2025 Cherry Blossom Guide: Best Day Trips from Tokyo for Sakura

Dreaming of a spring getaway filled with breathtaking cherry blossoms? While Tokyo is famous for its iconic sakura spots, some of the most stunning hanami (cherry blossom viewing) destinations lie just outside the city!🌸

Whether you’re looking for rivers lined with cherry trees, serene mountain views, or lesser-known local gems, a short train ride from Tokyo can take you to some of the best cherry blossom spots.🌸

In this guide, we’ll introduce the best cherry blossom day trips from Tokyo, covering beautiful spots in Saitama, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Yamanashi. Plus, we’ll share essential hanami tips to help you make the most of your adventure.

Table of Contents

Best Day Trip Sakura Spots Near Tokyo

1. Saitama
2. Kanagawa
3. Chiba
4. Yamanashi

Hanami Tips

Best Day Trip Cherry Blossom Spots Near Tokyo

Surrounded by four neighboring prefectures—Chiba to the east, Saitama to the north, Yamanashi to the west, and Kanagawa to the south—Tokyo offers easy access to exciting day trips. Thanks to Japan’s efficient train network, you can set off on an adventure to any of these destinations in no time.

Types of Cherry Blossoms

Japan is home to approximately 200 cherry tree varieties, and some cherry blossoms are more common in the area around Tokyo. Here are some common (and some rare!) cherry blossom species and where you can see them:

When is Cherry Blossom Season?🌸

The cherry blossom season in Tokyo and surrounding areas typically falls between late March and early April. However, bloom dates can vary each year depending on the weather. Here are the expected bloom dates for 2025, based on forecasts from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA):

• • Tokyo: Start blooming in late March, and full bloom is expected around March 31st or April 1st
  • Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama: Late March to early April
  • Yamanashi: Early to mid-April
  • Sakura in higher elevations (like Fujizakura) or mountainous areas usually bloom later in April.

Before we dive into our list, check out our map of the hanami spots we’ll cover below!⬇️

Map of Cherry Blossom Spots📍

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Now, let’s dive into the best day trip destinations for cherry blossoms near Tokyo!🌸

1) Saitama

📍 Distance from Tokyo: Approximately 30 km (19 miles) north
🚆 Travel Time: About 30–50 minutes by train (Tokyo Station to Omiya Station)

Saitama may be Tokyo’s quieter neighbor, but it has some surprises up its sleeve! Did you know it’s home to Kawagoe, the “Little Edo” town with streets that look straight out of the samurai era? 🍵🏯 Another must-see spot for anime fans is Tokorozawa City, which inspired locations seen in My Neighbor Totoro! Visit Totoro no Mori (Totoro’s Forest) in Sayama Hills, which is said to have been the inspiration for the forest in the movie.🌳✨

Satte Gogendo Park (Gogendo Sakuratsutsumi)

🌸Official Website: Click here!

This spot is famous for its stunning contrast of over 1,000 Somei Yoshino cherry trees stretching for over 1km along the riverbank, and vibrant yellow nanohana (canola flowers). It’s a picture-perfect opportunity for photographers looking for scenic landscapes with bright colors. The pink sakura and bright yellow canola flowers complement each other beautifully. You can also catch the cherry blossom festival from late March to early April.

Kawagoe Shingashi River

🌸Official Website: Click here!

Located behind Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, Shingashi River has started attracting more visitors each year as a popular hanami spot. Around 160 Somei Yoshino cherry trees bloom along the river, creating a picturesque tunnel of cherry blossoms.

Visitors can also ride a boat during the Kawagoe Spring Festival (reservations required). Even if you don’t ride the boat, it’s worth getting a picture of the paddle boat floating down a river full of sakura petals.

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2) Kanagawa

📍 Distance from Tokyo: ~40 km (25 miles) south
🚆 Travel Time: 30–40 minutes by train (Tokyo Station to Yokohama Station)

Kanagawa has it all—coastal views, onsen, and even a Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama! 🍜 Some of its other highlights include the city of Kamakura, which is home to the iconic Great Buddha (Daibutsu), a massive bronze statue standing over 13 meters tall (including the base). If you need a snack after the onsen, try Hakone’s black eggs (kuro-tamago), which are boiled in the hot springs. They’re said to add seven years to your life! 🥚♨️

Odawara Castle

🌸Official Website: Click here!

A historic castle surrounded by about 300 cherry trees, Odawara Castle offers a beautiful hanami experience that isn’t too crowded. Various sakura varieties bloom here, including Somei Yoshino, shidarezakura (weeping cherry), and yamazakura. During the cherry blossom festival, you can also see illuminations at night during peak bloom.

Hakone’s famous hot springs are nearby, another popular day trip destination from Tokyo.

Hakone Town, Hayakawa River Bank (Miyagino)

 

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A post shared by Hakone, Japan (@hakone_japan)

🌸Official Website: Click here!

At Hayakawa River Bank, you can see around 120 Somei Yoshino trees along the river bank, lit up during the Miyagino Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s the perfect spot for taking a peaceful stroll. In addition to Somei Yoshino, you can also see around 100 weeping cherry trees!

 

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3) Chiba

📍 Distance from Tokyo: ~40 km (25 miles) east
🚆 Travel Time: 30–60 minutes by train (Tokyo Station to Chiba Station)

Sure, Chiba is home to Narita Airport, Tokyo Disneyland, and Tokyo DisneySea, but did you know it also has some of Japan’s best surfing spots? 🌊🏄 The Boso Peninsula is famous for its beaches and seafood, especially freshly grilled clams (hamaguri-yaki). 🍢

Mobara Park

🌸Official Website: Click here!

Ranked as one of the top 100 hanami spots in Japan, Mobara Park is a popular sakura spot in Chiba most known for Benten Pond, its red bridge, and a shrine dedicated to Benten. It’s also less crowded compared to Tokyo parks, making it ideal for a peaceful hanami experience. 2,850 Somei Yoshino and other cherry trees complement the bright red bridge and shrine beautifully when they reach full bloom.

Kominato Railway

🌸Official Website: Click here!

This railway is famous since you can see beautiful flower fields and natural scenery along its route. While it’s known for passing by canola fields, you can also see sakura! Particularly the area around Itabu Station in Ichihara City offers a breathtaking combination of canola flowers and cherry blossoms in full bloom.

It’s an unconventional hanami experience and a bit off the beaten path, but it’s popular with Japanese train enthusiasts and those who want a picture of a train with sakura.🚂🌸

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4) Yamanashi

📍 Distance from Tokyo: ~100 km (62 miles) west
🚆 Travel Time: 60–120 minutes by train (Shinjuku Station to Otsuki Station)
OR from Shinjuku Highway Bus Terminal – “Busta Shinjuku” bus takes 105 min. to reach Kawaguchiko Station

Yamanashi is one of the 8 prefectures in Japan without a coastline, but who needs the ocean when you have Mount Fuji? 🗻✨ The Fuji Five Lakes area is perfect for stunning views and hiking. Love wine?🍇🍷 Yamanashi is Japan’s top wine-producing region, known for its Koshu grapes. And if you’re a fan of noodles, try houtou, a local miso-based hotpot with thick, chewy noodles. 🍲🔥

Chureito Pagoda

🌸Official Website: Click here!

One of the most iconic cherry blossom photo spots in Japan, with a red five-storied pagoda, Mt. Fuji 🗻, and pink sakura in one frame. Around 650 Somei Yoshino trees bloom around the area. It takes almost 400 steps to reach the main shrine (Arakura Sengen Shrine), but it’s worth the climb to get a shot of Mt. Fuji in the distance.

Additionally, Chureito Pagoda is located in the Fuji Five Lakes region, which is a popular area with lots to see and do (onsen, Fuji-Q Highland theme park, etc.)

Lake Kawaguchiko (North Shore)

🌸Official Website: Click here!

Lake Kawaguchiko is another picturesque cherry blossom spot with Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms in one view. You can see Fujizakura, the prefectural flower of Yamanashi, along with Somei Yoshino cherry trees. There are many cherry blossom spots around the area, but if you take the north shore walking trail, you can see Mt. Fuji, Lake Kawaguchiko, and sakura at the same time.

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Hanami Tips

• 📅Timing: Check bloom forecasts to plan your visit during peak season. 
• ✅Check the rules: Not all parks allow you to barbeque, drink alcohol, or picnic. Check your desired location’s official site.
• 🌅Arrive early: Secure the best viewing spots by going early; you can spread out a picnic blanket/sheet to claim your spot.
• 👜Essentials: Bring a picnic blanket, food and drinks, and warm clothing for chilly evenings. Some parks do not have garbage bins nearby, so bring trash bags just in case!
• 😋Local Foods: Try sakura-themed treats🌸, such as sakura taiyaki, sakura manju, and sakura mochi🍡. Each prefecture may have its own unique seasonal foods during hanami time.
• 🌸Respect the trees: Do not pull on tree branches or pick the flowers. 🚫

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Conclusion

Spring in Japan is truly magical, and these day trips from Tokyo offer unforgettable cherry blossom experiences just beyond the city. Whether you’re admiring the vibrant contrast of sakura and canola flowers in Saitama, enjoying castle views in Kanagawa, discovering peaceful hanami spots in Chiba, or capturing Mt. Fuji with cherry blossoms in Yamanashi, each destination brings its own charm to the season.

We hope you found our Day Trips from Tokyo: 2025 Cherry Blossom Guide helpful and that your journey is filled with unforgettable sakura memories!🌸

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