Tokyo Cherry Blossoms (April 2, 2026)
When we planned our return trip to Japan, Elena noted that this is “peak Cherry Blossom season.” We didn’t go out of our way to be here at this time, but since we’re here, we decided to get up early and enjoy the best of what Japan offers so many tourists each year.
The Carmodys are enjoying cherry blossom season.
When seeking the best places to view the cherry blossoms, there are many different sights to choose from. We decided on Ueno Park as it’s also close to Tokyo National Museum. And while the cherry blossoms were indeed beautiful, they weren’t as pink as we were expecting. We were imagining something more akin to a magnolia tree (which dot the Port Washington, NY landscape this time of year.
My iPhone home screen picture: Elena in front of our magnolia tree
Still, the cherry blossoms attract millions of tourists each year. The latest data shows 3.1 million tourists (primarily for the cherry blossoms) visited Japan in 2024 and a total of 63 million people participate in the cherry blossom events (including locals from Japan). I think a big draw is how prevalent the cherry blossoms are in Japanese art for thousands of years.
Will and Elena discussing the cherry blossoms as we walk the path
After a stroll through the cherry blossoms, we continued our walking tour to Tokyo National Museum. This was a red letter day, as they say, as it was the first time both kids were excited to explore a museum with us. Violet took her time and discussed what was blowing her mind. Specifically, the art that has been preserved for more than a thousand years — and in some cases more than two thousand years.
And how the ruling samurai had adorned themselves with unique ornaments that aligned with powers like this one:
Rabbit ears signify agility in battle
Golden sword cuts through illusion & deception (Buddhist principles)
We discussed how “might makes right” was initially a concept for the warring class of society until honor and integrity balanced power with purpose. These principles remain to this day in Japanese society. You can see it with the lack of locks on bikes in most areas. The expectation is that if the bike doesn’t belong to you, it will still be there when the owner returns (regardless if the bike is locked up).
So much beauty in this museum. Like Violet, Will enjoyed several parts and shared how he has a new found appreciation of museums. Elena pointed out that, as kids, sitting still and admiring ancient artifacts was not a priority. Today, as the kids mature into young adults, there is a deeper appreciation for nuance and historical significance.
Lastly, we visited a buddhist temple on our way out and because of this time of year there were a number of vendors selling various items including snacks. This is a “Hello Kitty” waffle that’s literally so cute people eat it up:
Tiny “Hello Kitty” waffle cute enough to eat …
How the “Hello Kitty” waffles are made and their relative size
I can’t remember if I posted about this last time I was here five months ago, but I love this symbol that’s not just on posters like this one, but is actually used by the Japanese people in real life to say “no.”
Such a simple gesture. Why isn’t this symbol everywhere?
Great day today. Tomorrow we will visit a different spot in the evening. It’s said to be a wholly different experience viewing the cherry blossoms at night. Not sure which is better, so we’re trying them both.
