Sakura (cherry blossom) season is springtime in Japan. There are many Sakura viewing spots in Tokyo; the one we are exploring today is in Ueno Onshi Park, near the JR Ueno Station, Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Ueno-Hirokoji Station. The park is situated in a very convenient location in Tokyo. Moreover, since Ueno Onshi Park is right next to Keisei Ueno Station, from which travellers could transfer directly to Narita International Airport with cheap prices, I strongly encourage you to go! 

During the Sakura season, you can see the fantastic Sakura flowers around the entrance of the park. There are various kinds of Sakura in Ueno Onshi Park, ranging from the early blooming Oh-kanzakura and Kanhizakura to the well-known and popular Shidarezakura and Someiyoshino-sakura.

Ueno is famous not only for its Sakura, but also for its abundance of art and culture. Tokyo National Museum, National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and Ueno Zoo are all situated in the park; if you are interested in traditional architecture and/or Japanese temples, you should also visit Ueno Toshogu, Five-story Pagoda of Former Kan-eiji, Gojo-tenjin Shrine and Kiyomizu Kannondo. Furthermore, if you are tired of walking around, you can take a seat around the Sinobaza Pond and enjoy your morning by appreciating waterside sakura scenery.

The photo below is of some Sakura on Sakura-dori street

The following are two different species of Sakura.

Kan-Zakura:

(Blooms from late February)

Kanhi-Zakura:

(It has a deeper color than the typical Sakura. Also blooms from the early part of March)

The photo below is of the sakura blossoms outside Gojo-tenjin Shrine. This delightful pink announces the coming of spring.

After visiting the Ueno Park and its neighborhood, you can wander over to Ameyoko Street for lunch. Ameyoko is a bustling street near JR Ueno Station and Tokyo Metro Ueno Station. There are a variety of amazing foods on this street, including Japanese desserts, traditional Japanese cuisines and exotic food. At Ameyoko, you can find whatever kind of Japanese food you can think of: ramen, sashimi rice bowl, tako-yaki (octopus filled dough balls), udon noodles, shabushabu, yakiniku (Japanese BBQ), etc.

After having a fulfilling lunch at Ameyoko, you can hop on the subway and visit some other nearby places in Tokyo! The next place we would like to recommend is Akihabara, which is just two stops from Ueno by subway. Akihabara is not only famous as an electric town, but also as a gathering place of animation related products and subculture developments; it enables travellers to get a glance into the modern Japan that expresses an atmosphere completely different from that of the classical Yamato culture. In this article we recommend you visit Kanda-myōjin (or Kanda Shrine): the symbol of the surprising combination of modern anime subculture and traditional Japan.

Kanda-myōjin is located within 7-minute walking distance from Akihabara Station. The shrine is built to worship the god of the Kanda, Nihonbashi, Akihabara, Otemachi, Marunouchi, Kandashijo, and Tsukiji areas.

Recently in the Japanese animation called “LoveLive!,” Kanda-myōjin appears as a place where the protagonists once worked. With the promotional campaign and the selling of the anime Omamori (an amulet) and Ema (a wooden plaque on which people write their prayers), Kanda-myōjin has become renowned amongst fans. Because of this, the Kanda Festival has also attracted numerous new participants. The cooperation between Kanda-myōjin and ”LoveLive!” manifests the interplay and mutual influences between the old and new cultures. 

Kanda shrine's affiliation with "LoveLive!" has also turned it into a host for some very unique and artistic Ema. (small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their orayers and wishes) 

You can buy "Lovelive! Ema" (1,500yen) and "Lovelive Omamori" (800yen) at Kanda-myojin shrine.

Ema - are small wooden plaques on which Shinto worshippers write their prayers or wishes.

Omamori - are Japanese charms commonly sold at religious sites. 

The Meguro Riverside is a popular place for flower viewing. The cherry blossom road extends from Meguro to Nakameguro and Ikejiri-Ohashi. If you transfer by the Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line, you can get off at Ikejiri-Ohashi Station; if you take the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, you can get off at the final stop, Nakameguro; if you transfer by the JR Yamanote Line, the Tōkyū Meguro Line, the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line or the Toei Mita Line, you can get off at Meguro Station. 

During the Sakura season, there can be over 800 Someiyoshino-sakura blooming along the Meguro River:

Here's what the sakura in Nakameguro look like at night:

Only during Sakura season can you see these amazing illuminated sakura flowers along the river.

※Light-up hours  (18:00-21:00)

There are many shops and restaurants along the Meguro river from which you can dine while viewing the nighttime sakura blossoms. You can enjoy some Japanese cuisine, dessert, or sake and relax near the river, enjoying the cherry flowers and the night view of the city.