Top Restaurants Near Famous Tokyo Sakura Viewing Spots Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: May 03 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Tokyo

Top Restaurants Near Famous Tokyo Sakura Viewing Spots

Tokyo's international reputation as a high-tech metropolis means that visitors may be surprised at just how many beautiful green spaces there are here. In the spring, locals and visitors alike are spoilt for choice when it comes to cherry blossom ("sakura" in Japanese) viewing spots. Here are some of Tokyo's most famous cherry blossom spots, as well as recommendations for excellent nearby restaurants.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Tokyo.

Shinjuku Gyoen

If you're visiting Tokyo in cherry blossom season, a stop at Shinjuku Gyoen is a real treat. Located in the midst of a high-rise urban area, Shinjuku Gyoen is a spacious green area beloved by locals and visitors alike. While the park was originally the site of the feudal lord Nato’s residence, the park has transformed throughout time, serving as an imperial garden at the turn of the 20th century, and becoming a public space after World War II. Today, it’s one of Tokyo’s most popular cherry blossom viewing ("hanami" in Japanese) spots. Its low entry fee (500 JPY for adults) and the fact that alcohol is not permitted cuts down on foot traffic and helps create a peaceful, family-friendly spot.

The garden itself has around 1,000 cherry blossom trees scattered throughout the grounds. The botanical diversity of the cherry trees in the park also means that the famously short-lived cherry blossom season lasts a little longer here. Winter cherry trees (kanzakura) can bloom as early as February, while late-blooming varieties reach their peak towards the latter end of the season. Shinjuku Gyoen has a number of styles of gardens to enjoy, but the lawns of the English Garden, which is surrounded by around 400 cherry blossom trees, is an ideal spot to enjoy a hanami picnic in the heart of the city.

Recommended Restaurants Near Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen Roman-Tei

Shinjuku Gyoen Roman-Tei is a stately restaurant full of the romance of the 1920s, which was the Taisho Era of Japan. The menu here is developed around Western-inspired cuisine, including omelet rice, gourmet hot dogs, and more. Don't miss the thick-cut, A5-rank roast Wagyu beef dressed in a soy sauce and wasabi sauce. For dessert, we highly recommend giving their unique dango (rice cake) fondue sets a try! Guests can choose from red bean paste or mitarashi (sweet soy sauce) flavors. These fun little desserts have been a hit on Japanese social media!

Open: [Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 11:30 am - 6:00 pm (L.O. 5:30 pm) Reservations for courses are until 4:30 pm.

[Tuesday - Friday, Day before National Holidays] 11:30 am - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm) Reservations for courses are until 7:00 pm.
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from exit No.2 of Shinjuku Gyoen Station
Address: 1-1-1, Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Otaru Masazushi Shinjuku Branch

Enjoy the bounty of Hokkaido's seas in the heart of Tokyo at Otaru Masazushi Shinjuku Branch. The seafood served here is flown in directly from wholesalers in Otaru City each morning, ensuring there is no compromise on freshness. Guests can enjoy Hokkaido's exceptional seafood prepared as high-quality sushi and sashimi here. Located on the 14th floor of the Shinjuku Takashimaya department store, the Shinjuku branch of Otaru Masazushi is staffed by experienced sushi chefs who work to keep the group's 70 years of traditions alive.

Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) In line with Takashimaya Times Square
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 10,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: A one minute walk from the south gate of JR Shinjuku Station. A five minute walk from Toei Shinjuku Station. A three minute walk from Shinjuku Sanchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin line.
Address: 14F Takashimaya Times Square, 5-24-2 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Map
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Ueno Park

First opened to the public in 1873, Ueno Park in central Tokyo is conveniently located by Ueno Station. This park houses a number of shrines and temples, as well as important museums including the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and the National Science Museum. It's also the home of the Ueno Zoo. While compact, this zoo is beloved throughout Japan for being the home of giant panda cub Xiang Xiang, which makes this spot particularly good for a family visit.

Ueno Park features around 1,000 cherry trees concentrated in two main spots within the park: the central pathway leading from the Keisei Ueno station entrance and around Shinobazu Pond, which is overlooked by the charming octagonal Bentendo temple hall. There is no entry fee to visit Ueno Park, so this is a good free choice for a picnic or a stroll.

Recommended Restaurants Near Ueno Park

TOKYO TON BAZAR

TOKYO TON BAZAR serves high-quality pork and vegetables. Their specialty is dishes made with LYB brand pork from Shizuoka Prefecture. Created by a leading pork specialist, this brand has been specifically bred to meet the tastes of the Japanese people. With only 1,000 heads of LYB pigs procured in a year, this premium pork isn't something you can try just anywhere! All-you-can-drink courses starting from 4,500 JPY are a great choice if you want to cap off your cherry blossom viewing adventures with a hearty meal over drinks with friends.

Open: Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:30 pm (L.O. 10:45 pm)
Closed:
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: 1-min walk from Exit No.9 of Tokyo metro [Ueno station] on the Ginza Line and Hibiya Line. 1-min walk from Asakusa Exit of JR [Ueno station].
Address: 5F TSD Bldg., 7-3-2 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo Map
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Tosa Shimizu World Ueno Branch

Tosa Shimizu World in Ueno is an affordable, friendly restaurant that specializes in the local cuisine of the Tosa region. Located in the southern coast of Shikoku, the Tosa coastline is visited by the Kuroshio, or the Black Current, that brings a rich range of seafood to the fishing areas there. Particularly recommended is the restaurant's warayaki, or straw-grilled dishes, particularly the straw-grilled skipjack tuna sourced directly from Tosa. The spacious dining area includes table and bar seating, as well as private and semi-private rooms.

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 0:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)

[Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 11:30 am - 0:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from the central exit of [Ueno Station] on JR Yamanote Line
Address: 2F, FUNDES Ueno, 7-2-4 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Park is not just a beautiful green space; it’s a cultural hotspot that attracts a fascinating mix of locals. This park is located next to one of Tokyo’s most popular sightseeing spots, Meiji Jingu Shrine, and it’s full of a unique Tokyo atmosphere. The former site of the Tokyo Olympic Village for the 1964 Tokyo Games, Yoyogi Park has ample sports grounds and facilities, but it’s not just popular among outdoor enthusiasts. Its location near the pop culture hotspot of Harajuku makes it a vibrant meetup spot for musicians, performers, and people interested in the area’s unique street fashion and cosplay subcultures.

Yoyogi Park has around 700 cherry trees, under which this park’s thousands of visitors come to spread out a blanket for a hanami picnic. The park's wide lawn areas are also excellent picnic spots. If you visit Yoyogi Park at the peak of cherry blossom season, you may see some real crowds. Don't despair, though - walk a little deeper into the park from the main entrance and you'll be sure to find a spot to stretch out your legs and contemplate the beauty of the spring scenery.

Recommended Restaurants Near Yoyogi Park

Otsu

Overlooking Yoyogi Park's greenery and cherry blossoms, Otsu is an ideal stop after a stroll in the park. Its Italian menu is inspired by the cuisine of Piemonte, a mountain-ringed area known for its meat-based dishes where Chef Miyane developed his expertise in Italian cuisine. While the dishes may look simple to the eye, they're the result of labor-intensive processes that bring out an impressive depth of flavor. Italian breads, including focaccia and grissini, are made by hand in-house with Chef Miyane's typical attention to detail.

Open: [Monday/Tuesday/Thursday-Sunday/holidays/days before holidays] Lunch: 12:00-13:30 (last order 13:30). Dinner: 18:00-23:00.
Closed: Thursdays
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: 2 minutes by foot from exit 3 of Yoyogi-Koen station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line/5 minutes by foot from Yoyogi-Hachiman station on the Odakyu Odawara line
Address: Yoyogi Matsuura Building 1F, Yoyogi 5-67-6, Shibuya, Tokyo Map
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Jardin de LUSEINE

Located in Harajuku, Jardin de LUSEINE is a charming European restaurant perfect for a stop during a springtime day of cherry blossom viewing. Decorated with antique furniture and lighting, this restaurant serves luxurious French and Italian inspired dishes for lunch and dinner. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, drop in during tea time from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm for a pick-me-up during your busy day of sightseeing. Be sure to ask after the [Mr. Brahms Cake]: limited to only five servings per day, this special dessert is almost too cute to eat.

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before Holidays] Lunch 11:30 - 15:00 (last order 14:30) / Dinner 18:00 - 22:00 (last order 21:30), Last Order for Course Meals at 20:00, Service Charge of 10% after 18:00 / Bar Open 18:00 - 22:00 (last order 21:30), Service Charge of 10% after 18:00 / Teatime 13:00 - 18:00 (last order 17:30)
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: Located in the building on the west of Harajuku Alta, a 3-minute walk from Harajuku Station (take the Takeshita Exit) or Meiji-jingumae Station (take Exit B3).
Address: 1-16-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Meguro River

Meguro River is a popular cherry blossom spot that often appears in Japanese movies and TV shows, including as a major setting for the hit drama The Best Divorce (Saikou no Rikon). This spot is particularly popular for its “cherry blossom tunnel”, named for the fact that the branches of the trees reach across the canal to envelope the area in a beautiful, sun-dappled landscape of pink. The best way to get a picture of the tunnel is to head to the river from the Naka-Meguro Station area and view the canal from one of the numerous surrounding pedestrian bridges.

Around 800 trees line about a 4 km stretch of the river. In the evenings, the illuminated trees and paper lanterns that line the canal create a magical atmosphere that makes Meguro River an ideal spot for an after-dinner stroll. If you look carefully at the pink paper lanterns, you'll find they're decorated with messages. Each year, members of the public pay around 2,500 JPY to create a message on one of the 500 lanterns available. Some leave a message for a loved one, but it’s become a popular custom among fans of Japanese idol groups to leave a message of encouragement for their favorite idol on one of the Meguro River lanterns.

Recommended Restaurants Near Meguro River

Restaurant L'asse

Restaurant L'asse is an Italian restaurant run by Taichi Murayama, a chef who previously worked at celebrated restaurants in Italy, including the three-starred Restaurant Dal Pescatore Santini. Cap-off your cherry blossom viewing with an elegant meal in a space designed to capture the spirit of the sun-filled forests of Chef Murayama's native Niigata Prefecture. Lunch courses start from 2,600 JPY, while tasting menu style dinner courses start from 7,700 JPY.

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (L.O. 1:00 pm) / Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 6,000 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from the West Exit of [Meguro Station] on JR Yamanote Line, Tokyu Meguro Line, Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, and Toei Mita Line
Address: B1F, Verona Meguro, 1-4-15, Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

Yakitori Abe

Committed to using virtually every part of the chicken, Yakitori Abe is a must-visit for any fans of yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). Designed as a stylish, modern bistro, Yakitori Abe specializes in Datedori brand chicken. This chicken is raised with careful attention to providing the birds a stress-free, spacious environment, which results in meat with a tender, juicy texture that is deliciously enjoyed down to the liver and heart. Enjoy an assortment of the chef's selection, or order skewers by the piece with a glass of Yakitori Abe's carefully-curated wine.

Open: [Weekdays/Saturdays/holidays/days before holidays] Normal hours: 18:00-00:00 (last order 23:00).
Closed: Sundays
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY
Access: Exit from the east exit upon alighting at Meguro station on various lines, and proceed straight along Meguro Avenue in front of Resona Bank. We will be 3 buildings beside the 7-Eleven.
Address: Miyuki House 1F, Kamiosaki 3-3-4, Shinagawa, Tokyo Map
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Chidorigafuchi Park

Chidorigafuchi Park is one of the most iconic cherry blossom sites in Tokyo. Located along the northwest moat of the Imperial Palace, this park’s moat-side path features almost a kilometer-long tunnel of mature cherry trees. As beautiful as these trees are, what makes this spot especially unique is the boats available to hire here. The chance to row along the Imperial Palace moat among the drifting cherry blossom petals really is an only-in-Tokyo experience.

Entrance to Chidorigafuchi Park itself is free, and boat hire is reasonably priced at 800 JPY for 30 minutes. This park draws around a million visitors during cherry blossom season, so it can get very crowded. There have been reports of people waiting as long as four hours on weekends during the peak season for a boat, and, unfortunately, advance reservations aren’t available. So, for your best chance to secure one without a long wait, arrive early on a weekday. If you don't want to queue, the gorgeous cherry trees and the picturesque view of the boats lazily rowing on the moat in and of itself makes Chidorigafuchi Park worth a visit.

Recommended Restaurants Near Chidorigafuchi Park

Wadan Mushintei

Wadan Mushintei is a cozy inner-city retreat that serves authentic Japanese cuisine and high-quality local sake from the Fukushima region. The quiet, calm atmosphere creates an ideal mood for dinner with a special someone, while the restaurant's private rooms that can seat groups of six or ten are ideal for parties or entertaining. Sashimi assortments made from seafood directly sourced from the Kyushu region are available to suit a range of budgets, as are course menus and an extensive a la carte menu.

Open: [Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm / Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: 1 minute walk from exit A3 of [Kojimachi Station]
Address: 102 Kojimachi Sanchome Bldg., 3-4-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Map
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Kisetsu Ryouri Nemoto

Kisetsu Ryori Nemoto strives to create a welcoming, comfortable space for guests to enjoy Japan's seasonal cuisine. With a stylish, traditional Japanese atmosphere, this restaurant can cater to everyone from solo diners to groups of around six in private rooms. Japanese favorites like tempura, Wagyu beef steak, and sashimi are available either a la carte, in set meals, or as course menus. Particularly recommended is the miso-stewed mackerel, which is expertly prepared in a slow stewing process that takes many hours.

Open: [Monday - Saturday] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm (L.O. 1:30pm)

[Weekday] Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)

[Saturday] Dinner 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 6,500 JPY / [Lunch] 950 JPY
Access: From either Kojimachi station/Ichigaya staion, go towards "Nihon TV." It is near the beginning of Nihon TV street.
Address: 2F Mitsui Building, 1-2 Rokuban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Map
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We've introduced five of the most beautiful places in Tokyo to see cherry blossoms this spring. Whether you want to have a picnic under the trees, or simply take a stroll through the clouds of petals, you can't go wrong at any of these spots. Pair a visit with a meal at one of these great restaurants for a perfect spring day in Tokyo!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.