19 Mar Avoiding Crowd While Viewing Cherry Blossom around Shibuya

Sometimes you don’t have enough time to do everything. You want to take a picture at the Shibuya crossing and stroll around the city, but also want to capture cherry blossoms as well. Yes, it’s ok to be greedy when you are traveling!

Shibuya is famous for its busy crossing and unique teens culture. But unexpectedly, there are several locations where you may forget that you are in Shibuya. Bring along a camera with you and experience two different cultures in one city.

Photo by Francisco Restivo

So here are some locations where you can enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms in Shibuya.

Yoyogi Park

The obvious location is Yoyogi park. There is over 600 cherry trees and if you visit the park in April, it will be pink everywhere, right and left, up and down. On your way out, stop by at Meiji Shrine and onto Harajuku.

Admission: Free

Access: 5 minutes walk from Harajuku station

Photo by ryo katsuma

Konnou Hachimangu Shrine (金王八幡宮)

Kill two birds with one stone, or even better, kill three birds with one stone. Get your money fortune up as well while you pose in front of a cherry blossom for  a nice picture. This cherry blossom is very unique in a sence that there are single folded sakura and multi-folded sakura on the same tree. Not a very crowded place so great location to enjoy a quite date!

Free Admission

Access: 5 min from Shibuya station

3-15-12 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Photo by emi moriya

Nabeshima Shoto Park (鍋島松濤公園)

Once you enter Nabeshima Shoto Park, it’s easy to forget that you are in the middle of Tokyo, especially with Shibuya being so crowded and busy. There are only 15 cherry blossoms (mix of someiyoshino and shidare cherry blossom) but its atmosphere is very relaxing and calm and a great way to refresh yourself after being in the crowded city. There is a big pond where you can see turtles and carps swimming gracefully. During spring, cherry blossoms petals are randomly but beautifully placed on the surface of the pond. Take a deep breath and enjoy the oasis of Shibuya.

Free Admission

Access: 12 minutes from Shibuya station

Address: 2-10-7 Shoto, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Photo by wajun Kuwahara

Saigoyama Park (西郷山公園)

Though it is not a huge park, Saigoyama park has a water fall and observatory. Because the parks is located up on a hill, the view from the observatory is so beautiful, you’ll want to stay and enjoy for a while. If you are lucky, you can view Mt. Fuji on a sunny day.

During spring, 50 cherry blossom trees will be blooming. There are benches around the park for you to take a break. Enjoy the spring feel with cherry petals fleeting around.

If you are hungry, grab a bite at Saigoyama park cafe.

Free Admission

13 minutes walk from Daikanyama station (Tokyu line, one station away from Shibuya)

Address: 2-10-28 Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

Photo by Tatsuo Yamashita

Bring your camera out and capture not only the fun and pop culture of Shibuya but also beautiful cherry blossoms, both at the same time!