The Best Cherry Blossom and Tulip Park Near Tokyo: Showa Kinen Park
Showa Kinen Park, located in the town of Tachikawa (立川市), is by far my favourite park near Tokyo. Accessible in 45 minutes by train from central Tokyo, the park is very popular for the autumn foliage, but is also an absolute must for admiring the cherry blossoms in spring.
Not only are there many cherry trees in the park, but they also bloom at the same time as rapeseed and tulips, from late March to early April (pictures shown in this article were taken on April 1, 2023), transforming the area into a breathtaking floral paradise.
Why You Should Visit Showa Kinen Park in Spring
Spanning over 160 hectares, the park is a great getaway from Tokyo city for anyone looking for a nature cure. With its wide spaces and 1500 cherry trees, it is the perfect destination to picnic and do hanami (花見), or “flower viewing”. And indeed, you will see Japanese people gather outside under sakura trees and spend their day eating and drinking with family and friends.
You can also rent bikes to explore the vast park, and there are an extensive bike-only track network and bicycle parkings.
My Favorite Flower Viewing Spots
I am only suggesting a few of my favorite flower spots in Showa Kinen Park because the park is so huge.
Once you've passed through the park's Tachikawa Gate (down in the south-east of the park), I recommend walking along the right-hand side of Friendship Square and exploring the area around the sakura bridge (さくら橋). As the name suggests, the area is full of large cherry trees, and it was one of my favourite places to admire these beautiful flowers.
You can then walk towards the park’s big open field. At first, I was surprised to see this big pink line on the horizon, but then I realized it was the cherry trees in full bloom in the cherry blossom garden to the north of the field.
In particular, there is an area where the cherry blossom trees are close to a field of oilseed rape. The combination of bright yellow and pink was magnificent, and many photographers stayed in the area to capture this beautiful scene.
In the cherry blossom garden, I particularly liked the paths around the stream on the north-west side of the open field, which was relatively less busy and made me feel like I was stepping into a fairytale.
As well as the cherry blossom, the tulip garden in Showa Kinen Park is also magnificent. It's easy to see how much effort the park's gardeners put into making this place a feast for the eyes.
Timing is important if you want to enjoy all the flowers blooming at the same time. To plan for my own visit, which was on 1 April 2023, I had looked at a few blogs and checked the state of the blossom in Showa Kinen Park from photos on Google Maps and social media. But don’t worry, even if you miss the peak of the cherry blossom season, there are plenty of flowers to admire in Showa Kinen Park such as nemophilia in the end of April, shirley poppy in May, hydrangea in June, sunflowers in summer and cosmos in September-October.
Some Practical Information for Your Visit
Transports to Showa Kinen Park: The JR Chuo Line connects the park to central Tokyo (Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station) while the JR Nambu Line connects the park to Setagaya district in southern Tokyo and also passes by central Tokyo (Shinagawa, Shibuya or Shinjuku station).
Opening hours:
Nov. 1 to the end of Feb.: 9:30 to 16:30
March 1 to Oct. 31: 9:30 to 17:00
Apr. 1 to Sept. 30 on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays: 9:30 to 18:00
Entrance fee: ¥450 for adults (over 15 years old), ¥210 for seniors (over 65 years old), free otherwise. You can buy tickets at vending machines near the entrances, but you can also use your transport pass such as Pasmo or Suica, which I found very convenient.
For more information, you can visit the park’s website, available in English and Japanese.
To Conclude
There are so many beautiful places to enjoy spring, especially cherry blossom, in Tokyo, but Showa Kinen Park has become by far my favourite and the one I would most recommend to flower lovers, given the variety of flowers in the park, and the colour therapy created by the good care of Showa Kinen Park's gardeners.
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