I’m finally back in Japan again, and just in time to explore the Sakura Matsuri in Tokyo! The Matsuri is only around for a few weeks each year, and I somehow managed to line up my trip right towards the end of the festival. So with the first free morning I had here, I made my way towards Ueno park to witness what the Matsuri has to offer. Is it as stunning as the photos online make it out to be? And is it worth the visit? Let’s find out. How Good is the Sakura Matsuri at Ueno Park Actually?
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🌸 Overview 🌸
Objectively, it’s just some Sakura Trees at a park, so I wont be able to do a deep-dive like my other restaurant or travel overviews. But what I can do is talk about my general impressions here. Suffice to say – they’re very positive.
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🌸 Park Entrance 🌸
Right as you enter the park area, you’re greeted to a scattering of a few sakura trees, giving a little preview of the beauty you can expect towards the park’s center.
Having a closer look at the trees, you’ll also notice that there’s quite a few cultivars in this park, ranging from the more common pink to white species with more individual, elegant petals, to deeper-colored cultivars with denser petal structures. (I’m no sakura botanist, but hopefully my point gets through…)
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🌸 Main Area 🌸
But that’s just by the entrance of the park, the real show’s a bit further in.
The highlight is right around the park’s main road. Here, you’ll find rows of sakura trees lining up both sides of the park.
I only had an hour of free time here, so I was only able to explore the main road. But there’s also more to the park than just the display of sakura trees, of course. Fitting of a festival, you can also find street food stalls here – located at some of the branching roads in the park leading up to shrines or the park’s other areas. So if you have the time (unlike me…) definitely check out the stalls here to explore some of Tokyo’s street foods and snacks.
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🌸 Side Note – Crowds 🌸
Breaking the immersion for a bit, it would be disingenuous of me if I didn’t mention one minor point with the Sakura Matsuri at Ueno Park – the sheer number of people. As one of Japan’s most well-known festivals (and only lasting for such a short time), the event not only attracts tourists wanting to see the beauty of Japan’s spring, but also locals as well. As a result, you’ll find that the park is a little on the crowded side. It’s not unwalkable, of course, just that it may be difficult to grab solo photos of yourself in the park – if that’s your primary goal. But if you’re here to experience the culture of Japan’s spring festival, the crowd’s part of the experience, right?
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🌸 Sakura Matsuri at Night 🌸
For a completely different perspective of the Sakura Matsuri, head over to the park during the early evening hours. Unfortunately, it was raining on both of the days I was free to visit, but from what I heard, the park will be lit up with lanterns until around 8pm, at which the festival technically ‘ends’ for the day (and is just illuminated with the usual street lights.)
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🌇 Things to do around Ueno 🌇
You’re unlikely to come to Ueno just to visit some Sakura trees at a park, so let’s run down a few things worth visiting around Ueno.
Full Review: Ameyoko Market
One of the most well-known markets in Tokyo, Ameyoko Market is home to a wide selection of local cuisine, souvenir shops, drugstores, and fashion stores. You can find the entrance of Ameyoko Market right where you’d exit the station for the park.
Full Review: Maguro Donya
As for what I ate during my stay there, Maguro Donya was quite a nice place to try out some sushi for a budget-friendly price.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is the Sakura Matsuri at Ueno Park actually? Well, name some iconic things about Japan, and sakura trees should rank quite highly on that list. So with such a strong association to the country, the Sakura Festival is well worth a visit – even worth planning a trip around if you’re already looking at a March-April travel date.
Speaking about Ueno Park specifically? Even at the tail end of the season, photos alone don’t fully convey how beautiful the scenery is here. Rows of sakura trees, petals carried by the cool, crisp breeze – it’s really something quite special. Sure, the number of visitors can make it difficult to grab some solo photos of you and the sakura trees, but you can always just head over to a smaller park or a tree cluster somewhere in the city – and spend your time at Ueno Park just marveling at nature’s beauty.
Overall, the Sakura Matsuri is something you should not miss while you’re in Japan. So if you’re around in the months of March and April, then make sure to head over to Ueno Park.
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🚗HOW TO GET THERE 🚗
Ueno is one of the more popular areas in Tokyo, so there are a lot of ways to head there – assuming you’re not already staying around Ueno. The closest station there is Ueno Station, and the exit you take towards the park will depend on which train you used to get here
If you’re coming from the Ginza or Hibiya Line, once you leave the train and scan out from the gates, head on over to Exit 7 and make your way out of the underground station. Once you’re at street level, walk straight and cross the road – and in front of you will be the stairs that lead you towards the park.
And for the JR Lines, head over to the Shinobazu Exit, and the rest is the same at the other lines – a quick crossing of the road and up the stairs. Alternatively, you can also head straight to the park via the Park Exit as well, but I’ve never personally tried this route. Then again, it IS the Park Exit, so it should be relatively straightforward to find the park once you exit there.
Sakura Matsuri – Ueno Park
🌏 Location 🌏
Uenokoen, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0007
🗺 Map 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/P7CK5Yjm5f2x2qa8A
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
5 A.M. to 11 P.M. (Best viewing times are between sunrise until ~8 P.M.)
