Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sakura in Tokyo - Ueno Park & Koishikawa Korakuen


Sakura or Cherry Blossom in Japan

Sakura is the term for Cherry Blossom in Japan. With the Sakura season coming soon by the end of March to early April, I am posting some of my Sakura pictures taken last year and sharing some of the best places to view Sakura in Tokyo, Japan. The 2011 Sakura forecast can be accessed here.

This post recommends two of the best places in Tokyo to view Sakura, namely the famous Ueno Park and Koishikawa Korakuen. More Sakura viewing locations will be made available in my coming postings in March 2011. So, stay tuned and bookmark this website if you are interested to know the best locations in Tokyo area for Sakura viewing. Remember to LIKE our Facebook fan page to get the latest update on my postings right at your fingertips.

Sakura in Ueno Park, Tokyo

Sakura season happens at the end of March to early April each year in Tokyo area, Japan. I would say if you are in Tokyo on the 1st of April to 3rd April, you will almost be guaranteed to a spectacular Sakura viewing experience. However, it will also depends on the weather as strong winds and storms can easily blow away the Sakura flowers off the trees.

I was in Japan last year during the Sakura season and I have been to Tokyo twice for Sakura viewing. The first time was on 28 March 2010 and the second time on 03 April 2010. I would say the full bloom was on the second trip. I will show you the comparison between early bloom and full bloom Sakura in the pictures below.

Ueno Park
Ueno Park is a large public park located in the Northern part of Tokyo. It is one of the most popular location in Tokyo for Sakura viewing each year. It can be accessed easily by getting off at JR Ueno Station, exit at the Park Exit. More information on Ueno Park can be accessed here

My recommendation on visiting Ueno Park is to go there very early in the morning, maybe at around 7.30am - 8.30am to avoid huge crowds especially if you are planning to take pictures with the beautiful Sakura. You will not want to be stuck in huge crowds with little opportunity to stop and enjoy the beautiful flower. Put this place as your first location to visit of the day.

Pictures of Sakura Seaon in Ueno Park on 28 March 2010 - Partial Bloom

Sakura in Ueno Park
Partial Bloom of Sakura in Ueno Park
Partial Bloom of Sakura in Ueno Park

Pictures of Sakura Seaon in Ueno Park on 03 April 2010 - Full Bloom

Sakura in Ueno Park - Full Bloom
Ueno Park - Full Bloom
Ueno Park - Full Bloom
Sakura in Ueno Park

I had also met with two of my friends in Ueno Park who visited Tokyo for their honeymoon last year and managed to take their pictures with the beautiful Sakura.

Philip and Faye in Ueno Park, 2010
Philip and Faye in Sakura Season
Philip and Faye [HDR]
My favorite shot of them

The following are some of my closeup shots of the beautiful Sakura flowers.

The popular Somei Yoshino Sakura 
The most commonly seen Sakura Flower
Pinky Sakura
Pinky Sakura Flowers taken in Ueno Park

Koishikawa Korakuen
This is one of Tokyo's oldest and most beautiful garden. You have to pay an admission fee of 300yen (as of April 2010). Here, you can find beautiful "weeping" Sakura trees, which are not so commonly seen in Tokyo. If you are in Tokyo before 1st April, you might want to visit this place as these weeping Sakura trees reaches full bloom a few days earlier than the commonly seen Somei Yoshino Sakura. Koishikawa Korakuen is a 5-10 minute walk from Iidabashi Station (various JR and subway lines) or a 10 minute walk from Korakuen Station on the Marunouchi and Nanboku Subway Lines. More information on Koishikawa Korakuen can be access here.

The following pictures were taken on 28 March 2010.

Weeping Sakura Tree at the entrance of Koishikawa Korakuen
Weeping Sakura Tree at full bloom
Koishikawa Korakuen
Giant Weeping Sakura Tree in Koishikawa Korakuen
Weeping Sakura
Sakura in Koishikawa Korakuen
Hanami or Flower Viewing in Tokyo
Koishikawa Korakuen
Closeup shot of Weeping Sakura
Sakura flower buds

I hope you enjoyed my first posting of Sakura season in Japan. Stay tuned as I will be sharing more spectacular Sakura viewing locations in Tokyo area in the next posting. Leave your comments below or share your Sakura experience with our readers by writing in to us.

Remember to support us by clicking LIKE on keanpoh Photographer Facebook Fan Page to get the latest updates of my coming posting.

Have a nice day!!


Update: Sakura in Tokyo Part 2 - Chidorigafuchi & Meguro River is up. Click here to view.
Update2: Sakura in Tokyo Part 3 - Yasukuni Shrine, Shinjuku Gyoen & Inokashira Park. Click here to view.
Update3: Sakura in Kisarazu


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