Home > Tokyo > Events > March

Ueno Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) - Tokyo Hotels .com

Late March to early April finds cherry trees blooming in profuse pink and white splendor all over the city. For centuries, the Japanese have celebrated the arrival of the cherry blossom with hanami, which are cherry blossom viewing parties. Families gather in parks under the trees for leisurely picnics and to simply enjoy the beauty of the flowers.

The favored site for hanami is Tokyo's famous and expansive Ueno-Asakusa-Ryogoku, where the blossoms of more than 1,000 trees are lit by lanterns in the evening for a dazzling display. Food stands are open in the park for the occasion. Because this is a very popular thing to do, spots in the park are always at a premium and people often stake out a spot from morning for their family's evening party.