Tokyo’s cherry blossoms have just started budding; they’re expected to reach peak bloom around March 28, according to the most recent sakura forecast. To help you prepare for the ensuing revelry, we’ve rounded up the best cherry blossom festivals in Tokyo happening this year.

Other highlights from this week:

The fascinating story of Nakahama Manjiro, who was shipwrecked on a deserted island in the 1800s and rescued by a passing American whaling ship — eventually going on to become, in all likelihood, the first Japanese person to set foot in America.
The biggest standouts from Art Fair Tokyo 2026, from Manabu Ikeda’s vast, surrealistic dreamworlds to Motohide Takami’s darkly whimsical paintings that investigate the human tendency to watch terrible events from a safe distance.
Myaku-Myaku, the garish yet adorable mascot from the Osaka Expo who had all of Japan in a chokehold despite (or because of?) the fact that its main feature is a mane made of eyeballs, now has its own gravure photo book.

— Callie Beusman, editorial director

Tokyo’s Best Cherry Blossom Festivals in 2026

Spring is an incredible time to be in Tokyo; parks and neighborhoods are filled with cherry blossoms, and locals welcome the season with long strolls under the fluttering pink canopies. These festivals are an opportunity to see some of the city’s most beautiful views, from historic riverside walks to illuminated night trees.

Here are a few cherry blossom festivals in Tokyo to check out in 2026, each offering its own unforgettable sights and experiences.

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