2012/04/09 - Tokyo Report
by scott
Shinjuku Gyoen
Today I made a follow up trip down to Tokyo to check out the cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen, Koishikawa Korakuen, Chidorigafuchi, and Ueno Park. Both the weather and cherry trees were beautiful today, and pretty much all of Tokyo has reached full bloom.
Shinjuku Gyoen
April 9, 2012 - full bloom
Shinjuku Gyoen was absolutely beautiful today and virtually all of the somei yoshino cherry trees around the park were at full bloom. I would expect them to remain at their best for another few days.
On the other hand, most of the early blooming cherry trees are starting to lose their petals. They will still look nice for a little longer, but they may not survive the rains that are forecasted for later in the week.
Somei Yoshino trees at Shinjuku Gyoen
The cherry blossoms are at full bloom
Shinjuku Gyoen
Somei Yoshino trees at Shinjuku Gyoen
A couple takes wedding photos at Shinjuku Gyoen
Having fun at Shinjuku Gyoen
Weeping cherry trees are losing their petals
Close up of a weeping cherry tree
An early blooming Shuzenji Kanzakura is almost completely green
Early blooming trees around the Sendagaya Gate
Somei Yoshino trees around the Sendagaya Gate
The late blooming Ichiyo blossoms haven't opened yet
Koishikawa Korakuen
April 9, 2012 - full bloom (somei yoshino)
April 9, 2012 - petals starting to fall (weeping cherries)
The somei yoshino trees have opened at Koishikawa Korakuen, and are currently at full bloom. The weeping cherry trees, however, are starting to lose their petals. If you hurry you can still see both types of tree blossoms together, but I wouldn't expect the weeping cherries to last more than a few more days before the petals are gone and the leaves come out.
Koishikawa Korakuen
A close up of the petals
Koishikawa Korakuen
The larger weeping cherry trees around Koishikawa Korakuen
The somei yoshino trees around Koishikawa Korakuen are at full bloom
Somei yoshino blossoms at full bloom
Somei yoshino trees around the pond
Chidorigafuchi
April 9, 2012 - full bloom
Chidorigafuchi is the northwestern part of the moat that surrounds the Tokyo Imperial Palace. It is right across the street from Yasukuni Shrine, and is lined by nearly 1000 trees along its banks. Visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms by either walking along the paved outer bank or from rental boats along the moat (9:30 to 20:00, 800 yen/30 minutes, may be closed during high winds).
The cherry trees around the moat are at full bloom today. They will be illuminated in the evenings from 18:30 to 20:00 until April 10th.
Chidorigafuchi
The blossoms have reached full bloom
Boats ply the moat
The walking paths were really crowded
Lot of people were out enjoying the good weather and beautiful blossoms
Ueno Park
April 9, 2012 - full bloom
My last stop today was another visit to Ueno Park. The blossoms were at full bloom today and the park was incredibly crowded with revelers throwing hanami parties underneath the trees. I would expect the trees to remain at their peak for another few days.
Parts of Ueno Park will be illuminated in the evenings from 17:30 to 20:00 until April 15th.
Ueno Park
Full bloom
Ueno Park was packed with revelers
Cherry trees around Shinobazu Pond
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