A virtual reality tour of famous sakura viewing spots in Tokyo

Spring in the capital

Cherry blossoms have been an integral part of Japanese culture since ancient times. Since the aristocrats of the Heian period (794-1185) wrote their poems under the flowers, they found in the short-lived sakura a metaphor for the passing of life. In the 16th century, warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi held massive flower-viewing parties at Kyoto Daigoji Temple, which served as the foundation for the lively hanami celebrations we enjoy today.

Lake Shinobazu in Ueno Park. (© Sumisi Naoto)

The oldest and most famous cherry blossom viewing site in Tokyo is Ueno Park. In this place in 1625, the monk Tenkai (1536-1643) founded Kaneji Temple, one of the two temples in the capital of the ruling Tokugawa clan. To bring the grounds to life, he commissioned replicas of famous landmarks from around the country, which includes Mount Yoshino in Nara, famous for its sakura blossom. Today the park includes about 1,200 cherry trees belonging to 55 different species. More than 3 million people visit the park during the short cherry blossom season to enjoy the seasonal spectacle.

The custom of flower viewing began to take root among the capital’s general population during the rule of the eighth Tokugawa shogun Yoshimune (1684–1751), who opened sites such as Asukayama in the Uji district and Gotenyama in the Shinagawa district on the outskirts of the city to the public. The sakura-lined embankments along the banks of the Sumida River were a particularly popular hanami spot for the public. One theory is that the planting of cherry trees was a government measure to combat floods, as heavy pedestrian traffic during the flower-viewing season reinforces the soil and strengthens the embankments.

Lights illuminate cherry blossoms for night-viewers (yozakura) at Mori Park in Roppongi. (© Sumisi Naoto)

For most of Japanese history, “yamazakura” was the dominant type of cherry blossom. However, this changed with the arrival of the “Sumi Yoshino” variety. Developed by gardeners in Sumi Village (present-day Kumagumi District of Toshima Ward, Tokyo) in the mid-to-late 19th century, these trees are propagated by grafting, mature quickly, and typically flower in their second year. It has dense pale pink flowers, making it ideal for hanami celebrations. Over time, this variety now accounts for about four-fifths of Tokyo’s cherry trees.

Residents of the capital saw a significant expansion in their flower-viewing options beginning in the Meiji era (1868-1912), when local authorities planted sumi yoshino trees and other varieties in public places such as parks and school grounds. Today, the stunning scenes of rows of trees in full bloom have become the embodiment of spring in Japan, but this image only appeared when the Sumi Yoshino trees rose and dominated the scene.

Chidorigafuchi Park, located near the Imperial Palace, offers boats that visitors can rent and cruise around under the flower branches. (© Sumisei Naoto.)

Cherry trees bloom along the Meguro River. (© Sumisi Naoto)

The crystal clear waters and stone walls of Chidorigafuchi Moat outside the Imperial Palace provide an enchanting place to view the flowers. Visitors can rent rowboats and cruise peacefully under the canopy of flowers, which cast an ethereal glow when lit up at night. At the end of the hanami season, the falling petals form “hanekada,” or “flower petal clusters,” which turn the surface of the moat’s water bright pink.

The Meguro River has one of the longest stretches of cherry trees in Tokyo. The rows of sakura trees extend approximately four kilometers and consist of about 800 trees. They were planted in the early twentieth century when the concrete protective walls that now line the river were constructed. During the flower-viewing season, devotees wander along the nearby roads and paths, while others admire the flowers as they pass down the river in specially designed “hanami” boats to enjoy the flower views.

Cherry blossoms have become a special place for the Japanese, who eagerly follow the expectations of the appearance of sakura every season. The emotional significance of cherry blossoms is enhanced by the fact that they bloom in a transitional period in the Japanese calendar. Sakura blossoms serve as a backdrop to important life events such as students starting school, moving on to the next stage of their education, and new graduates starting new jobs in companies. For these reasons and many more, cherry blossoms have the status of Japan’s unofficial national flower.

(Original text in Japanese, translation from English. Report and text material prepared by Nippon.com)