When to visit Tokyo? How about the “flower viewing” season of late winter to early spring

photos by Christopher Johnson

Cherry blossoms aren’t the only flowers in Tokyo. Hanami season, in Japanese, literally refers to “viewing flowers”, not just sakura, which attracts millions of visitors to Japan. Even before sakura, Tokyo in late winter can feature spectacular plum and apple blossoms. The weather is often more clear and crisp in the late winter months of January and February than sakura season around March, which can often see grey or raining days. But when the sakura do come out to play in the sun, millions of Japanese and tourists also come out to drink, play music and enjoy spending days and nights in parks with their friends and colleagues. It’s perhaps the best time to visit Tokyo.