Experiencing the Joys of Spring in Japan. Four Popular Half-Day Flower Viewing Trips in Easy Reach of Tokyo

Viewing spectacular flower displays is a popular spring pastime in Japan, with blooms including cherry blossoms, moss pink, azaleas and wisteria. Many well-known flower parks can be easily reached using Tobu Railway on a half-day trip from Tokyo. We introduce four locations recommended for visitors from overseas.

The World's Most Beautiful Wisteria and a Carpet of Moss Pink

[Tochigi]: Ashikaga Flower Park (Full bloom: Late April-early May)
Approximately 1 hr. 40 min. from Tokyo by train and bus

Ashikaga Flower Park was the only Japanese destination featured on CNN‘s Dream Destinations for 2014. The park includes more than 350 branches of wisteria flowers and more than 5000 azalea shrubs, producing a fantastic, otherworldly scene. The park is approximately 30 minutes by bus from Ashikagashi Station on the Tobu Isesaki Line. A new Ashikaga Flower Park Station is scheduled to open on April 1, 2018, which will improve the convenience of onward travel from the park to Tochigi City, which still retains buildings from Japan’s feudal days (Edo period), and to Nikko city, home to the Shrines and Temples of Nikko, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Ashikaga Flower Park: http://www.ashikaga.co.jp/english/index.html

[Gunma]: Tobu Treasure Garden (Full bloom: Early April-late April)
Approximately 1 hr. 45 min. from Tokyo by train and bus

Tobu Treasure Garden boasts approximately 200,000 colorful blooms of moss pink in a spectacular multi-colored carpet. In some years, the moss pink blooms at the same time as the cherry blossoms, creating a memorable combination. Visitors to the garden can also walk through vibrant displays of other colorful spring flowers including nemophila.

Tobu Treasure Garden: http://treasuregarden.jp/en/

*As Ashikaga Flower Park (Tochigi) and Tobu Treasure Garden (Gunna) are relatively close together, both destinations can be enjoyed in a single day trip.

The Best Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in the Kanto Region

[Saitama]: Satte Gongendo Sakura Tsutsumi (Full bloom: Late March-early April)
Approximately 1 hr. 10 min. from Tokyo by train and bus

Satte Gongendo Sakura Tsutsumi is one of the most well-known locations for viewing cherry blossoms in the Kanto Region with around 1000 cherry blossom trees lined up over roughly 1 km. The surrounding area also contains fields of rapeseed blossoms, creating a dramatic contrast between pink and yellow. From sundown through to 10 PM, lines of cherry blossoms and the Sotonobashi Bridge are illuminated, and numerous festival stalls attract many customers.

Gongendo Park:http://www.gongendo.jp/en/
360° movie of the cherry blossoms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=649BLNR8tfw

Famous Cherry Blossom Viewing Locations in Tokyo located near Asakusa

[Tokyo]: Sumida Park (Full bloom: Late March-early April)

Sumida Park is very close to the TOKYO SKYTREE and Asakusa. One of the most popular locations for cherry blossom viewing in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the trees are referred to as the "1000 cherry blossoms of Sumidagawa River". During the peak season for the flowers, the park features nighttime illuminations and many visitors view the flowers from boats on the river, such as yakatabune and water buses. Goods on sale include rice cakes wrapped in salted cherry blossom leaves (Chomei-ji Sakura-mochi) and local varieties of dumpling (Muko-jima Kototoidango). Trying out the traditional local tastes while viewing the cherry blossoms is a great way to experience the Japanese spring.

Sumida Park: http://visit-sumida.jp/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/sumida_english.pdf
360° movie of the cherry trees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56LRsHcRkJg