If you are in Japan in early spring, you will be surprised by the beauty of cherry blossoms (=Sakura).
I know you would like to go so called ”best/famous place for hanami” , but those famous spots would be extremely crowded this sakura season, much more than you imagine.
Believe me, it’s NOT HAPPY situation for family with little kids. (Can’t go through, Long queue for toilet, Hard to get foods/drinks, No place to sit, Kids get clanky, Parents also get tired… )
So here are some places I would recommend for family with kids, to see cherry blossoms in better situation. (compare to other super crowded places)
I hope you all enjoy this special moment with family without getting involved crowds!
Contents
[ Where is good with little child? ]
Easy access by train or subway, and not too rough road (mostly flat) to walk with stroller.
Imperial Palace Outer Garden
No guide book would say it – This is my secret spots to enjoy sakura viewing every year.
About 10-15min walk from Tokyo station or Ginza area.
*No food stores around – so enjoy cherry blossoms, then move to next destination.
Imperial Palace Outer Garden (link to google Map ) *Pointing cherry blossoms area
Address : Koukyo Gaien 2, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
—> More about Picnic area near Imperial Palace
Kitano-maru Park
This park is situated on the north side of the Imperial Palace. Calm, traditional type of park.
“Chidorigafuchi” (5min walk ahead from here) is most popular with many Sakura trees, but too crowed for baby stroller to go through. So Inside Kitanomaru park would be more comfortable to enjoy Sakura for stroller users.
About 5-minutes walk from Kudanshita Station or Takebashi station (Subway).
Kitano-maru Park (Wikipedia)
Address : 1-1, Kitanomaru-kouen, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0091 (Link to Google MAP)
—> More about Picnic area near Imperial Palace
Hama-rikyu Garden
Another beautiful paid-garden owned by Tokyo city. (*Need admission fee)
No playground equipment for small kids, but calm atmosphere and beautiful Japanese style garden is so loved by people.
*Covid-19 situation may affect opening hours.
Hama-rikyu Garden (Official website)
Address : 1-1 Hamarikyu-teien, Chuou-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
–> More about Hama-rikyu Garden
Tokyo Midtown Roppongi
Tokyo Midtown is stylish shopping complex in Roppongi.
There is comfortable park on the north side with Cherry Blossom trees. about 3min walk from Roppongi subway station. Restaurants / cafe / shops / hotel (Ritz Carlton) / clean restroom / nursing room – are all here – mom&dad can feel relax and enjoy cherry blossom.
Tokyo Midtown Roppongi (Official website)
Address : 9-7-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
Sumida Liver Park
3min walk from Asakusa station, there are riverside park with views of the Tokyo Skytree.
If you cross Sumida River (about 5min walk), another peaceful park Soyokaze-Hiroba is there.
Easy to stop by during Asakusa area sightseeing.
Or Boat Cruise from this pier would be fun.
Sumida Park (Link to Live Japan website)
Address (Asakusa-side) : 1-Hanakawado, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
— Sumida River —
Address (Skytree-side) : 1-3 Mukaishima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
–> More about Tokyo bay Boat Cruise
[ Large park for family picnic ]
If you want to plan family picnic under Cherry blossoms. Better bring some foods and picnic blanket before you go.
Kasai-rinkai Park
Seaside park located between Tokyo station and Tokyo Disneyland.
There are also ferris wheel, park train, and aquarium (Tokyo Sea Life Park) where you can see lots of Tuna are swimming.
Kasai-rinkai Park (Official website)
Address : 6-chome, Rinkai-cho, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
–> More about Tokyo Sea Life Park Aquarium
Inokashira park
Popular park for young-generation.
There is Ghibli Museum inside this park, but need online reservation in advance which is hard to get…
Inokashira park (Official website)
Address : 1-18-31, Gotenyama, Musashino-shi, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
Ghibli Museum (Official website)
*Need online advanced reservation
Sinjyuku Gyoen
*Advance Booking is required to enter during Cherry Blossom Season
Large national Garden in central Shinjuku area. (*Need admission fee, 500yen/adult )
Could be already too popular…? Might be still OK on weekend as it’s large garden.
As Ministry of Environment taking care of this park, always clean.
There are 3 entrance gates – Sendagaya gate is close to cherry blossom area.
Although no playground equipments for kids, there is “Kids area” where children can run around. (Near Sendagaya gate)
*Gate open : 9:00 -17:30 (spring), Close on Monday. (Please check official website about details)
Shinjuku Gyoen (Official website)
Address : 11 Naito-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0014 (Link to Google MAP)
* Shinjyuku-Gyoen Garden MAP in Spring (English)
Showa-Kinen Park
It takes about 1hour by train from Tokyo station to the west – Huge scale of national park in Tachikawa which you can spend whole day. (*Need admission fee, 450yen for adult )
There are playground equipments for kids, boat on the lake, BBQ, rental bicycle, train inside park, etc..
You will walk a lot here.
*Gate open : 9:30 -17:00 (spring) Please check official website about details.
Showa-Kinen Park (Official website)
Address : Midoricho 3173, Tachikawa-shi 190-0014, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
[Others] Good for adult group, but not recommend with small children
F.Y.I.
Meguro-River side
Very famous cherry blossom spots for young adult in Nakameguro, but too many people on the narrow street every year – hard to walk, hard to find a place to take a rest or change diaper. I don’t recommend for family with stroller.
Meguro-River side (Official website)
Address : Nakameguro Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
Ueno-park
Too much crowded as this is one of THE most famous Cherry blossom viewing spot in Tokyo.
It’s fun to see how Japanese people enjoy “Hanami” (drinking under the cherry blossom), but too many people to take kids there during this special season.
I love Ueno park, but better avoid this season until kids grown up little more.
Ueno-park (Official website)
Address : Ueno-koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Link to Google MAP)
–> about Ueno ZOO
–> about National Museum of Nature and Science at Ueno park
Yoyogi Park
Famous large park near Harajuku or Shibuya.
It’s ok just to stroll, but please note there are many people making queue for toilet in Hanami season.
Yoyogi-park (Official website)
Address : 2-1, Yoyogikamizono-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-0052 (Link to Google MAP)
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