Tokyo and Yokohama's flower calendar
Typical peak periods. Each year can be a week or two earlier or later.
| When | Flower | In Tokyo | Yokohama & Kamakura |
|---|---|---|---|
| February – early March | Plum | Ikegami Baien, Yushima Tenjin | Sankeien |
| March | Rape blossoms | Hamarikyu Gardens | — |
| Late March – early April | Cherry | Chidorigafuchi, Meguro River, Ueno, Shinjuku Gyoen, Sumida Park | Ooka River, Sankeien |
| April | Azalea, wisteria | Nezu Shrine, Kameido Tenjin | — |
| May | Roses | Kyu-Furukawa Gardens | Yamashita Park, Minato-no-Mieru-Oka Park |
| June | Hydrangea | Hakusan Shrine | Hasedera, Meigetsuin (Kamakura) |
| July – August | Lotus | Shinobazu Pond, Ueno | — |
| September – October | Cosmos, autumn roses | Hamarikyu Gardens, Kyu-Furukawa Gardens | Yokohama's rose gardens |
| Late November – early December | Ginkgo, maples | Jingu Gaien, Rikugien | Sankeien |
Late winter: plum blossoms
February – early March
Ikegami Baien (池上梅園) Close to base, 100 yen
In Ota Ward — the same ward as Haneda — this quiet hillside garden holds more than 30 varieties of plum, the ward's official flower, around two small teahouses. It usually peaks in late February to early March. Adult entry is just 100 yen, and it stays open every day in February and March. It is a 10-minute walk from Nishi-Magome Station, at the southern end of the Toei Asakusa Line.
Yushima Tenjin and Sankeien Tokyo and Yokohama
Yushima Tenjin in Tokyo, the shrine of the god of learning, holds a plum festival each February and March, when students come to pray before exams. In Yokohama, Sankeien, a garden of historic buildings moved from across Japan, has an old plum grove that makes a calm late-winter walk.
Spring: cherry blossoms
Late March – early April
Ooka River, Yokohama (大岡川) On the Keikyu line
About 700 cherry trees follow roughly five kilometres of the 大岡川 (Ōoka River) in 横浜 (Yokohama). Several 京急 (Keikyū) stations, including 弘明寺 (Gumyōji), 井土ヶ谷 (Idogaya), 南太田 (Minami-Ōta), 黄金町 (Koganechō) and 日ノ出町 (Hinodechō), let you choose a shorter stretch. In 2026 part of the promenade had lanterns and illumination through 5 April. Check the current lit section and dates each spring; finish with dinner around 野毛 (Noge) if it suits your route.
Chidorigafuchi (千鳥ヶ淵) The imperial moat
Cherry trees lean over the Imperial Palace's old moat, and rowing boats pass beneath them. It is one of Tokyo's most photographed cherry views. Go early in the morning or for the evening illumination, and expect long queues for the boats at peak times.
Meguro River (目黒川) Lanterns and cafés
Hundreds of cherry trees arch over this narrow canal through Nakameguro, hung with lanterns at night, with cafés and food stalls along the banks. It is crowded and there is no space for picnics — it is a walk, not a sit-down hanami. Keep moving with the crowd and do not stop on the bridges.
Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) Book on peak days
新宿御苑 (Shinjuku Gyoen) has early and late cherry varieties, which give you more chances to catch flowers than a single row of Somei Yoshino trees. It has lawns for a picnic, but alcohol is prohibited. In 2026, advance reservations applied from 10:00 to 16:00 on 28–29 March and 4–5 April for visitors who were not exempt. Check the next season’s official admission notice rather than assuming the same rule or dates.
Ueno Park and Sumida Park Lively and traditional
Ueno Park is Tokyo's classic, noisy picnic hanami, with groups on blue sheets under long avenues of trees. Sumida Park, by the Sumida River in Asakusa, puts the blossoms in front of Tokyo Skytree. Both are easy to combine with Asakusa or Ueno's museums.
Rape blossoms first: in March, the fields of yellow rape blossoms at Hamarikyu Gardens, backed by skyscrapers, are a bright start to the spring before the cherries open.
Late spring: azaleas, wisteria and roses
April – May
Nezu Shrine azaleas (根津神社) April
A hillside garden of about 3,000 azaleas of around 100 varieties surrounds this Edo-period shrine, alongside a tunnel of small red torii. The azalea festival runs through April; in 2026 it ran from 1 to 30 April, with peak color usually in mid to late April. The azalea garden asks for a small donation that changes with the bloom.
Kameido Tenjin wisteria (亀戸天神社) Late April
Wisteria trellises line a pond crossed by arched red bridges, with Tokyo Skytree in the distance. The wisteria festival is usually held in late April, when the purple flowers hang over the water.
Yokohama's roses May, and again in October
The rose is Yokohama's city flower. Each May, the city's Rose Week fills Yamashita Park on the waterfront, Minato-no-Mieru-Oka Park with its harbor views, and the Western-style residences of Yamate with roses; in 2026 it ran from 2 May to 2 June. The roses bloom a second time in October. In Tokyo, Kyu-Furukawa Gardens combine a rose terrace with a Western-style mansion.
Rainy season and summer: hydrangea and lotus
June – August
Kamakura's hydrangea temples (鎌倉) Early – mid June
長谷寺 (Hasedera) has a hillside hydrangea path with about 2,500 plants. In its 2026 peak period, visitors needed a separate あじさい券 (hydrangea path ticket) in addition to temple admission; timed tickets could be reserved online, with same-day tickets subject to availability. Check the temple’s current release schedule. 明月院 (Meigetsuin), known for blue hydrangeas, is another option near 北鎌倉 (Kita-Kamakura).
In Tokyo: Hakusan Shrine and Shinobazu Pond June – August
Hakusan Shrine in Bunkyo Ward holds a hydrangea festival in June. In July and August, lotus leaves cover much of Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park; the pink flowers open in the early morning.
Rain is fine: hydrangeas look their best on a grey, drizzly day. Bring an umbrella and good shoes rather than waiting for sunshine.
Autumn: cosmos, ginkgo and red leaves
September – early December
Cosmos at Hamarikyu September – October
The same fields that are yellow with rape blossoms in March turn pink and white with cosmos in autumn, framed by the Shiodome towers. Autumn roses bloom at the same time in Yokohama and at Kyu-Furukawa Gardens.
Jingu Gaien ginkgo and autumn gardens Late November – early December
The avenue of ginkgo trees at Meiji Jingu Gaien turns into a golden tunnel, with a ginkgo festival nearby. For red maples, Rikugien in Tokyo and Sankeien in Yokohama are classic stroll gardens, often with evening illuminations.
Hanami manners and practical tips
- Do not touch the trees. Never shake, climb or break branches, and do not pick flowers.
- Take your rubbish home. Bins overflow at peak times. Bring a bag.
- Follow each park's rules. Rules on alcohol, barbecues, tents, music and reserving picnic spots differ. Shinjuku Gyoen bans alcohol entirely.
- Bring a picnic sheet. Take your shoes off before stepping onto it, as Japanese picnickers do.
- Keep moving on narrow paths. On the Meguro River and bridges, walk with the crowd rather than stopping for photos.
- Dress for the evening. Night viewing (夜桜) is beautiful but cold in late March.
- No drones. Flying drones is banned in most parks and around the Imperial Palace.
How to choose
| If you want... | Choose... | Avoid... |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry blossoms close to base | The Ooka River, on the Keikyu line | Crossing the city on arrival day |
| The classic Tokyo cherry view | Chidorigafuchi, early morning | Midday queues for the boats |
| A picnic with space | Shinjuku Gyoen (booked on peak days) or Ueno Park | Planning a picnic on the Meguro River |
| Something beyond cherry | Nezu azaleas, Kameido wisteria or Yokohama roses | Assuming spring ends when the cherries fall |
| Hydrangeas | Kamakura on a weekday morning, with a Hasedera slot booked | A mid-June Saturday afternoon |
| Late-autumn color | Jingu Gaien ginkgo, then Rikugien | Going too early in November |
Three ready-made flower days
Cherry blossoms on the Keikyu line
- Keikyu line from Anamori-inari toward Yokohama; check whether your train needs a change at Keikyu Kamata.
- Get off at Gumyoji and walk downstream along the Ooka River.
- A picnic or festival snack in one of the riverside parks.
- Continue to Hinodecho as the lanterns and lights come on.
- Dinner in Noge, then the Keikyu line home.
Best for: late March to early April, and arrival or departure days.
A classic Tokyo cherry day
- Early train into central Tokyo.
- Chidorigafuchi before the crowds, along the imperial moat.
- Picnic at 新宿御苑 (Shinjuku Gyoen), after checking any timed-entry rules, or choose 上野公園 (Ueno Park).
- Evening lanterns on the Meguro River in Nakameguro.
- Home via Shinagawa and the Keikyu line.
Best for: full-bloom weekdays.
June: hydrangeas in Kamakura
- Check 長谷寺 (Hasedera)’s current hydrangea path ticket release and reserve a time if available.
- Early Keikyu train to Yokohama, then onward to Kamakura.
- Meigetsuin's blue hydrangeas near Kita-Kamakura at opening time.
- Lunch, then Hasedera's hydrangea path and the Great Buddha nearby.
- Back to Yokohama for dinner, then the Keikyu line home.
Best for: early to mid June, rain or shine.
Using Stark House Haneda as your base
STARK House Tokyo Haneda is near 穴守稲荷駅 (Anamori-inari Station) on the 京急空港線 (Keikyū Airport Line). Rooms 202 and 401 are private studios of about 20 m² each. For the 大岡川 (Ōoka River), use 京急 (Keikyū) toward 横浜 (Yokohama); for 鎌倉 (Kamakura), plan a further transfer. Central Tokyo gardens require different connections. Check the train’s stopping pattern and each room’s current facilities before booking.
The advantage is flexibility: when the forecast moves, you can switch between Tokyo and Yokohama without changing hotels.
Frequently asked questions
When is cherry blossom season in Tokyo?
Tokyo's cherry trees usually open in the second half of March and reach full bloom around the end of March. Full bloom lasts only about a week, and rain or wind can end it early. Yokohama is usually within a few days of Tokyo. Check the forecasts from early March, as dates shift every year.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Haneda?
The 大岡川 (Ōoka River) has roughly 700 cherry trees along about five kilometres. 京急 (Keikyū) stations let you choose a short section. Lantern and illumination dates change each year, so check 横浜 (Yokohama)’s current notice.
Do I need to book Shinjuku Gyoen for cherry blossoms?
Sometimes. In 2026, 新宿御苑 (Shinjuku Gyoen) required advance reservations during 10:00–16:00 on 28–29 March and 4–5 April for most visitors, with exemptions. Check the next season’s announcement before visiting.
Can I see flowers in Tokyo outside cherry blossom season?
Yes. Plum blossoms open from February, azaleas and wisteria bloom in April, roses fill Yokohama and Tokyo's gardens in May and again in autumn, hydrangeas peak in June, lotus covers Ueno's Shinobazu Pond in summer, and ginkgo trees turn gold in late November.
What are the rules for a hanami picnic in Tokyo?
Rules differ by park. In general, do not shake, climb or break branches, take all rubbish home, keep noise down, and follow any rules on alcohol, barbecues, tents and reserving spaces. Some gardens, such as Shinjuku Gyoen, ban alcohol entirely. Toilets get busy, and evenings can be cold.
When are the hydrangeas in Kamakura?
鎌倉 (Kamakura) hydrangeas usually bloom in June. During the 2026 peak, 長谷寺 (Hasedera) sold a separate timed hydrangea path ticket alongside temple admission, with online reservations and limited day tickets. Check the temple’s current rules before leaving.
When is the best time for Yokohama's roses?
May. The rose is Yokohama's city flower, and in 2026 the city's Rose Week ran from 2 May to 2 June, centered on Yamashita Park, Minato-no-Mieru-Oka Park and the Yamate hillside gardens. The roses bloom a second time in October.
Can I read this guide in Japanese or Chinese?
Yes. Use the language links at the top of the page to open the English, Japanese or Traditional Chinese edition.
Official planning links
- Keikyu — Ooka River cherry information and timetables
- Shinjuku Gyoen — cherry season reservation notices
- Ikegami Baien (Ota City) — hours and plum reports
- Bunkyo Azalea Festival — Nezu Shrine dates
- Garden Necklace Yokohama — Yokohama bloom reports and Rose Week
- Hasedera, Kamakura — hydrangea tickets
- GO TOKYO — official Tokyo travel information
Related guides
Follow the flowers, not the calendar
Pick the season you are traveling in, choose one main spot and one backup nearby, and check the bloom report the day before. Tokyo and Yokohama reward flexibility more than a fixed plan.
Flowering, illumination, admissions and reservation rules vary by year. Check the official bloom and visitor notices shortly before travel.