The Best Places To See Late-Blooming Cherry Trees In Tokyo
Many a cherry blossom party has been thwarted by wacky weather or unavoidable business trips, but even if the gods throw a wrench into your best-laid plans, don’t despair! Late-blooming yaezakura come into their full glory after the regular sakura fade to black. The late-bloomers don’t deliver the big pink cloud thing in quite the same way, but I secretly think they’re much more beautiful than the early kind.
This is the order they bloom in: little frilly weeping kind first, then the pom-pom varieties explode from light to dark.
And just so you won’t waste time looking for yaezakura in less-than-amazing parks, here are my favorite places to see them in Tokyo…
SHINJUKU GYOU-EN GARDEN
This is by far the best place to see yaezakura in Tokyo. Lots of late-blooming trees, in every color of pink you can imagine.
The best grove starts beyond this bridge that goes over the big pond.
See what I mean?
There are a few exceptions, like this cluster of perfect pink princesses along the main swath of lawns.
I think that yaezakura are more beautiful up close than the more famous kind.
Worth the wait, right?
In case you couldn’t tell in the other pictures, the trees at Shinjuku Gyou-en aren’t petite little specimens like we have in San Francisco – they’re HUGE!
Even if it’s raining, I highly suggest that you pull on your wellies and get thee to this garden, pronto!
Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!
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Hey, I love this post. Just wondering when did you took those photos? Do you think I can see such awesome scenary in early May?
Hey, I love this post. Just wondering when did you took those photos? Do you think I can see such awesome scenary in early May?
Sadly, even the latest cherry blossoms will be finished by early May, but you can still see other amazing flower extravaganzas! The wisteria is beyond great the first week in May – check this out: https://jonellepatrick.me/2017/04/29/where-to-see-best-wisteria-tokyo/