Where to see winter cherry blossoms in Tokyo

Inokashira Park boasts two kinds of winter cherry blossoms – vivid pink kanhi-zakura and the more common pastel pink kawazu-zakura. You can catch this colourful scenery next to the pond in the south-west of the park, located right behind the Ghibli Museum.

This local shrine in Shinmachi certainly lives up to its name. It boasts two kawazu-zakura cherry blossom trees standing behind its massive torii gate. You’ll find pink ribbons tied onto the branches with handwritten wishes from visitors, adding even more pink to the scene. To leave your own wish for the year, you can purchase a ribbon for ¥500. 

One of Tokyo’s most popular picnic spots, Yoyogi Park’s expansive lawn is a welcome oasis of greenery in the busier part of the city. The park is usually packed during hanami season in spring, but the winter-blooming kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms in the central plaza are not to be missed – they’re just as pretty as the springtime sakura. 

This gigantic park located between Musashi-Koyama and Fudomae stations has several kawazu-zakura cherry blossom trees planted on its spacious lawn. The pink petals stand out from the towering green trees surrounding them and are expected to be in bloom until the beginning of March.

In the stylish neighbourhood of Daikanyama, Saigoyama Park boasts one massive kawazu-zakura tree that sits atop the park’s slope and really stands out amongst the evergreen trees in winter. 

The scenic walk along the Kyunaka River features 26 kawazu-zakura trees that start to bloom as early as the last week of January. Get off at Hirai Station and follow the JR Sobu line towards the river, where you’ll find plenty of space to sit on the grass and admire the cherry blossoms. It's also possible to enjoy the flowers with a spectacular view of Tokyo Skytree.

Hotel Chinzanso is known for its historic Japanese garden with 120 beautiful sakura trees and a three-tiered pagoda. Despite being in central Tokyo, it’s one of the least crowded places to enjoy the cherry blossoms. In winter, we adore the blooms on the impressive kawazu-zakura tree, which stands right next to the pagoda, as well as the Osaka-fuyuzakura tree at the entrance of the Sky Terrace viewing platform.

Around 100 kawazu-zakura trees are planted just outside Kiba Park’s Fureai Hiroba entrance along the Oyoko River. The cherry blossoms here have already started blooming, so we can expect to see full bloom in mid-February. Each tree here seems to be on its own schedule, but don’t worry – these flowers are known for their long lifespan.

Shiba Park makes a great picnic spot, especially with the kawazu-zakura and kanhi-zakura cherry blossom trees planted around the park. If you’re lucky, you can snap a photo of the pink blossoms with Tokyo Tower in the background.