Seven Must-visit Places for Nighttime Cherry Blossom Viewing in Japan

Sakura or cherry blossom season is one of the busiest times in Japan, as tourists from all over the world come to catch a glimpse of the beautiful cherry blossoms in bloom. Parks fill up with picnic-goers who lay out their blankets on the petal-covered ground. Families, friends, and coworkers gather together to appreciate Japan’s unofficial national flower and take in the sights.

However, those celebrations don’t have to happen during the daytime. Yo-zakura — cherry blossom viewing after dark — is a popular pastime and a completely different way to experience the beauty of these flowers. Many spots have illumination systems in place to show off the sakura in the nighttime, bathed in a soft glow. Some parks are even open for late-night picnics for those who want to keep the festivities going.

Not every daytime sakura-viewing spot is set up for yo-zakura, but here are our top seven places that are! 

Meguro River is undoubtedly one of Japan's most popular sakura-viewing spots, and it's easy to see why. With 800 sakura trees flanking both sides of the river spanning almost 2.5 miles, it's quite a sight in full bloom. There's an annual cherry blossom festival that takes place with street vendors offering snacks and drinks to passersby.

Walking along the river in the evening time, you'll see the two rows of trees forming a tunnel of glowing flowers. It's a romantic scene, especially with the charming paper lanterns strung along one of the narrow canal sections near Naka-meguro. And once you're finished with your stroll, there are plenty of hip and trendy cafes, bars, and restaurants right along the river to check out.

Make your way to the beautiful Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka for a less urban yo-zakura experience. Kawazu, a small town less than three hours from Tokyo, boasts waterfalls, beaches, and mountains galore. It’s also known for its annual Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival.

The festival takes place along the Kawazu River, where festival stalls line the walking path. You can find the usual festival snacks, locally produced fruits, and souvenirs. At night, the trees are beautifully illuminated to give festivalgoers a completely different view of the flowers. 

Maruyama Park is the oldest Japanese garden in Kyoto City and one of the most famous spots for viewing cherry blossoms in the prefecture. It's hard to miss, as it’s located right next to Yasaka-jinja Shrine and in the historical Higashiyama district.

The 21-acre park has all kinds of cherry trees, including a 40-foot-high weeping sakura. This tree is the centerpiece of the park and gets specially illuminated at night — a sight known as the Gion Yo-zakura thanks to the nearby Gion geisha district. During blooming season, you'll find food stalls, seating, and illuminations going until 10 p.m.

Located in Shobara City in Hiroshima, Ueno Park is a peaceful place to take in rural scenery. Known to be in the top 100 most beautiful cherry blossom-viewing spots in Japan, Ueno Park’s central pond is surrounded by 600 cherry trees. With an embankment stretching one and a quarter miles long, it’s quite a large pond with a beautiful traditional red footbridge and a torii gate.

In April, you’ll find the Ueno Park Cherry Festival, including a nighttime illumination with lanterns. Seeing the soft glow reflected in the pond is a unique sight and one that should not be missed. The park is about a 90-minute drive from Hiroshima City but well worth the trek.

Located in Kurayoshi City in Tottori, Utsubuki Park is a mountain park built at the foot of the beloved local Mount Utsubuki.

It was originally built in 1904 to commemorate the Taisho Emperor’s visit to the region. This peaceful park attracts visitors all year round for its verdant nature and petting zoo. Every spring, the park draws in even more visitors who come to see 4,000 cherry trees and 40,000 azaleas in bloom. At night, 500 traditional paper lanterns of all sizes illuminate the trees for a truly fantastic yo-zakura experience.

Hirosaki Park is a must-visit if you find yourself far up north in Aomori during the sakura season. The park surrounds Hirosaki Castle, one of only a few of the still-original castles in Japan. Established in 1611 by the Tsugaru Clan, the castle burned down in 1627 after being struck by lightning but was rebuilt in 1810 — still well before the modern era.

The park is famous not only for its castle but also for its sakura. With over 2,500 cherry trees of multiple varieties and even two intertwining trees whose branches form a heart shape, visitors can take in plenty of sights. The annual Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival is known to be one of the most photogenic spring festivals in the country, specifically for its nightly illuminations. With the trees lit up at night and the castle in the background, it’s sure to make for some unforgettable photos.

Located in Niigata, Takada Castle Site Park has a magnificent display of cherry blossoms during the spring season and is considered one of the top three places to view yo-zakura in Japan. It hosts about 4,000 cherry trees that bloom from late March to early April.

During the Takada Castle Site Park Cherry Blossom Festival, the cherry trees are illuminated by about 3,000 bonbori paper lanterns. The must-see view here is the moat’s reflection of the beautifully lit three-story turret of Takada Castle and its accompanying cherry blossoms.