Early Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo: 4 Spots to Visit in February-March

Cherry Blossoms Blooming in February and March

While Somei Yoshino is the standard variety for peak season, other cherry blossoms bloom as early as February. The most popular early-blooming variety is the Kawazu-zakura, which peaks in February and March.

Named after their discovery site in Shizuoka Prefecture, Kawazu-zakura are synonymous with the southern Izu Peninsula.

While the famous Kawazu Sakura Festival begins in early February, you can also find these blooms in Tokyo. Tokyo’s trees typically peak slightly later, offering a month-long viewing window from mid-February to mid-March.

Early Cherry Blossom Spots in Tokyo

1. Kyunaka River: Early Cherry Blossoms and Tokyo Skytree
2. Happoen Garden
3. Kiba Park
4. Yoyogi Park near Harajuku

1. Kyunaka River: Early Cherry Blossoms and Tokyo Skytree

Located in eastern Tokyo, the Kyunaka River offers a scenic spot to enjoy early cherry blossoms with TOKYO SKYTREE in the background.

Approximately 30 Kawazu-zakura and Okan-zakura trees line the riverbank promenade. While the grove is small, it provides a peaceful atmosphere for a leisurely stroll.

This is also a fantastic location for railway enthusiasts, as trains frequently cross the iron bridge directly over the river.

The closest stations to this river are Hirai Station on the JR Sobu line and Kameido-Suijin Station on the Tobu Kameido line. From both stations, it’s about a 10-15 minute walk to the promenade.

It takes about 20 minutes to get to Hirai Station from Tokyo Station with one transfer. From Shinjuku Station, you can get there in about 30 minutes without having to transfer trains.

The place might be a little bit difficult to find. Search for the Fureaibashi Bridge that goes over Kyunaka River on Google Maps, and you shouldn’t have trouble getting to this area.

2. Happoen Garden: Early Cherry Blossoms in a Japanese Garden

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Happoen Garden is a 400-year-old urban oasis featuring traditional Japanese architecture, tranquil ponds, and a historic tea room. In February, the Kawazu-zakura bloom beautifully near the garden entrance and the Kochuan teahouse.

The season continues through early April with over 80 trees, including Somei Yoshino, weeping cherry trees, and double-flowered varieties. Starting in late March, visitors can also experience the garden's stunning evening illumination events.

Please note that while Happoen is used as a wedding venue, event space, and restaurant spot, the garden itself can be visited for free.

Happoen can be reached in about 5 minutes on foot from JR Meguro Station and Gotanda Station.

Happoen Garden
Location: Tokyo, Minato ward, Shirokanedai 1-1-1
Official website: https://www.happo-en.com/ (Japanese)

3. Kiba Park: Easy Access from Tokyo Station

To those searching for a spot to view the cherry blossoms near Tokyo Station, we recommend Kiba Park along Oyoko River. This is another quiet area with a promenade along the riverside with a row of trees bearing kawazu-zakura.

The area is quiet, so if you’re lucky, you may be able to see mejiro (*1) birds among the blossoms too.

The closest station to Kiba Park is Kiba Station, which can be reached by riding the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line from Otemachi Station. Otemachi is near the north exit of JR Tokyo Station. It takes about 7 minutes, and you don’t need to transfer trains.

Near Kiba Park is the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as Monzen-Nakacho, an area where you can feel the old town culture of Tokyo.

There are several sightseeing spots here, such as Kiyosumi-Shirawaka, which is an area with a large number of cafes, so you can add this to your list of places to visit when coming to view the cherry blossoms.

*1 Mejiro: a type of bird smaller than a tree sparrow that has green wings. This bird lives in areas from East Asia to South-East Asia.

4. Yoyogi Park near Harajuku

In addition to its famous Somei Yoshino trees, Yoyogi Park is also a great place to see Kawazu-zakura.

A 10-minute walk from the Harajuku entrance (located next to Meiji Jingu) will bring you to the Kawazu cherry blossom area.

These trees are known for their low-hanging, lush branches, making it easy to spot adorable Japanese White-eyes (mejiro) darting among the flowers to drink nectar.

Yoyogi Park
Location: MAP

Enjoy Early Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

If you want to experience the cherry blossoms early, use this guide to plan your visit in February or March.

The deep pink Kawazu-zakura offer a stunning head start to the sakura season and are perfect for early spring photography.