Honestly speaking, last year’s foray into the land of the rising sun was mostly to catch a glimpse of their world famous cherry blossoms. We checked last year’s predictions for the best dates for cherry blossom viewing and luckily we were able to find reasonably priced airfares during those dates. I was in Japan for a total of ten days, from the 24th of March 2016 to the 2nd of April last year. I flew into Tokyo and flew out from Osaka.
I was in Tokyo for a brief four days but managed to visit two of the more popular parks, Ueno and Shinjuku Gyoen. I can’t provide detailed instructions on how to go to those two parks because it really depends on which area of Tokyo you’ll be coming from and I mainly used Google Maps to get to them.
Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan
" data-orig-size="1867,1400" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-image-title="Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan" data-orig-file="https://i1.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491219674314.jpg?fit=1867%2C1400" aperture="aperture" />Cherry Blossoms in Ueno ParkUeno Park is a huge public park (read: free entrance) and cherry blossom viewing is more of an organized activity. There are mats laid out on the sidewalk underneath the cherry blossom trees and are separated from the walk way by a cord of some sort. Spaces for mats are sort of limited since it to me it looked like one parking space equates to one spot. I’m not sure if there’s a specific system as to how one chooses a spot but I suppose it’s free game.
The place Is huge and there were lots of people on the day that we went there (I went with new found friends from the hostel). We mainly just roamed around and chanced upon a live orchestra show and this gorgeous fountain. My hostel mates and I eventually parted ways and I just hung around and enjoyed a cup of coffee.
Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan
" data-orig-size="1321,1760" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" data-image-title="Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan" data-orig-file="https://i2.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491219582155.jpg?fit=1321%2C1760" data-recalc-dims="1" p310="p310" />walking into Ueno Park
Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan
" data-orig-size="2031,1527" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-image-title="Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan" data-orig-file="https://i1.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491219755062.jpg?fit=2031%2C1527" data-recalc-dims="1" p310="p310" />I hung out in front of this for a long time
2016, Japan, Tokyo, DIY Travel, Hanami, Cherry Blossom Viewing, Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno Park, Travel Guide
" data-orig-size="2231,1673" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-image-title="Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan" data-orig-file="https://i1.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491219892727.jpg?fit=2231%2C1673" data-recalc-dims="1" data-medium-file="https://i1.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491219892727.jpg?fit=600%2C450" data-permalink="http://www.veiledmusings.com/2017/04/04/cherry-blossoms-hunting-tokyo-japan/wp-1491219892727-jpg/" p310="p310" />Nursing a cup of coffee from this placeThere are lots of museums in the place but because none of them are free, I just decided to spend my money on the entrance fee to the zoo so I can see pandas.
Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan
" data-permalink="http://www.veiledmusings.com/2017/04/04/cherry-blossoms-hunting-tokyo-japan/wp-1491219989054-jpg/" data-orig-size="1832,1374" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-image-title="Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan" data-orig-file="https://i2.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491219989054.jpg?fit=1832%2C1374" data-recalc-dims="1" data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491219989054.jpg?fit=600%2C450" aperture="aperture" />Ueno Park Zoo – Admission Fee: 600YenThe following day, I met up with my best friend from elementary school A. She now lives in Japan and was kind enough to go through the four-hour bus ride to and from Tokyo to meet me. She decided on the Shinjuku Gyoen garden because she’s watched a really good anime that had scenes set in this garden. We had a good time walking around trying to find the specific benches and awnings that were in the anime.
Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan
" data-orig-size="1555,2074" sizes="(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px" data-image-title="Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491220167285.jpg?fit=1555%2C2074" data-recalc-dims="1" p310="p310" />Locals bonding under the cherry blossoms
Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan
" p310="p310" />A and VeiledMusings. Friends since 1995.
Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan
" data-orig-size="2272,1704" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-image-title="Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan" data-orig-file="https://i1.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491220236829.jpg?fit=2272%2C1704" p310="p310" />I forget the name of the anime, but this was one of the “recreated” shotsThere is an admission fee of 200yen but it’s so totally worth it. Unlike Ueno Park, there were definitely less people and the cherry blossom-viewing scene felt a little bit more authentic in the sense that people can park their mats anywhere in the open grounds. There were also more cherry blossoms in bloom in this park and in my head it’s because Shinjuku Gyoen probably is situated in the Southern part of Tokyo (of course I don’t know if this is true but maybe…?).
Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan
" data-permalink="http://www.veiledmusings.com/2017/04/04/cherry-blossoms-hunting-tokyo-japan/wp-1491219501962-jpg/" data-orig-size="2078,1558" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-image-title="Cherry Blossoms Hunting in Tokyo, Japan" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/www.veiledmusings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/wp-1491219501962.jpg?fit=2078%2C1558" aperture="aperture" />Find more about cherry blossom viewing schedules here.
