 27, March 29 and March 30.  Swing by for the Nihonbashi Sakura Yatai on March 29 and 30 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 240 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. You’ll find glowing cherry blossoms along the Mitsui Main Building as well as outside shopping malls and office buildings including Ovol Nihonbashi, Coredo Muromachi Terrace, Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower, Mitsukoshi and more.

With the 2025 sakura season just around the corner, 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, 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 (while supplies last), with queues starting 30 minutes prior. The 30-minute boat ride costs ¥1,000 per person and it's only available on weekends from March 22 to April 6, 10am to 3pm (more info here, in Japanese only). Along with the boat rides, the festival will also have street entertainment and food stalls on March 30 at Fukagawabasho street near Kiyosumi-shirakawa station, selling local snacks...

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, you can get a seat at the Roku Midtown Blossom Lounge (12pm-8pm) in the 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 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.

Covering several cherry blossom-lined roads that total a kilometre in length, the Ark Hills Sakura Festival is returning for only three days this year. Spread out over various sections within Ark Hills, the festival will feature live music performances, outdoor food stalls and family-friendly craft workshops, 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 to Sakurazaka street and Izumi Garden. See the event website for the workshop and performance schedules.