Tokyo in Spring (March, April, May): The Best Things to Do

Spring in Tokyo is a lot of things: cherry blossoms, perfect temperatures and vibrant festivals. As February fades into March, the arrival of the vernal equinox paints the city in blots of soft pastel pinks, vivid greens and clear blues, as if Tokyo just woke up from a winter slumber to welcome new beginnings. 

In this 2025 Tokyo Spring Itinerary, discover the top spots for cherry blossom viewing, seasonal events you won't want to miss, and fun things to do beyond flower viewing.

According to traditional Japanese microseasons, spring starts on the vernal equinox day, which typically falls on March 20-21. 

By then, the harsh cold of winter is gone, giving way to a more pleasant weather that typically reaches its warmest point around noon every day, with highs of around 15°C (60°F) and chilly nights and mornings with lows of around 5°C (41°F) 

When April comes, the days become slightly longer and warmer, averaging around 15°C (60°F). May already anticipates the summer heat, with slightly warmer temperatures and less need for jackets.

You can expect plenty of sunny skies, but it’s not uncommon for clouds and rain to show up, with some high-wind days also in the mix. 

If you’re visiting Tokyo during springtime, we recommend packing heavier coats for March and lighter jackets as the season progresses.

While the Japan Meteorological Corporation has yet to release its yearly sakura forecast, cherry blossoms in Tokyo typically bloom from late March to early April. In 2024, peak bloom occurred in early April, a trend that is likely to continue in 2025. 

The blossoms are fleeting, lasting about two weeks from the start of bloom to their peak, making it a breathtaking but short-lived spectacle. If you miss the blooms or come too early, you can head to other regions in Japan. 

Cherry blossom timings vary across Japan due to climate differences. In warmer regions like Okinawa, sakura appear as early as January, while cooler areas like Hokkaido experience their blossoms from late April to May. For an early sakura experience, consider visiting Kawazu on the Izu Peninsula or Atami City from January to February.

As for the best spots to go, check out our best places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo!

There’s much more to enjoy in Tokyo during spring than chasing cherry blossoms and having picnics under sakura trees, though we wouldn’t blame you if that’s your focus. Festivals, unique springtime foods and exciting events are equally compelling reasons to plan your Tokyo getaway.

From hanami traditions to major cultural celebrations, here are the best things to experience during Tokyo spring.

When: Late March to early April

The undeniable highlight of Tokyo’s spring is the cherry blossom, or sakura in Japanese. Blooming around late March, these delicate flowers draw visitors from across the globe. The fleeting nature of their bloom has inspired the beloved tradition of hanami (flower-viewing), where people gather to admire the blossoms’ ephemeral beauty.

While there are plenty of cherry blossoms in Tokyo, certain spots are more popular. Head to Yoyogi Park or Shinjuku Gyoen, spread out a picnic mat and relax beneath the floral canopy with a beer and snacks. You can also wander along the Meguro River in Nakameguro, where over a kilometer of sakura trees create a magical tunnel of sakura blooms to enjoy as part of the official Meguro sakura festival.

Join an evening tour in Nakameguro during the Sakura Festival, where cherry blossoms glow under lantern light, creating a magical riverside scene enhanced by tasty seasonal treats.

What Are the Best Ways to Enjoy Tokyo’s Cherry Blossom Season?

Spring sees families and groups of friends gather to celebrate and share a few drinks under the sakura trees. But breaking into this local tradition can be daunting if you’re going at it alone. 

Let local guide Alejandro welcome you into the customs and traditions of Tokyo, while enjoying the picture-perfect blossoms and exploring little-known bars and izakaya restaurants at Harmonica Yokocho in Kichijoji. 

This fun tour is perfect for making new friends, enjoying the blossoms and learning more about the local food and drink culture in a residential area of Tokyo.

If you’ve watched the Japan by Food YouTube channel, you might not need an introduction to our charming YouTube host, Shizuka Anderson, but did you know that Shizuka also has her own byFood Original tour?

During this experience, Shizuka will guide you through one of Tokyo’s main hanami spots, the riverside of Nakameguro. Try delicious street foods and drinks, handpicked by Shizuka, and see one of the city’s main cherry blossom festivals. This daytime version of the Nakameguro tour is great for those with dinner reservations afterward.

Be sure to book your spot early, as this tour is in extremely high demand and only a few slots are left!

3. Tokyo open-top sightseeing bus lunch and hanami tour

Visiting Tokyo during peak season and seeing the main sights in a single day without scrambling through crowds might seem impossible, but it’s doable. In this unique experience, glide through the city aboard Tokyo’s first restaurant bus, which will take you through some of the city’s main sights. 

Enjoy a delectable meal with ingredients like snow crab, fresh fish and premium beef, as well as free-flowing beverages (including sake) while passing by Chidorigafuchi, Meiji Jingu Gaien and Tokyo Tower.

Finally, make your way to Odaiba, where the view of the cityscape framed by the blossoms is nothing short of spectacular. This is the perfect way to sightsee in comfort and enjoy a delicious meal while you’re at it.

Another way to enjoy the blossoms without the crowds? Travel by water. The Sumida riverside, lined with over 600 sakura trees, is one of the most romantic and picturesque places to sightsee in Tokyo during cherry blossom season.

Aboard a yakatabune cruise (traditional boat), celebrate by taking in the views while sipping on French champagne and enjoying a luxurious kaiseki multi-course meal. This comfortable cruise will allow you to capture the best views of Asakusa and Skytree with breathtaking views of the riverside sakura.

Find out more: Best Kaiseki Restaurants in Tokyo

Spring in Tokyo is not limited to sakura. The season brings major festivals, flower displays and cultural performances across the city.

When: Early March

As one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, the Tokyo Marathon draws a wave of running enthusiasts from all over the world for its full 42.2-kilometer footrace. The race starts at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, taking runners through Tokyo landmarks like the Tokyo Sky Tree, Tokyo Tower, and Asakusa. 

Only 38,000 runners are selected for the Tokyo Marathon, but over a million spectators — locals and visitors alike — line the sidelines, offering cheers of support. Friends, families and passersby gather for a front-row seat to the excitement. 

The energy on race day is electric: the roar of the crowd, the runners striving for personal records, and the overwhelming emotion of witnessing bucket-list moments unfold.

If you're visiting Tokyo during the marathon, head to a key route early in the morning — the runners pass through Nihonbashi, Ginza, Shinagawa and Hibiya before concluding at Tokyo Station — to experience the thrill of the race and cheer on the runners.

When: Late March to late May

From late March to late May, Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa hosts its annual Flower Festival, kicking off with cherry blossoms and transitioning into vibrant fields of canola blossoms, tulips and more. The park is especially known for its April tulips but the festival also highlights poppies and canola in May, as well as water lilies later in the season.

Throughout the festival, visitors can enjoy a variety of flower-related activities and workshops.

Make Japanese sweets in the shape of flowers and take a piece of the festival with you

If you love flowers, this class invites participants to use traditional wagashi molds and methods to form delicate sweets in the form of Japan’s seasonal flowers while sipping hand-made matcha tea in a nerikiri-making class.

When: Mid-March

Every year in March, on the second Sunday of the month, a sacred ceremony takes place at the foot of Mt. Takao, a popular hiking spot in Western Tokyo. Yamabushi, or mountain ascetic monks, walk barefoot over smoldering coals produced by a sacred fire. The scene looks like something out of a movie, figures in traditional robes moving through vermilion flames, the air thick with swirling smoke. 

Shizuka hits the trails and finds a delicious surprise waiting for her.

After the flames have been extinguished, participants are invited to try fire-walking themselves. By then, the temperature of the coals is only slightly above body temperature, making it safe to walk. If you choose to take part, bring a wet towel to wipe off your feet afterward. 

If you're heading to Mt. Takao, it’s an easy one-hour trip from Shinjuku, but be sure to set aside the whole day to enjoy the local cafes and trails. You can also enjoy vegan zen food called shojin ryori on a guided hiking tour.

When: April

Fortunately, sakura isn’t the only flower that graces Tokyo in spring. While Nezu Shrine remains a peaceful, lesser-known spot for much of the year, it transforms during azalea season. 

With 3,000 azaleas of 100 different varieties in bloom, the shrine has become a vibrant haven for flower enthusiasts. Flower species include the rare black karafune, the small bean-shaped fuji-tsutsuji and the pinwheel-like hanaguruma.

When: Early - late April 

After the cherry blossoms, wisteria(fuji in Japanese), takes the spotlight of Tokyo's spring bloom. You can easily recognize wisteria from the vibrant lilac hues that seem to flow down from its vines. Unlike sakura trees, wisteria cascades down from trellises like curtains of color. This stunning flower typically appears from mid-April to mid-May.

One of the best places to see wisteria in full bloom is Kameido Tenjin Shrine, famous for its arched vermilion bridge and over 50 wisteria trees that bloom simultaneously on trellises during the shrine’s Wisteria Festival. Beneath the delicate vines, a peaceful pond reflects the purple blossoms. It’s a great place to relax before or after getting a bird’s eye view of Tokyo at nearby Skytree. 

When: Mid-April

Yabusame is a traditional Japanese martial art that combines horseback riding and archery. In this ancient practice, archers ride at full speed on horseback while shooting arrows at targets placed along a straight track.

Today, yabusame is primarily a ceremonial and cultural event rather than a martial art used in warfare. It is often performed at festivals or special events, particularly during major celebrations at shrines and temples. 

A major yabusame event is held in Asakusa around mid-April at the Asakusa-jinja Shrine. The show starts at 1 pm and features archers dressed in traditional samurai hunting costumes skillfully shooting arrows at targets while riding horseback. 

Yabusame is no longer a widely practiced sport, and tickets for this rare spectacle are often sold out.

When: Mid-March to mid-April.

This is when Symbol Promenade Park blooms with 160,000 tulips of 300 different varieties, the largest collection in the Kanto region. Visitors can explore various attractions, including the "Mixed Color Flower Beds" featuring around 110,000 tulips and the "Sample Garden."

In Central Square, the cherry blossoms typically bloom at the same time, creating a beautiful duo. Don't miss the Rinkai Fukutoshin Tulip Festival either, which showcases Japan's largest variety of tulips.

When: Mid-April

The Chiyoda City Sakura Festival illuminates the 700-meter sakura-lined Chidori-ga-fuchi Green Way with energy-efficient solar-powered LED lights each night. This eco-friendly lighting ensures no harm to the sakura or the environment, adding a sustainable angle to this seasonal sight.

The illuminations begin from sundown (around 6 pm) and last until 10 pm during the illumination period. Check the official website for annual dates! 

When: Beginning of May (May 4)

In May, as the major flower seasons in Japan begin to fade and sakura trees complete their shift to verdant green, the country turns its focus to festivals in anticipation of Golden Week, Japan's longest holiday period. 

Among the most anticipated events is Children's Day on May 5, which sees a stunning display of koinobori — colorful carp streamers fluttering in the air. One of Tokyo's largest koinobori festivals takes place at the foot of Tokyo Skytree, where 1,500 carp streamers fill the sky in a vibrant celebration of this cherished tradition. 

The decorations start a while before the actual festival, giving visitors plenty of time to enjoy their own Children’s Day celebration. At the Postal Museum on the ninth floor of Tokyo Skytree, visitors can join a fun workshop to create their own koinobori using used stamps.

Read more: Festivals for Every Season in Japan

When: Third week of May 

The Sanja Matsuri, held annually on the third weekend in May, is one of Tokyo's three largest Shinto festivals, drawing nearly two million visitors over its three-day celebration. 

The festival honors the three founders of Sensoji Temple, whose spirits are enshrined at Asakusa Shrine next door. Throughout the entire festival, the neighborhood is filled with food stalls, festival games and sounds of traditional drums.

The highlight of Sanja Matsuri is the procession of over 100 mikoshi, portable shrines that carry Shinto deities (kami). These shrines are paraded through the streets of Asakusa, symbolically bringing good fortune and blessings to local businesses and residents. 

The festivities officially begin on Friday, with the most intense activity occurring on Saturday when the mikoshi are carried from Sensoji Temple to Asakusa Shrine.

Sunday, the final day of the festival, starts early, at 6 am, when hundreds of celebrants, grouped by their neighborhoods and dressed in matching attire, assemble at Asakusa Shrine to compete carrying one of the three large main mikoshi, continuing the celebratory fervor by parading the gold shrines through Asakusa until 8 pm. 

When: The weekend closest to May 15

Held in mid-May, the Kanda Matsuri is one of Tokyo's most renowned festivals, alongside the Sanno Matsuri and Fukagawa Matsuri. It is a celebration of the Kanda Myojin Shrine, which enshrines three deities: Daikokuten, the god of good harvest and marriage; Ebisu, the god of fishermen and businessmen; and Taira Masakado, a revered 10th-century feudal lord who became deified after his death.

The main procession takes place on Saturday, where Shinto rituals invite the spirits of the three deities into elaborately decorated portable shrines. These mikoshi are the centerpiece of the procession, which winds through the streets of Kanda, Nihonbashi, Otemachi and Akihabara. 

The procession is accompanied by a thousand participants, including musicians, priests on horseback and figures in colorful traditional attire.

The festivities continue on Sunday with mikoshi parades in various neighborhoods of Kanda and Nihonbashi. In keeping with tradition, each neighborhood has its own local guardian deity (ujigami), who is temporarily placed in a mikoshi and carried through the streets to bless the community.

Pay tribute to the beauty of sakura with a creative sweets-making workshop! Learn to craft Japanese nerikiri confectioneries, a type of wagashi (traditional sweet) often served in tea ceremonies. 

In Southern Tokyo’s Ikegami Plum Garden, a wagashi instructor will guide you on your nerikiri-making efforts before you enjoy your sakura-shaped sweets with matcha.

After the experience, we recommend taking a stroll by nearby Ikegami Honmonji Temple, one of the city’s lesser-known sakura spots, boasting incredible views of its approximately 300 cherry blossom trees against the backdrop of its ancient grounds.

Find out more: What Is Wagashi?

Proving that the sakura season can be enjoyed indoors as much as outdoors, the aesthetic MOSKA by Ginger Garden Cafe never fails to impress with its seasonal displays. 

Sit among a cloud of pink flowers, and enjoy an Instagram-worthy sakura and matcha afternoon tea. The set is full of surprising savory and sweet foods and drinks in one of the most coveted cafe seats.

For a limited time only, this sake tasting in Tsukiji becomes sakura-themed! You can enjoy tasting sakura-inspired Japanese sake with a professional sake sommelier. Your sommelier will introduce you to Japan’s national drink and provide an assortment of 60 bottles for an all-you-can-sip experience

When: Early April

Because the cherry blossoms in Tokyo typically reach their peak during the first week of April, expect more traffic in the city as more people flock to enjoy the last few moments with the baby pink flowers. 

At this point, you might already notice a few sakura trees sprouting young leaf buds, turning the crown into a quirky palette of fresh green and light pink. 

Prefer cherry blossoms without the crowds?

For a more serene and authentic experience, consider joining a guided tour of Yanaka, a charming neighborhood known for its connection to "Old Tokyo."

Located near Ueno and Nippori, where you can explore the backstreets, historic temples and shrines, all beautifully lined with cherry blossoms. Along the way, you can taste local delicacies, explore the artistic heritage of the area and immerse yourself in the spirit of the season.

When: The weekend closest to May 15

Held in mid-May, the Kanda Matsuri is one of Tokyo's most renowned festivals, alongside the Sanno Matsuri and Fukagawa Matsuri. It is a celebration of the Kanda Myojin Shrine, which enshrines three deities: Daikokuten, the god of good harvest and marriage; Ebisu, the god of fishermen and businessmen; and Taira Masakado, a revered 10th-century feudal lord who became deified after his death.

The main procession takes place on Saturday, where Shinto rituals invite the spirits of the three deities into elaborately decorated portable shrines. These mikoshi are the centerpiece of the procession, which winds through the streets of Kanda, Nihonbashi, Otemachi, and Akihabara. 

The procession is accompanied by a thousand participants, including musicians, priests on horseback and people in colorful traditional attire.

The festivities continue on Sunday with mikoshi parades in various neighborhoods of Kanda and Nihonbashi. In keeping with tradition, each neighborhood has its own local guardian deity (ujigami), who is temporarily placed in a mikoshi and carried through the streets to bless the community.

For more springtime attractions, check out the best things to do in Japan in spring, try Japan’s spring foods or get a taste for the finer things with Tokyo’s Michelin star restaurants.