A Walk in the Cherry Blossom city Tokyo

Shekhar
May 22, 2025
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Cherry Blossom in Japan needs no introduction. The most-famous flower destination welcomes the photographers from across the globe and the locals during the short-lived 14-day flower season.

My highly anticipated trip to Japan finally materialized, fortunately coinciding with the cherry blossom season taking off in April in Tokyo. Aboard the ANA flight, I imagined cherry trees, dotting the city landscape in all their pink glory, only to be shaken out of this reverie by my husband who reiterated the fact (to my amusement) that I would not be landing in the midst of a foliage of cherry trees and that certain spots in the city played host to them. For the Japanese people Sakura represents spring and a time of renewal. Although short lived, this period is marked by celebrations and parties. It is a time of rejoicing and the Japanese make the most of it.

Tokyo boasts of two International airports, Narita and Haneda. We landed at Narita Airport after a 9hours flight from New Delhi. The immigration procedure at the airport was smooth and quick. We were pleasantly surprised to see many elderly men and women working at the immigration counters, tirelessly and with a smile on their faces.

Narita airport lies 60kms away from the city centre. A limousine bus service took us from the airport to Mitsui garden Premier hotel in Ginza. Ginza is to Tokyo what Connaught Place is to New Delhi. Ginza is very centrally located, buzzing with activity and many high-end stores line-up on both sides of the roads. Huge buildings, well dressed people dining and happy shoppers make Ginza what it is! It would not be wrong to call it the heartbeat of Tokyo.

On our first morning in Tokyo, rain played spoil sport. It was very cold too, but nothing could stop us from venturing out. Armed with umbrellas provided thoughtfully by the Hotel reception, we headed to the metro station. Two gardens in Tokyo city are well-known for a bountiful Cherry Bloosom sighting – the Shinjuku Gyoen National Park and the Maruyama Park. A short ride on the local train took us to Ueno Park in Taito. A five minutes work from the station and we found ourselves surrounded by a thousand cherry trees lining both sides of the pathway. Beautiful cherry trees, blossoming brightly in all their fuchsia glory. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. That morning there were heavy crowds in the park but it was still the epitome of cleanliness. We strolled around for two hours enjoying the sights and clicking pictures. A large number of people picnicked with their friends and families on the well-manicured, lush green grounds.

Our next stop that day was Sensoji, a Buddhist temple in Asakusa. Legend has it that two fisherman brothers found a statue of Goddess Kannon, the Japanese goddess of mercy in 628AD, while fishing in the river Sumida. They put back the statue in the river many a times, but it always found its way back to them. The brothers decided to build the Sensoji temple to enshrine the goddess. The construction was completed in 645AD making Sensoji the oldest temple in Tokyo.

For me, Sensoji temple was a wonderful experience because of many things. The temple was astonishingly beautiful and it showed me the reverence of the Japanese people towards their religion. I came across many women dressed in their traditional and national dress, Kimonos. Their typical hair accessories and the brightly hued dresses made them look really graceful. Another attraction at the temple were the Omikuji, the fortune slips that one could access for a fee of hundred yen. I drew my fortune many times and the results varied from being very lucky to facing hard times. The potted tulips in an array of colours kept around the temple complex caught my attention. On the way back, I noticed that the streets leading up to the temple were teeming with shops selling local snacks and souvenirs.

Tokyo is the seat of the Japanese emperor. The current emperor Naruhito, ascended the throne in 2019. He resides in Edo castle, the grounds of which are open to the public throughout the year. We took a guided tower to the Imperial Gardens which were full of seasonal flowers and cherry trees. Colourful blooms popped out from the most unexpected corners. One can still see the moats, guardhouses and gates, dating back to centuries that were a part of the castle.

A visit to the Tokyo Skytree, the new symbol of the city, 643 metres high is a must. In the evenings it is lit up in a hundred bright shades and patterns, and from the observation deck, the city looks alluring.

A write up about Tokyo can never be complete without words of appreciation for the people of Tokyo. We found them to be extremely helpful and courteous. While a young man helped us get tickets at the metro station, another old man walked us to a city map mounted on a wall to help us locate the place we wanted to go to. Whenever we lost our way in the city, men and women would stop to help us using their google maps, even locating restaurants serving Indian cuisine for us. I felt grateful for their kindness and civility

So, here’s the thing. Have at least a week to experience Tokyo and absorb its sights and sounds. For lack of time, I was unable to see any of the attractions on Tokyo bay. Cabs are rather expensive, though taking the metro is an economical option. The metro network is fast and frequent. Food for vegetarians is not easy to come by. April does get very cold and rainy, so carry appropriate gear for yourself. Head to Shinjuku for shopping. It is bustling with shoppers, but mostly with people only looking around and enjoying. Bring back Matcha tea and Sensu (folding fans), available in an array of colours. Last but not the least, be prepared to find beauty in little things in Tokyo. You will be pleasantly surprised.