Cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
With over 1,000 cherry trees, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is one of the best and most popular spots for hanami in Tokyo.
sightseeing
Hike around Lake Ashi in Hakone
After getting down from Mount Komagatake and starting from the Hakone-en Komagatake Ropeway station, I walked on the road in the direction of Moto-Hakone, at the southern end of Lake Ashi. I spent some time at the Hakone shrine and at the Hakone Detached Palace. I then took the so-called Outer Rim Trail (外輪山のハイキングコース) that follows the Ashinoko Skyline Road in the mountains west of Lake Ashi. I followed the trail until I reached Togendai, at the northern end of Lake Ashi. I arrived just in time to catch the last express bus to Shinjuku.
Oedo Fukagawa Cherry Blossom Festival
The Oedo Fukagawa Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Fukagawa, in Koto City, east of the Sumida River. The area has large canals lined with many cherry trees. Although I did not get to ride them, boat cruises were available during the festival to see the flowers from a different angle.
Kawasaki Daishi Temple & Daishi Park
While waiting for the start of the Kanamara festival mikoshi parade, I visited the nearby Daishi Temple, as well as Daishi Park and its Shinshu-en Chinese garden.
Kawasaki Port / Marien observatory
The Port of Kawasaki is an important port of Japan. It is located on the artifical island of Ogishima, facing Tokyo Bay. It is close to Kawasaki’s factory zone and Haneda Airport. I also visited the Marien Tower observatory, which offers a good view on Tokyo Bay and the industrial area.
Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus) in Kawasaki
The Kanamara Matsuri (かなまら祭り, “Festival of the Steel Phallus”), aka the Penis Festival, is a shinto festival celebrating fertility, long marriages and healthy births. It is held each spring at the Kanayama Shrine (金山神社) in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, just south of Tokyo. The penis, as the central theme of the event, is reflected in illustrations, candy, carved vegetables, decorations, and a mikoshi parade.
Omiya Bonsai Village
While I was in Omiya for hanami, I also took the opportunity to visit the Omiya Bonsai Village. It is an area north of Omiya Park known as one of the most outstanding bonsai cultivating areas in Japan. This is where the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is located, as well as numerous bonsai nurseries. A large bonsai festival (大盆栽まつり) is also held every year from May 3rd to May 5th.
Cherry blossoms at Omiya Park
Omiya Park (大宮公園) is a public park in Omiya, Saitama Prefecture, about 30min north of Tokyo. The park contains many cherry trees, a zoo and a museum. It is also the location of the shinto Hikawa Shrine (氷川神社).
Cherry blossoms at Asukayama Park in Oji
Asukayama Park is a park located in Oji, Tokyo. It was established by Shogun Yoshimune Tokugawa in the early 18th century to serve as a good hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spot for Edo citizens.
Saruhashi Bridge in Otsuki
At the end of the hike to Mount Ougi and Mount Momokura, I went to have a look at the so-called Monkey Bridge (猿橋; Saruhashi), which gave its name to the area of Otsuki surrounding it. It is a wooden bridge spanning the Sagami River and also one of the three unusual bridges of Japan. This page has some details on its construction (and the list of unusual bridges). After the bridge, I went to the nearby Saruhashi Park before going to the train station and back to Tokyo.