While Showa Memorial Park is a little far way from central Tokyo, it’s worth heading out to see it during the cherry blossom or autumn colour seasons. The park was opened in 1983 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the last emperor. As it was created during Japan’s economic boom, it has been well developed, setting it apart from older parks in Tokyo.
At around 163 hectares (it used to be a military airbase), it’s going to take you a long time to get around it and the number of cherry blossom trees was almost overwhelming. It took me 3 hours to get everything done. as there are so many parts to the park. It has an outside bonsai museum, traditional Japanese garden and many areas dedicated to cherry blossom trees. It’s definitely worth the modest entrance fee of 400 yen.
Walking over the bridge to the entrance. Cherry blossom trees everywhere.
A nice welcome to the park.
Unlike other parks, which have a random array of cherry blossom trees spread around the park, Showa Memorial Park has several cherry blossom hotspots. These are all shown on a helpful, easy to use map available at the entrance. Each hotspot is as good as all the cherry blossoms in most parks I have been to.
One of the cherry blossom hotspots.
It’s also a great park if you want to do some hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, while sitting down under the trees. Because of the entrance fee there are very few people in the park, meaning you can have more space and a much quieter time. So no noisy salarymen trying to hit on you!
So many cherry blossoms….
Quietly relaxing under the trees.
We came here late in the season, so many petals had already fallen.
Will have to come here again!
Super Cheap Japan 
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