According to the current forecasts, the cherry blossoms are expected to open according to their average schedule or slightly delayed in 2012. The blossoms are forecast to start opening in late March and reach full bloom in early April.
Sakura (cherry blossom) draws the city’s residents out in their droves to set up camp under the trees for a picnic and a party. If you want chaos, contemplation, romance or a personal photo worthy of any coffee table publication, this is the time to come to Tokyo.
According to Japan Weather Association, forecast dates of cherry trees opening their blossoms this year and best viewing periods appears on certain public places in Tokyo. The followings are the most popular cherry-blossom viewing points in Tokyo: (travel.yahoo.com)
- Shinjuku Gyoen- Whilst most visitors to Shinjuku are siphoned out of the chaos of the world’s busiest train station into tower blocks and strip clubs, Shinjuku Gyoen remains a stately oasis of calm. In fact, with so much hallucinatory neon in Shinjuku, it’s easy to forget that it’s here at all. This is a park that frowns upon frivolity and unchecked fun. The landscape here has been thought about. Everything has its place, its design and it affords plenty of romantic views through trees to towering skyscrapers. The photo opportunities couldn’t get more Japanese unless you moved the whole set-up to the base of Mt. Fuji. Shinjuku Gyoen is a place to enjoy the serenity of sakura rather than it being an excuse to get drunk outdoors.
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- UENO PARK – Ueno used to be the big hitter in Tokyo. The park brags about having the highest concentration of world class museums on the planet, and a whole load of cherry blossom trees to boot. The park has no grass (a bit odd for a park) which makes comfy seating tricky. Space under cherry blossom trees during weekends is at a premium and sheets of tarpaulin are laid down under the best trees earlier than a German holidaymaker’s towel on a sun lounger. Plus, if staring at flowers for hours on end is likely to induce boredom then there are those world class galleries and museums to break up the day.
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- Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo– About 260 cherry trees along a promenade in Chiyoda-ward in Tokyo. You can see the cherry blossoms from a boat.
Image Credit: "miss miki " some rights reserved. flickr
- Inokashira Park – This suburban park is one of the most beautiful for viewing cherry blossoms, although some couples hesitate to visit it because of popular folklore that states that couples who visit the park together will eventually break up. But if you’re not superstitious, this is a great place to experience real Tokyo life. There’s also a lively neighborhood of shops, bars and restaurants that are worth visiting after the park.
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- Hama-Rikyu Onshi Teien Garden– This public park right by Tokyo’s Sumida River is an excellent example of traditional Japanese formal gardens. There’s a teahouse inside the park that demonstrates the Japanese tea ceremony and serves refreshments. During the cherry blossom season, there’s the added bonus of enjoying the cherry trees in full bloom as well.
Image Credit: bornplaydie.com
