Odaiba is a cool bay-side district with many amusement centers and brilliant shopping centers.

But Tokyo is a big and complicated city. Many travelers say that they were overwhelmed when they saw the map. How can I get the cool waterfront district?

OK, I’m here to help you. This article will explain how to get to Odaiba!

How to Get to Odaiba

To understand it fully, open The Easiest JR Train Map of Tokyo first and check out where in Tokyo you are now. It enables you to find out which way in the following you can get.

Yurikamome Line

I recommend Yurikamome Line, the monorail to Odaiba district of Tokyo, the best. The trains are so cool like a near-future SF and the bay side views through the large windows are beautiful. I’m sure you’ll be excited!

To catch a Yurikamome Line train, go to JR Shimbashi Station of Yamanote Line or Keihin Tohoku Line and change trains to Yurikamome.

If you hope to visit many places in Odaiba, I advise you to get the Yurikamome Enjoy Pass, the one-day ticket. It’s pretty reasobable – 820 yen for Adult, 410 yen for Child (6 – 11 years old). You can get on and off as many times as you like during the day. Just going and coming on Yurikamome is fun as well.

Odaiba Rainbow Bus

If you are staying at a hotel in Shinagawa, Odaiba Rainbow Bus  is very convenient.

It is a loop bus connecting Shinagawa and all the popular places in Odaiba. One day ticket is just 500 yen. The bus comes every 10 – 15 minutes.

Rinkai Line

If you are staying in Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Oimachi (the other next station to Shinagawa), take a Rinkai Line train because you don’t need to change trains at all. Get off at Tokyo Teleport Station and you’ll be in Odaiba!

A Quick View of Odaiba

Now it’s time to explore Odaiba! This is a quick overview, not a full guide, but I hope you can learn the cool atmosphere here.

Odaiba Marine Park

With the view of Rainbow Bridge and Fuji TV Station, Odaiba is known to be one of the coolest and the most romantic districts in Tokyo by the locals.

DECKS Tokyo Beach

DECKS is a big shopping center with a lot of interesting shops, foods, entertainment centers and good restaurants.

The name describes the building well – it has a long deck along the Odaiba Marine Park!

You can see the beautiful waterfront views of Tokyo from anywhere on this deck. If you expect the excellent views of Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge, this is the right place. In fact, I took the photo of Odaiba Marine Park in this article from DECKS. The next is you! In winter, we can see the big Christmas tree lighted up at night.

I have too much I want to tell you about DECKS, but I rather like to enter a restaurant here. There are cafes, grilled food restaurants, Asian restaurants, Japanese restaurants….I have many choices and all are good. If you like soul foods, Odaiba Takoyaki Museum is a must-see.

Visitor Information

Opens at 11:00 –

Closes at 20:00 for most shops, 23:00 for restaurants

Useful Link: DECKS Tokyo Beach Official Website (English, Chinese, Korean and Google Translate)

Useful Links to Visit Odaiba

I pick up some useful links for travelers below. Check them out when you visit there!

First of all, here is the link to Google Map.

• Google Maps around Odaiba: https://goo.gl/maps/20vrP

Official Websites for Travelers

• Odaiba Official Website: https://www.tokyo-odaiba.net/en/ (English, Chinese and Korean)
• DECKS Tokyo Beach: https://www.odaiba-decks.com/
• Yurikamome Line Official Website: https://www.yurikamome.co.jp/ (English, Chinese, Korean and Thai)
• Odaiba Rainbow Bus: https://www.km-bus.tokyo/route/odaiba/ (Google Translate is available on this site.)

Odaiba Hotel Guide

With the breathtaking views of Tokyo, you’ll never regret staying at a hotel in Odaiba. There are two luxury hotels fronting the beautiful bay; one is Hilton and the other is Grand Nikko, a Japanese luxury hotel.

Talking about the location inside Tokyo, you can go to Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku easily from Odaiba by Rinkai Line (Catch a train at Tokyo Teleport Station.). Also, you’ll have a good access to Asakusa by ferry, Toyosu Market by Yurikamome and Tokyo Disney Resort by Rinkai Line.

So if you hope to visit the most popular tourist spots of Tokyo, you’ll be happy to stay at one of the luxury hotels in Odaiba.

Are You Going to Tokyo Big Sight?

If you are going to Tokyo Big Sight to attend some events or conferences, it is located in the same waterfront district. I’ve written the world’s easiest guide to go there, so check it out from the link.

Link: The Easiest Guide to Tokyo Big Sight, Japan: How to Get to, Maps & Hotels

In Conclusion

Tokyo is a city with a long history, but Odaiba is an exception; it’s a new place founded in the past few decades. The buildings and entertainment centers are still “challengers” changing rapidly, so if you have a specific place you want to go, I advise you to check out whether it’s still there.

Have a nice trip!

How to Get to Odaiba, Useful Links and a Quick Overview appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.

I’m starting the Cherry Blossom Forecast and Report as the past years! Amazingly, this is the 13th spring for me to update it.

You may have known that Tokyo Direct Guide got a new logo this year.

Hope you enjoy this cherry blossom article with the world and Japan connecting each other!

Cherry Blossom Forecast (Updated on 26 February)

Tokyo: Start to open on 16 March / Reach peak on 24 March

Osaka: 22 March / 31 March

Kyoto: 21 March / 31 March

Nara: 21 March / 1 April

Nagoya: 17 March / 29 March

Fukuoka: 17 March / 27 March

Hiroshima: 19 March /29 March

Sendai: 2 April / 7 April

Sapporo: 25 April / 29 April

(Sourced from Weathermap)

Early Kinds of Cherry Blossoms Are Blooming!

Late February to early March is the season of early kinds of cherry blossoms such as kawazu sakura. When I was strolling around in my neighborhood, I saw a beautiful moment to share with you!

So beautiful, isn’t it? I managed to hold my smartphone and took this pic. You have chances to see birds like this, too!

[NEWS FLASH] Cherry Blossoms Started to Open in Tokyo! (19 March)

Japan Meteorological Agency announced that cherry blossoms started to open in Tokyo. It is 5 days earlier than average years.

Talking practically, they announce so when they find 5 blossoms in Yasukuni Shrine near Imperial Palace. So I haven’t seen any blossoms around me yet, but spring is surely coming soon!

Cherry Blossom Forecast (Updated on 23 March)

Tokyo: Start to open on 19 March / Reach peak on 25 March

Osaka: 25 March / 1 April

Kyoto: 23 March / 30 March

Nara: 24 March / 1 April

Nagoya: 17 March / 26 March

Fukuoka: 22 March / 31 March

Hiroshima: 19 March / 26 March

Sendai: 30 March / 3 April

Sapporo: 21 April / 26 April

So the forecasters say that cherry blossoms will reach peak in Tokyo on Wednesday! But talking about the reality, I haven’t seen any standard kinds of blossoms yet. Umm… will the forecast come true?

Anyway, I’m planning to go somewhere for cherry blossom viewing this week! I’ll share photos with you, so stay tuned!!

My Sakura Report (24 March)

Rikugien Garden

If you’ve been following Tokyo Direct Guide for long, you know that weeping cherry blossoms bloom earlier than the standard kinds.

That’s why I went to Rikugien Garden, which is famous for the big weeping cherry tree. It was perfect!!

Read more about Rikugien Garden: The Full-Blooming Weeping Cherry Tree in the Japanese Garden of Rikugien – photos & reports

Chidorigafuchi (Imperial Palace)

I also went to Chidorigafuchi on that day.

Cherry trees are mostly standard kinds there, so they just started to open.

Cherry Blossom Forecast (Updated on 26 March)

Tokyo: Start to open on 19 March / Reach peak on 28 March

Osaka: 26 March / 2 April

Kyoto: 23 March / 31 March

Nara: 24 March / 2 April

Nagoya: 17 March / 27 March

Fukuoka: 24 March / 2 April

Hiroshima: 19 March / 27 March

Sendai: 31 March / 4 April

Sapporo: 20 April / 24 April

[NEWS FLASH] Cherry Blossoms Reached Peak in Tokyo! (28 March)

Japan Meteorological Agency announced that cherry blossoms reached peak in Tokyo!

Honestly, I must say that the forecasters FAILED this year… It took longer for cherry buds to bloom than they thought.

The peak will last for 7 – 10 days, so we can enjoy cherry blossoms in the coming week. I’ll update this article, Facebook and Instagram, so make sure to follow me!

My Sakura Report (30 March)

I went to Chidorigafuchi again to see how it has become! Compare with the photos above.

Yes, this is perfect!

Although the forecasters say that the peak has come, I still found some buds there. So I think we can enjoy cherry blossoms longer than I thought. (Rather, I’m worried the weather…)

I changed the thumbnail pic of the article about Chidorigafuchi (I wrote it back in 2015!) into the beautiful photo of this year, so if you are going there, make sure to check it out!

Link: Imperial Palace / Chidorigafuchi Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) – Photos & Travel Info

Thank You for Following Cherry Blossom Forecast 2026!

It’s May!

We are surrounded by fresh green now, so I think it’s time the curtain of Cherry Blossom Forecast 2026 comes down.

I must say that the forecasters confused us this year. They said the peak would be coming soon when I found no blossoms around me, and they failed. Although their forecast often goes well, it was a lesson that I should trust MY eyes.

After all, it was pretty good for travelers that cherry blossoms reached their peak on 28 March! As far as I see it, this schedule was common. What was good about 2026 was that cherry blossoms lasted long, so I think many travelers caught up with the best time to view them.

So thank you so much for following Cherry Blossom Forecast and Reports by Tokyo Direct Guide in 2026! I hope to start the forecast for 2027 in late January and I think it’s possible. (Sorry for being late this year. I was pretty busy with working for the new logo at that time!) Hope to see you in January, 2027!!

Popular Places to View Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

Asakusa / Sumida River

Sumida Riverside in Asakusa has been loved as a cherry blossom spot since samurais’ era. Hundreds of years have passed and we can see cherry blossoms with Tokyo Skytree today.

Perfect Guide of Asakusa Sumida River Cherry Blossom Festival

World’s Easiest Asakusa Sightseeing Guide

Imperial Palace (Chidorigafuchi)

Chidorigafuchi is surrounding the Imperial Palace. We can see the beautiful views in the heart of Tokyo City.

Imperial Palace (Chidorigafuchi) Cherry Blossom Festival

Ueno Park

Everyone counts Ueno Park as one of the best spots in Tokyo. It’s my favorite, too. I think easy access is a plus.

Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival – Why You Shouldn’t Miss Shinobazu Pond

Perfect Guide to Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival IN THE EVENING

3 Reasons to Visit Ueno Park AFTER Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Festival

World’s Easiest Ueno Travel Guide

Japanese Gardens

Tokyo is not all about silver skyscrapers. We can explore the beautiful Japanese gardens that are originated from samurais’ mansions. They are even more beautiful when cherry blossoms bloom there.

If your trip is too early or late for the peak of cherry blossoms, don’t get disappointed so soon! I always advise you to go to Shinjuku Gyoen Garden because there are many different kinds of cherry trees. You’ll see early or late kinds of cherry blossoms there!

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

The Huge Weeping Cherry Tree in Rikugien Garden

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Yoyogi Park, Harajuku

See More Places in Tokyo

Some of you may want more chances to explore the cherry blossom season. I’ve written about some different places as well.

Guides, Reviews & Facts of Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival

Zojoji Temple & Tokyo Tower

Cherry Blossom Viewing at Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa

Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Forecast for Japan 2026 appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.

From my point of view, Tokyo’s leading cherry blossom spots are two; One is Ueno Park, and the other is Chidorigafuchi.

Full-blooming cherry blossoms in Chidorigafuchi, Tokyo, Japan

These 2 places are the musts for a blogger like me.

I uploaded a Chidorigafuchi post before, but it was combined with cherry blossom forecast of that year.

So I hope to concentrate to photos, travel information such as how to get there, Google Maps, and so on, at the bottom of this post, and a comparison with the other greatest sakura spot Ueno Park.

Chidorigafuchi or Imperial Palace?

Back to basics, Chidorigafuchi is a district around Imperial Palace.

In case the pronunciation is too difficult because of languages, just remember it as Imperial Palace. Hundreds of cherry trees are around the moat, so it has been a famous sakura-viewing place for a long time.

A Comparison with Ueno Park

As far as I see it, the differences between Ueno Park and Chidorigafuchi are the following.

In Chidorigafuchi,

1. You feel more of “Japanese” atmosphere with the palace gate, etc.
2. You can get so close to cherry blossoms themselves – If you are a photographer who want to shoot the blossoms rather than views, I suppose you can take photos freely from many different angles.

The Japanese Gate to Kitanomaru Park and Nippon Budokan

When you turn left on the way to the main part of Chidorigafuchi, you’ll easily find this gate. It is the gate to Nippon Budokan (Meaning, “Japan martial arts stadium.” Competitions of judo, kenodo and other martial arts, and concerts of very popular musicians, both domestic and international, are held here.) Kitanomaru Park.

Imperial Palace was once a castle of the samurai clan, so just a gate is very Japanese and samurai-like.

You can get a free official guidebook with English maps during the sakura festival.
The famous sakura path is called Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo in the English map, which means “green path.”

Photos of Cherry Blossoms in Chidorigafuchi

Now it’s time to explore the green path!

Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo around the moat

Chidorigafuchi Ryokudo, the sakura path

Sakura and colza flowers

Cherry blossoms and Budokan (judo and kendo stadium)

The first photo of this post is the most iconic place in Chidorigafuchi; It is on your left on the deck for views. But when you see your right from the deck, the view is wide and wonderful, too!

Full-Blooming Cherry Blossoms from the deck

Well, I said that Chidorigafuchi may be a better place for photographers who hope to shoot blossoms than Ueno Park. The reason is that you can get so close from 360 degrees freely. You don’t need to care about the direction of sun lights anytime because you can move around a cherry tree.

You will easily find a place and enough space to shoot blossoms themselves like this…

Moreover, you can get close to cherry blossoms blooming in minor places.
For example, blossoms on the trunk…

Interesting, aren’t they?

Cherry blossoms blooming from the trunk

How about a thin branch?

A sakura branch

Which should I go, Chidorigafuchi or Ueno Park?

So, talking about the 2 best sakura spots in Tokyo, I’d like to suggest as following – 

If you want

1. To explore Japanese castle architecture with cherry blossoms,
2. And/or to feel the blossoms close to you,

Of course, it’s a great idea to visit BOTH!! Browse Ueno Park, and other great places, and compare.

Just enjoy photos. And when you really visit Chidorigafuchi, all the tourist information you want to know is at the bottom of this post. Keep it in your mind and have a great time!!
<Read This Article on your smartphone OFFLINE – Get the article app here!>

See MORE Sakura Spots in Tokyo

• Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) Ueno, Japan – Why You Shouldn’t Miss Shinobazu Pond
• Early-Blooming Sakura & A Sightseeing Guide to Yoyogi Park, Harajuku, Tokyo – There are so many standard cherry trees, too!
• The Full-Blooming Weeping Cherry Tree in the Japanese Garden of Rikugien – photos & reports
• Tokyo’s Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Spot – Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens
• Cherry Blossoms in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
• Full-Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Asakusa & Sumida Riverside
• Kyu Shiba Rikyu Gardens in Hamamatsucho & Hotel Guide

Everything to Visit Chidorigafuchi – Tourist Information

How to get to Chidorigafuchi

The nearest station is Kudanshita. Tozai Subway Line, Hanzomon Subway Line and Shinjuku Subway Line have Kudanshita Station.

First, see The Easiest JR Train Map to learn the outline of Tokyo City, and then see The Easiest Subway Maps to find Kudanshita.

So if you are in Tokyo Station, take Tozai or Hanzomon Subway Line from Otemachi, which is connected to Tokyo Station.

If you are in Shibuya, take Hanzomon Subway Line.

If you are in Shinjuku, take Shinjuku Subway Line.

Chidorigafuchi is in a walking distance from Tokyo Station, but it is not near. If you want to take a long walk in a beautiful spring day, it might be a good idea. If you are a tourist, not a jogger, I recommend taking a subway. When you go out of the exit, you will say, “Amazing!”

Chidorigafuchi Cherry Blossoms from Kudanshita Station

Imperial Palace / Chidorigafuchi Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) – Photos & Travel Info appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.

One of my dreams came true – I stayed at Hotel MiraCosta, the Disney official hotel inside Tokyo DisneySea! My stay was so fantastic as I expected, so my heart is full of beautiful memories now.

However, when I explore the internet, I find some people saying that they have deep regrets about their special holiday in Hotel MiraCosta. Others even say that their stay became totally disastrous in such a deluxe resort hotel…

Why did a “disaster” happen to them? In fact, I know how to avoid a regrettable stay and enjoy Hotel MiraCosta to the fullest. Hope your stay will be as wonderful as mine by reading this article!

Understand the Guest Room Types

You’ll be overwhelmed when you go to Tokyo Disney Resort official online reservation site. A lot of guest room types are listed there, so you’ll feel, “So which is what???”

Then, you have come to the right place. I’ll explain it here.

Learn the 3 “Sides”

First of all, there are three “sides” in Hotel MiraCosta. The views through the windows depend on which side you stay at.

1. Tuscany Side
2. Venice Side
3. Port Paradiso Side

Among these three sides, Tuscany Side is opposite to the harbor and all the rooms in this side face the area of the park entrance. In fact, the view from a Tuscany Side highly depends on the individual room because of the unique shape of Hotel MiraCosta. It’s just a luck – Some former guests say that they saw the beautiful entrance area, some say that they saw Tokyo Disney Resort Line trains, but others claim that the view was blocked by walls. This causes regrets to some travelers.

So, if you want some “guarantee” about the view in Tuscany Side, choose a “DisneySea AquaSphere View” room, and you’ll surely see the iconic blue earth through the window.

The guest rooms in Venice Side face the Venice area inside the park. It’s so simple to understand. If you want a plus about the view, choose a “Palazzo Canals View” room and you’ll see the gondolas well. Venice Side is know to have calm and romantic atmospheres.

Finally, Port Paradiso Side faces the center part of the park including the iconic volcano and the harbor.

Learn the 3 “Views” in Porto Paradiso Side

When talking about Porto Paradiso Side, there are three “Views” to remember.

1. Harbor View
2. Piazza View
3. Partial View

If you want the view of the iconic harbor of Tokyo DisneySea from the guest room, make sure to book a “Harbor View” or “Piazza View” room in Port Paradiso Side.

In a “Piazza View” room, the view is mainly the streets in the park. You can see the harbor partly, not all.

On the contrary, you can see the entire of the harbor from a “Harbor View” room. This is the most popular room type in Hotel MiraCosta. Do you want it, too?

And I point out one more thing for you to remember – There are some “Partial View” rooms in Port Paradiso Side. The views from these rooms are blocked by the roofs and walls, so you won’t see the harbor very well. To avoid disappointment, be careful to avoid regrets!

The Right Room Depends on Your Needs

You learned the three “Sides” and three “Views” now, so you are ready to book Hotel MiraCosta.

The right room depends on what you want in Hotel MiraCosta.

If you want to enjoy the parks throughout the day and will not spend much time in the hotel, Tuscany Side will be a good choice because it’s affordable. Actually, interior decoration is so beautiful and amazing in all the guest rooms in Hotel MiraCosta, so you won’t regret anything if you don’t expect so much about the view from the windows.

On the contrary, if you wish to see the nighttime entertainment in the harbor from the guest room, it’s a MUST to book a “Harbor View” room in Porto Paradiso Side. In this case, a Piazza View room is not enough for you.

There are also some unique rooms (like the ones with a patio in Venice Side) and luxury suite rooms. You’ll understand how they are like by reading the explanations on the online reservation site, but always remember that the Sides and Views are valid for those rooms, too.

Now you can choose the right room for you!

Beautiful Views I Saw from the Piazza View Room in Porto Paradiso Side

With understanding all the room types in Hotel MiraCosta, I booked a Piazza View Room in Porto Paradiso Side this time.

These are the views from my room!

How beautiful…

I was so excited when I found Fantasy Springs Hotel and Never Land beyond the harbor. It was more than my expectations!

In the nighttime entertainment, Hotel MiraCosta is part of the stage. Projection mapping is on the walls, so I saw it so well just by sitting in the room. It was like an S seat.

Talking about the harbor, I saw all the ships because they circled around. I don’t think that the view was enough for Disney enthusiasts who want to see the entire of the show, but was satisfactory for me.

Peter Pan and Wendy, Aladdin and Jasmine, Moana, Ariel and Eric, Rapunzel and Flynn, Anna and Elsa… I saw every Disney character making their dreams come true from the room in Hotel MiraCosta.

In the climax of the show, I was able to take photos of Mickey and Minnie on the Golden Ship by zooming in.

My guest room was the last place for me to regret. It was really a wonderful experience.

Make Sure to Make Reservations for the Hotel Restaurants!

You may say, “Reservations for the dinner and breakfast? No, I don’t need them. I’m a hotel guest, so I’ll go to the restaurant when I like to.”

OK, I DO understand you because it’s a common sense when we travel anywhere.

But that’s the pitfall other travelers fell in Tokyo Disney Resort. I’ve got some disastrous stories in Hotel MiraCosta beyond our imaginations…

Why Some Travelers “Starved” in Hotel MiraCosta

Exploring the internet, I find some Japanese visitors shouting that they couldn’t get any foods and “starved” in Hotel MiraCosta (or the other Disney Official Hotels). Some of them say that the hotel restaurants were full, and others say that they couldn’t order foods from room service because they were all sold out.

Well, I understand you couldn’t believe it, but these are true stories. I even read a shocking article in a Japanese web magazine that a family had to have cup noodles for dinner in the fantastic guest room…

The reason why this happens is very simple. The restaurants in Hotel MiraCosta are more popular than their capacities. Everyone wants to have a fantastic meal there!

Just in case you “starve” in Hotel MiraCosta, I have some suggestions for you. First, calm down. Next, get on the Tokyo Disney Resort Line and you can go to Ikspiari (the shopping center) and some good hotels including Sheraton Grande. You CAN find foods there.

But I must say that my suggestions are for emergency. It makes your travel schedule hard and tight to move to somewhere else from the hotel in a panic. And importantly, it is out of what you expect, isn’t it?

To avoid tragedies like those travelers, I really strongly advise you to make reservations for the hotel restaurants once you book a guest room in Hotel MiraCosta. If you booked the hotel on the official website, you can make reservations for the restaurants there, too. If a travel agency in your country did it for you, ask them about meals.

My Fantastic Dinner at Hotel MiraCosta

Once we make a reservation, nothing can be “hard” about a restaurant!

When I entered Bella Vista Lounge, the Italian restaurant in Hotel MiraCosta, I was stunned at the great scenery at the first sight.

Not only the views, the dishes were so beautiful. I can’t imagine how the chefs turned vegetables, fish and meat into these beautiful tastes and flavors!

It was a magical dinner of my lifetime. I’ll never forget them.

Go to Terme Venezia, the Swimming Pool and Spa

Terme Venezia, the swimming pools and spa inside the hotel, are exclusive to MiraCosta guests.

You may say, “A swimming pool? No, I want to go to Tokyo Disneyland/Sea, so I have no time to swim inside the hotel.”

Although it is optional, I think that Terme Venezia deserves to explore when you stay at Hotel MiraCosta.

Look at how beautiful it is!

In summer, we can go to the outdoor swimming pool. Mickey and his friends are in the classic costumes of ancient Greece and Rome there.

What’s interesting is that we can see the romantic backyard of “Venetian Gondola”, which is an attraction in Tokyo DisneySea.

I knew Terme Venezia would be so gorgeous, so I enjoyed the resort atmosphere so much there.

The Ticket for “Frozen Journey” is a Platinum Ticket

In Tokyo Disney Resort, the official hotels offer “Happy Entry” which enable the hotel guests to enter the parks 15 minutes earlier than common visitors.

I knew that my “Happy Entry” would be the biggest chance to ride “Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey”, which is a new attraction that opened in Tokyo DisneySea in 2024.

I don’t know whether you are a fan of Frozen or not, you should listen to me in advance to avoid regrets.

Do you know how special it is to get on the boat of this new attraction? “Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey” is SO popular, so common visitors wait 120 – 180 minutes to ride it every day! Although there is an option to buy a “Disney Premier Access” ticket that enables you to skip the queue, the problem is that the tickets gets sold out in 20 minutes after the park opens. So some people go to the park VERY early like early birds to get the platinum ticket!

If we stay at a Disney Official Hotel such as MiraCosta, we are at the place to reach to the Frozen attraction. You can buy a Disney Premier Access during the 15 minutes just as I did. Or, if you booked a “Vacation Package” on the official reservation site, I really recommend making a reservation for this attraction. It’s too late if you realize that Frozen was the big fish in Tokyo DisneySea back at home!

How “Frozen Journey” Was Like

When I entered Tokyo DisneySea 15 minutes earlier than common visitors, I bought a “Disney Premier Access” for “Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey” as I planned. So I waited 0 minute to ride it beside the VERY long queue.

The attraction was amazing with Disney’s latest technologies. Whichever you are a Frozen fan or not, I believe it deserves to explore!

The boat goes forward and back, not just straight. The doll’s movements are perfectly synchronized with the songs.

Although there are many interesting attractions in Tokyo DisneySea, “Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey” was especially well-made. I’m so happy to experience it!

In Conclusion

So this is my story to stay at Hotel MiraCosta. How was it?

As I pointed out, some travelers really experienced a “disaster” there. But I wrote all the things to avoid the same mistakes in this article, so I’m sure you can enjoy your stay at Hotel MiraCosta fully with reading this.

My stay was perfect without any regrets. My heart is full of beautiful memories now. The next is you. Bon voyage in Tokyo DisneySea with Tokyo Direct Guide!

Read More about Tokyo Disney Resort

FAQ about Tokyo Disney Resort for First-Time Travelers

How to Enjoy Hotel MiraCosta in Tokyo DisneySea Without Regrets! appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.

Are you new to Tokyo Disneyland? Or you heard of some fantastic Disney experiences that exist only in Tokyo but not sure?

In this article, I’m listing up the frequently asked questions and answers so that you can learn all the basic information about Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan. Hope it will help you understand “Tokyo Disneyland” that you imagine!

Q1: What does Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan include?

Tokyo Disney Resort consists of Disney hotels, Ikspiari (a Disney-themed shopping center) and TWO Disney Parks; One is Tokyo Disneyland (as known as TDL / the Land) and the other is Tokyo Disney Sea (TDS / the Sea).

The Land is the original park that opened in 1983 while the Sea newly opened in 2001.

Q2: What is Tokyo DisneySea?

Tokyo Disney Sea is a Disney park “Where Adventure and Imagination Set Sail”, which exists nowhere but in Tokyo in the world.

Although “DisneySea” sounds new, it is a genuine Disney Park designed by Walt Disney Company. So you can meet Disney characters, try roller coasters, ride on a merry-go-round, see parades, watch a show at the theater, etc, as you do in the other parks in the world.

The difference from the other Disney parks is that Tokyo DisneySea is based on the theme of seas and voyages. So you will see

• Disney characters are in voyagers’ costumes
• Stories about adventures
• Many boats and ships as attractions

Sound nice, don’t they?

Make Sure to Enter the Sea to Meet Duffy & Friends!

Talking practically, we can see Duffy the Disney Bear is only in DisneySea. You can’t meet Duffy & Friends in the Land. AT ALL.

I think that their restriction is very strict – Duffy items are strictly exclusive in Tokyo DisneySea, so you can’t buy just a pen out of the park! In other words, you find no Duffy items throughout Japan, including Disney official stores, out of the Sea.

So, if you love Duffy & Friends, make sure to do and buy everything you want before you get out of the park!

Q3: Which is better, the Land or Sea?

It depends on your taste. Tokyo DisneySea features its originality and sophisticated atmospheres beside the Land is the realization of classic Disney worlds. So the question will be, “What do you expect to a Disneyland?”

I want to point out one more thing. Some restaurants in the Sea and its hotels are really excellent. If you are a gourmet, you should consider it.

On the other hand, the Land is “the standard Disneyland” that is located in Japan. So you can see the iconic Cinderella Castle in the heart of the park. You’ll see more Disney characters and designs than the Sea.

Of course, if you are a Disney enthusiast, you can spare 2 or more days to visit BOTH!

Q4: How about accommodation? Are there any Disney-related hotels?

If you want dreams to last until next day, you can choose from six Disney Official Hotels in TDR. You have options from deluxe hotels to affordable ones.

1. Tokyo Disneyland Hotel: Located just across from the Land, many guest rooms offer the view of Disneyland.
2. Disney Ambassador Hotel: Some guest rooms feature Disney characters such as Mickey, Minnie and Donald.
3. Hotel Mira Costa: A deluxe hotel located inside Tokyo DisneySea.
4. Toy Story Hotel: An affordable hotel that features Toy Story.
5. Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel: The most reasonable hotel in TDR. (Remember that this hotel is NOT located around TDR, so you need to take the free shuttle bus to go to the parks!)
6. Fantasy Springs Hotel: The new hotel in the Sea that opened in 2024.

You can book these hotels from the official website or ask a travel agent nearby.

Also, there are some good hotels with partnership with Tokyo Disney Resort. Some of them surround TDR and others offer shuttle buses and baggage related services. So, if you spare a day or two for TDR and visit other places in Tokyo during your stay, it’s a smart choice to stay at one of the “partner hotels” or “good neighbor hotels”.

I’ve made up a list of hotels for international visitors to Tokyo Disney Resort. You can learn about the special benefits just in 1 page. Just have a look.

Read more: Accommodation Advice for Tokyo Disney Resort Guests – Tokyo Direct Guide

Q5: How many and where in the world are Disney lands?

There are 8 Disneylands in the world.

• Disneyland Resort in California (The very original)
• Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
• Hong Kong Disneyland
• Shanghai Disneyland (Opened in spring, 2016)
• Disneyland Paris
• Aulani Disney Resort & Spa (in Hawaii)
• Disney Cruise Line (Cruise Ships)
• Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan

Whichever you are an enthusiastic Disney fan or just dreaming, hope this article will be helpful.

But can I repeat my personal favorite at the end? “Disney Sea” is ONLY IN TOKYO!

Read MORE about Tokyo Disney Resort

Accommodation Advice for Tokyo Disney Resort Guests – Tokyo Direct Guide – If you visit TDR during your stay in Tokyo, I advise you to book a hotel with partnership with Disney. It’ll make your travel much better!

How to Enjoy Hotel MiraCosta in Tokyo DisneySea Without Regrets! – I had a perfect trip by staying at Hotel MiraCosta, but some travelers say that they have regrets, and even their stay became a disaster. So I wrote an article about how to avoid regrets and enjoy Hotel MiraCosta fully. Make sure to read it before you book a room there!

FAQ about Tokyo Disney Resort for Beginners appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.

I started up Tokyo Direct Guide when I realized that this city is so complicated for international travelers, but I had the power to make it simple for efficient and more enjoyable travels. In its Shibuya Sightseeing Guide, I wrote the travel information of the top things to see that will surely come to your mind such as

• The Scramble Crossing
• 109 (The iconic building of Shibuya.)
• Parco (Nintendo Shop is here.)
• and some more shops in the main streets

with getting rid of all the unnecessary data. I’m sure that you can learn everything to have a good day in Shibuya without getting confused.

But I must say that 109 and Parco are not all – there are too many shops in Shibuya! So this time, I’ll list up some more interesting shopping centers in Shibuya that are not on the sightseeing guide in Tokyo Direct Guide.

When you go shopping there, make sure to take this article and you’ll have all the shop data in your hand!

Loft

When you go through between the two buildings of Seibu Department Store, you’ll find an interesting gear-shaped object d’art rolling on the wall. It’s Loft Shibuya Store.

Loft deals with stationery, greeting cards, makeups, furniture, seasonal goods, etc. The items they select tend to be interesting, universal-designed, rare and fashionable, which have attracted many Tokyo locals for a long time. Today, I see a lot of things of Japanese designs that are NOT touristy. When you want something wonderful in these categories, Loft will be a right place.

In my opinion, the highest floor is interesting to see. That floor has been selling items for hobbies for a long time and I would laugh at the party goods that were great for jokes. These days, it is more sophisticated than ever – I see some interesting toys for grownups such as well-made 3D puzzles of Japanese castles, today’s artworks and even genuine anime sell pictures! You may encounter something special there.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00

Official Website: https://www.loft.co.jp/shop_list/detail.php?shop_id=189

HANDS

HANDS is a similar shop to Loft, but I say they are different. As their new logo symbolizes it well, HANDS Shibuya Store is good at offering materials of handicrafts, sewing, plastic models, paintings, gardening and home carpenter. So it’s a shop where artists, art school students and hobby-loving people come.

Not only materials, they sell a lot of products as well. There are outdoor equipment, travel gears (and Japanese souvenirs these days), so it’s a good place when you want something during your trip. I’m sure that the items that HANDS selects are cool and practical.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 20:30

Official Website: https://shibuya.hands.net/

Shibuya MODI (Marui / OIOI)

Shibuya MODI opened as a part of “Marui City” in 2015.

In this big shopping district in Tokyo, MODI relatively focuses on new cultures. It seems that they are so positive to invite animes to their new building – There is “Tokyo Anime Center”, which is an exhibition space and a store for animes, and even a gym featuring One Piece in the 9th floor!

Moreover, it may be important for some of you that there is a travel agency for international travelers in the underground floor of MODI.

Marui Group has been renovating their stores in Shibuya for some years. They are going to reopen the Marui (also known as OIOI) in 2026, and amazingly, it’ll be a WOODEN building among the silver buildings in Shibuya!

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 21:00 (Some shops and services set different opening hours.)

Official Website: https://www.0101.co.jp/721/

Disney Store Shibuya Koen Dori

Yes, everyone recognizes Shibuya as an urban jungle. We are surrounded by new and old, silver, white and black buildings all around, but you will get surprised when THIS suddenly pops up in front of you!

So, this is an official store of Disney, which has been here for so long. You can buy Disney items in the 3 floors.

But I must say that the Disney store also deserves to SEE. The castle among the buildings is amazing and arts and decorations inside the store are as beautiful as the real Disneyland.

Exclusive Mickey & Minnie Are Waiting for You Here!

What’s important to Disney fans is that this Koen Dori Store sells Mickey & Minnie in kimono! They are the things you wanted in Tokyo, aren’t they?

You may get so excited to hold them, but it’s too early to go to the checkout counter. There are Mickey & Minnie holding Hachi the Royal Dog, which are strictly exclusive in this Shibuya Koen Dori Store! In other words, you can’t find them in any other Disney Stores in the WORLD but here. So, if you are a Disney fan, I advise you to take the four plushies of Mickey & Minnie to the checkout!

Opening Hours: 11:00 – 20:00 on weekdays, 10:00 – 20:00 on weekends and public holidays

https://www.disney.co.jp/store/storeinfo/101

Kurosawa Music Store G-Club Shibuya

If you are a music lover, or have friends who play the guitar, I strongly advise you not to miss Kurosawa Music G-CLUB Shibuya.

Kurosawa Music Store is an authorized dealer of many leading brands such as Martin, Fender, Gibson, Takamine, and more. Not only common music lovers, professional musicians trust this store well. In the past, Eric Clapton visited this store, too.

Its 7 floors are full of domestic and foreign high-quality guitars, basses, and ukuleles. The shop clerks and repairers will let you try them if you ask them to, and offer tax-free shopping for international buyers.

What’s interesting about Kurosawa Music Store G-Club Shibuya is that you will find guitar picks and straps of Japanese designs on the ground floor. For example, I once saw some ukiyoe straps, Mt. Fuji picks, Rilakkuma picks and Hello Kitty picks. I’m sure that they will be small, cheap but excellent souvenirs!

Open 365 days

Opening Hours: 11:30 – 20:30

Shibuya Hikarie

Shibuya Hikarie opened in 2012 as the renewed Tokyu Bunka Kaikan, meaning, “Tokyu Group’s Culture Center”. This new building is directly connected to Shibuya Station with the passage that you can see in the photo.

What makes Hikarie unique is that it has some conference halls, theaters (Tokyu Theater Orb) and office floors. Tokyu Railway Group has been running “culture centers” in Shibuya district and Hikarie is one of them, which put on musicals. They also have a Japanese noh theater in Cerulean Tower nearby, so some of you may go there to see traditional Japanese plays.

Talking about shopping, many of the shops in Hikarie sell makeups and clothing so that workers can get trendy items on the way home. So you may feel that it is a little “formal” here, compared with other shopping centers.

Opening Hours: 11:00 -20:00, -23:00 for 6F restaurant floor, – 23:30 for 7F restaurant floor, 10:00 -20:00 for ShinQs

Official Website: https://www.hikarie.jp/

Shibuya Mark City

Mark City is directly connected to Shibuya Station, too. Hikarie is in the east side of the station and Mark City is in the opposite side with the Scramble Crossing. The 5 floors of Mark City are shopping and restaurant areas – mostly foods here. You can choose restaurants from Japanese, Chinese, European, cafes and bars.

How Staying at This Hotel Makes Your Travel Easy and Interesting

The biggest feature of Mark City is that it has a good hotel, Excel Hotel Tokyu, in the higher floors. Can you imagine how big the advantage is to stay here?

As I have been saying so many times in Tokyo Direct Guide, the train maps are extremely complicated in Tokyo. Many international travelers say that they were overwhelmed when they read a travel guidebook for the first time, and some of them literally got lost during their trips!

But if you are in the hotel connected to Shibuya Station, which is one of the hubs, it’s so easy to go to many places in Tokyo. For example, Harajuku is the neighboring station from Shibuya by JR Yamanote Line and Shinjuku is just the 3rd station. If you get on a Ginza Subway Line train, you’ll arrive in Ginza area and Asakusa without changing trains.

Especially, if you are going to Ghibli Museum, I really recommend staying at THIS particular hotel. Why? In fact, Shibuya Station of Keio Inokashira Line is on the lower floor of Excel Hotel Tokyu, so you can go to the platform to visit Ghibli Museum just by getting on the hotel elevator while other visitors need to struggle in the urban jangle. Also, I think that it’ll be an interesting experience to enjoy the suburb area of Tokyo in the daytime and rest and relax in the guest room with viewing the shining skyscrapers at night.

Opening Hours: 10:00 – 21:00 for shops, 11:00 – 23:00 for restaurants

Official Website: https://www.s-markcity.co.jp/

See & Book Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

cf: Search hotels in Shibuya on Booking.com

MEGA Don Quixote (Donki) Shibuya Head Store

Their catchphrase is “the Palace of Super Discounts” – Don Quixote (also known as Donki) has the head store in Shibuya.

It used to be a normal-sized shop along the street, but now it’s MEGA-sized. The building is full of things to the point that there are not enough spaces to walk!

You will find snacks, brushes, high brands’ bags, bikes, vacuums, air conditioners, T-shirts, backpacks, frying pans… and any kinds of things for our lives at MEGA Donki. Undoubtedly, it’s chaotic!

Donki has been loved by local people. I sometimes hear my friends saying, “I bought this at Donki!” or “I went to Donki to buy it.” These days, the super discounts and CHAOS attract international travelers, too.

Why You Can See Tropical Fish in Shibuya

Not only the chaos of things, there is an interesting thing at the entrance of MEGA Donki – it’s a big aquarium.

You’ll ask me, “Why aquarium at the Palace of Super Discount?” In fact, the founder of Donki is interested in the environment, especially in the South Pacific islands, so he offers people a good chance to explore it at the stores in cooperation with Palau Embassy. You didn’t expect to see tropical fish in Shibuya, did you?

Opening Hours: 24 hours

Spain Slope (Spain-zaka)

The last one I show you is not a big shopping center, but a street. There is a narrow and cozy path named Spain Slope (Spain-zaka) from the central street where Loft is located to Parco.

You will wonder, “Why Spain?” The answer is that there has been a Spanish restaurant for a very long time in the middle of this slope. You see the Spanish flag in the photo, don’t you? That is it. Local people recognized this path as a place related to Spain, so they started to call it “Spain-zaka” sometime ago.

In Spain Slope, you will find some cozy cafes, accessory shops, popup stores, etc. I notice that many shops left this street during the pandemic, but the cozy atmosphere hasn’t got destroyed.

Shibuya is a super busy district, but the atmosphere is a bit different in Spain Slope. If you look for something different from the massive silver shopping centers, I recommend cozy Spain Slope very much.

In Conclusion

So I picked up the interesting shopping centers in Shibuya. Which are you interested in?

Here, I have good news for you. You can visit all the shopping centers I showed above in one day because all of them are concentrated around Shibuya Station! Actually, I took all the photos in one day, too. I saw a lot of interesting things in every shopping center on that day.

I hope the next is you. Take this article and Shibuya Sightseeing Guide by Tokyo Direct Guide, and your trip to Shibuya will be perfect!

Helpful Links

This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Tokyo on GPSmyCity.

Shibuya Sightseeing Guide by Tokyo Direct Guide

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Search hotels in Shibuya on Booking.com

A List of Interesting Shopping Centers in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.

The Cherry Blossom Forecast for 2025 was released in Japan! This is the 12th time for me to write and share it with you. Hope you enjoy it!

Cherry Blossom Forecast (Released on 23 January)

Tokyo: Start to open on 22 March / Reach peak on 30 March

Osaka: 24 March / 31 March

Kyoto: 26 March / 2 April

Nara: 25 March / 1 April

Nagoya: 23 March / 31 March

Fukuoka: 18 March / 27 March

Hiroshima: 23 March /31 March

Sendai: 5 April / 10 April

Sapporo: 25 April / 28 April

(Sourced from Weathermap)

According to the forecasters at Weathermap, a Japanese weather forecast company, the cherry blossom season will be average or a little early in most cities in Japan and it’ll be early in Northern Japan.

As far as I see their first forecast, I agree with them – it sounds average or a little early. Honestly, I was worried about the cherry blossom season because the temperature was so messy last autumn. Warm days lasted long and dead leaves STILL fall from trees in my neighborhood (normally, they are all gone in January!), so I thought that the strange climate may confuse cherry trees. But I’m relieved to see the forecast now. It’s very normal, so it would relieve you, too.

The only exception is Northern Japan just as the forecasters say. I suppose people in Sendai and Sapporo are so surprised to see it. If you are thinking of the “second chance” to see cherry blossoms by traveling in northern cities, it may be a good idea to go as north as possible.

As always, I’ll keep updating the latest cherry blossom forecast until May. I also hope to report how cherry trees are going with some pics. Stay tuned!!

Cherry Blossom Forecast (Updated on 20 February)

Tokyo: Start to open on 21 March / Reach peak on 29 March

Osaka: 27 March / 3 April

Kyoto: 28 March / 4 April

Nara: 28 March / 3 April

Nagoya: 26 March / 3 April

Fukuoka: 23 March / 30 March

Hiroshima: 26 March / 3 April

Sendai: 4 April / 9 April

Sapporo: 24 April / 28 April

(Sourced from Weathermap)

Weather forecasters say that it’s coldest today in this winter. The temperature was less than 0 this morning. In fact, I got sick in the beginning of this month because it suddenly became so cold. I’ve already recovered and I’m writing this now, but I’m still careful of the cold weather. Keep warm, everyone!

Well, I think that the latest cherry blossom forecast is ideal for many travelers. 3 or 4 April sounds just a little late in Western Japan. I say “late” for the first time in the 12 years history of Cherry Blossom Forecast on Tokyo Direct Guide!

I saw some early kind of cherry buds that would open soon in a park nearby yesterday. But this cold weather will stop them. When I find the first early kind of cherry blossoms, I’ll make it sure to share the pics on my Facebook. Stay tuned!

Cherry Blossom Forecast (Updated on 13 March)

Tokyo: Start to open on 22 March / Reach peak on 28 March

Osaka: 27 March / 2 April

Kyoto: 27 March / 2 April

Nara: 27 March / 1 April

Nagoya: 24 March / 1 April

Fukuoka: 24 March / 30 March

Hiroshima: 27 March / 3 April

Sendai: 31 March / 5 April

Sapporo: 23 April / 27 April

(Sourced from Weathermap)

The cherry blossom forecast is so stable this year, but the temperature has been going up and down like a rollercoaster in Tokyo for two months. I gradually see international travelers in streets and stations, so I hope them to take care of their good health.

Good news is that the early kind of cherry blossoms flourished last weekend!

I saw them in a local park where local children are hopping around. You possibly go to a popular cherry blossom spot, but remember that you have more chances in ordinary streets, too!

According to the forecast, I’ll be able to post a news flash to tell you that cherry blossoms start to open. Stay tuned!!

Read more about early kinds of cherry blossoms >> 5 Reasons to Go to Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden for Plum & Early-Blooming Cherry Blossoms

[NEWS FLASH] Cherry Blossoms Started to Open in Tokyo!

Japan Meteorological Agency announced that cherry blossoms started to open in Tokyo on 24 March!

Many forecasters said it would be 22 March, but surprisingly it snowed last week, which slowed down cherry trees.

It suddenly got VERY warm this week, so cherry buds will hurry up.

My Cherry Blossom Report (27 March)

I went to Tokyo Station on 27 March. Although it is not a place for cherry blossom viewing, I knew that there were some cherry trees along the street.

As far as I see it, 50 – 60% had opened.

But I must say that the peak highly depends on the individual cherry tree. When I just passed by the park in my neighborhood on the same day, I was stunned to see the perfect cherry blossoms!

You may think that I went to somewhere special, but no. This is an ordinary park where local children are playing around.

This is what we all want to see, isn’t it? Not only the popular places for cherry blossoms that I listed in the following, we have chances to see them in local streets, parks and schools as well. If you are traveling in Tokyo in this season, I advise you to be aware that beautiful cherry blossoms can be found all around you!

The temperature is going up and down this week – it was as warm as a summer day and it was like January on the next day. This doesn’t happen every year… I advise you to check the latest WEATHER forecast to choose the right clothing. Have a beautiful day!

[NEWS FLASH] Cherry Blossoms Reached Peak in Tokyo!

Japan Meteorological Agency announced that cherry blossoms reached peak in Tokyo on 30 March!

Actually, they announced it in the evening. I didn’t think that cherry blossoms would catch up with this weekend of humans, but I enjoyed some in the streets last week! I hope to upload some photos soon, so stay tuned!!

Cherry Blossom Forecast (Updated on 4 April)

Tokyo: Start to open on 24 March / Reach peak on 30 March

Osaka: 27 March / 4 April

Kyoto: 27 March / 5 April

Nara: 28 March / 4 April

Nagoya: 26 March / 4 April

Fukuoka: 25 March / 28 March

Hiroshima: 26 March / 2 April

Sendai: 4 April / 10 April

Sapporo: 24 April / 27 April

(Sourced from Weathermap)

It got suddenly as cold as winter last week. Moreover, it often rained and even SLEETED on 1 April!

The unexpected cold weather hit cherry trees, too, so the forecast became slower than we expected.

But I don’t think it’s bad news for sakura viewing.

My Cherry Blossom Report (4 April)

First, I’ll share the cherry blossom view on the cold rainy day. I had to wear the coat to go out again in April…

This is the iconic crepe stand in Takeshita Street in Harajuku. We rarely see a view like this!

Good news is that the rain didn’t damage cherry blossoms. Although the weather was not ideal, they DID bloom fully and beautifully.

And rain doesn’t last forever. It finally cleared up on 4 April!

So I went to Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival as I was thinking of. This is what we all expected, isn’t it?

What I found there is that there were still some buds among fully blooming blossoms. Can you see them?

I’m wondering if the cherry blossom season of this year will be longer than ordinary years. The cold weather slowed down cherry buds just after they started to open, so the season seems to be slow, too. If so, we are so lucky to enjoy cherry blossoms for long!

Thank You for Following Cherry Blossom Forecast 2025!

It’s May. Trees have turned fresh green in Ueno Park,

so I’m making the last update of the Cherry Blossom Forecast of this year.

I must say that 2025 was a very good year for cherry blossom viewing. The season was not too early nor late, so I believe that most travelers were able to see the most beautiful views in Japan (although it was so cold for some days in April). Also, the weather helped us. Cherry blossoms lasted long without strong winds that are typical in early April in Japan, so we were able to enjoy them longer than average years. I wish the weather is like this every year.

Spring in 2025 was memorable for me, too. I went to the Spring Peony Garden in Ueno Toshogu Shrine, which I’ve recommended to travelers since the early days of Tokyo Direct Guide, and renewed the article fully! If you are planning a cherry blossom trip, I’m sure that it’ll make it better. Check it out!

Read more >> Spring Peony Garden – A Must-See Just Next to Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival

I’ll start the forecast for 2026 in January as usual. Thank you so much for reading Cherry Blossom Forecast for Japan 2025 and hope to see you in January, 2026!

Top Places for Cherry Blossom Viewing in Tokyo

Ueno Park

This year, I’m planning to go to Ueno Park for cherry blossoms. It’s undoubtedly one of the top places in Tokyo and my favorite as well.

Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival – Why You Shouldn’t Miss Shinobazu Pond

Perfect Guide to Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival IN THE EVENING

3 Reasons to Visit Ueno Park AFTER Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Festival

World’s Easiest Ueno Travel Guide

Asakusa (Sumida River)

Sumida Riverside in Asakusa has been loved as a cherry blossom spot since the age of samurais. Tokyo has a long history. We can see cherry blossoms with Tokyo Skytree today.

Perfect Guide of Asakusa Sumida River Cherry Blossom Festival

World’s Easiest Asakusa Sightseeing Guide

Imperial Palace (Chidorigafuchi)

Chidorigafuchi is in the very heart of Tokyo. You’ll be surprised to see the beautiful pink and green views there.

Imperial Palace (Chidorigafuchi) Cherry Blossom Festival

Japanese Gardens

There are some authentic Japanese gardens that are originated from samurais’ mansions in Tokyo. They are beautiful enough without cherry blossoms, so they get extra beauty with them!

If you are too early or late for the peak of cherry blossoms, I always advise you to choose Shinjuku Gyoen Garden. It is the largest garden in Tokyo, so there are many different kinds of cherry trees there. You’ll surely see early or late kinds of cherry blossoms there!

Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

The Huge Weeping Cherry Tree in Rikugien Garden

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden

Yoyogi Park, Harajuku

See More Places in Tokyo

I’ve shared some other spots in Tokyo as well.

Guides, Reviews & Facts of Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival

Zojoji Temple & Tokyo Tower

Cherry Blossom Viewing at Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa

Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Forecast for Japan 2025 appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.

Never return to the hotel after seeing the genuine samurai swords and PANDAS – I wrote so when I showed you how beautiful the Winter Peony Garden in Ueno Park is. But actually, that article was not enough. Did you know that the peony garden has the spring version?

Now it’s spring, so I’m sure that you can’t wait to see Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival. You’ll expect beautiful cherry blossoms in addition to Japanese arts and PANDAS in Ueno, but again, NEVER go back to the hotel when you see these three things. Add one more thing to your travel schedule – that’s the Spring Peony Garden in Ueno Toshogu Shrine just next to cherry blossoms and Ueno Zoo.

I confidently recommend it for travelers staying in Tokyo in this season. Why? You’ll see in this article!

Photos of Spring Peony Garden in Ueno

Straight to the point, we can see peonies displayed with Japanese sunshades in the garden of Ueno Toshogu Shrine.

Do you remember that peonies were surrounded by snow fences woven from straw in the winter version? In spring, it’s Japanese sunshades instead of snow fences.

Not only the peony displays, fresh green leaves of the tall trees are soft for our eyes in spring. Some people may say that they love the spring version better than winter. What do you think?

So beautiful, aren’t they?

Although there are many peonies planted there, the garden is not so large to explore. Even if you walked a lot in Ueno Park, the national museums and the zoo, it won’t be tiring to drop in at Spring Peony Garden.

Not only Japanese sunshades, there are straw roofs over a lot of peony flowers, which give striped shades on the flowers like this.

I love it so much because it looks like cool breezes.

Now you see why it’s a big loss to miss the Spring Peony Garden in Ueno, don’t you?

Although Ueno Toshogu Shrine is located in the very popular place, the garden is comfortably quiet. Whenever I stroll there, I feel calm and relaxed. We can explore the beauty of the traditional Japanese garden in spring.

Different Ways of Peony Displays

You possibly say that the peonies under Japanese sunshades are beautiful enough, but amazingly, it is not the only way for the gardeners working here to display them!

Some of them are floating on the water…

Some of them are planted in a traditional pot and make the benches refreshing…

And others are in the beautiful view with the pagoda and stone garden.

The displays are a little different from year to year. But anyway, we are guaranteed to see beautiful Japanese essence there!

Travel Tip for Photographers

As I wrote in the article of the Winter Peony Garden, the sunlight may be a problem for photographers in this garden. You may need to take a picture against the sun, so I advise you to bring a lens hood when you go there. Also, when the contrast is too strong, it’d be helpful to change the camera’s settings constantly.

One more key to make your photo trip better is your smartphone. Phone cameras developed dramatically in a different way from digital cameras, so it sometimes does a great work there!

For example, look at this photo that I took.

So beautiful, isn’t it? I took it with my smartphone camera. My digital camera didn’t do a good job here because of the strong sunlight and shade of the trees in the surroundings. I know that many photographers are so proud of their “genuine” cameras, but we can’t deny that today’s smartphones are good at landscape photos. This garden is their playground. To avoid regrets, I advise you to charge your smartphone fully before you visit the peony garden!

Japanese Decorations Cannot Be Missed

Peonies with Japanese umbrellas are main in this garden, but I must say that we cannot miss smaller things to see. The gardeners make seasonal decorations, too, in the recent years.

For example, I found a tray with traditional Japanese decorations for Children’s Day (May 5).

Cute and interesting, aren’t they?

We can find bigger decorations and different flowers, too. I’ll upload as many photos as possible in the following…

Bonsais (traditional Japanese plant pots) as well.

But this is a little modern one! I said that you should never go back to the hotel after seeing PANDAS in Ueno Zoo, but I saw them here after all!

In Conclusion

I’m happy if you enjoyed the beautiful moments that I know well. I’m sure that it’ll be a good addition to your trip.

You were lucky enough to find Tokyo Direct Guide, so NEVER miss Spring Peony Garden if you visit Ueno in spring!

Read more about Ueno

All About Winter Peony Garden in Ueno – A Must-See Just Next to the Zoo!

All-in-One Ueno Travel Guide by Tokyo Direct Guide

Cherry Blossom Festival

Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival

A Perfect Guide to Ueno Park Cherry Blossom Festival IN THE EVENING

3 Reasons to Visit Ueno Park AFTER Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Festival

Ueno Zoo

NEW Giant Panda House in Ueno Zoo

Shoebills in Ueno Zoo? What Are They?

Museums

The Best Things to See at Tokyo National Museum in Ueno: full of old & important arts!

Advice on Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno

Ueno Toshogu Peony Garden Visitor Information

Location: Inside Ueno Park

Peony Garden Entrance Fee: 1000 yen for an adult (13 or older), free for child

You buy the ticket from the vending machine at the entrance, which is easy to understand.

Open in early April – early May (The exact dates depend on the year.)

Opening Hours: 9:00 – 17:00

Ueno Toshogu Peony Garden Official Website

Spring Peony Garden – A Must-See Just Next to Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.

Tokyo Direct Guide became 11 years old in December, 2024. Thank you so much for following me for this long time!

In this celebration, some wonderful Christmas presents have arrived – travel article app GIVEAWAY at GPSmyCity. You will have access to the apps’ full version FREE of charge!

What is GPSmyCity?

I’ve held the article app giveaway 5 times in the 11 years history, so I think some of you remember it. But others may be new to GPSmyCity app, so I’ll write a brief introduction here.

GPSmyCity is a map app with GPS navigation designed for independent travelers.

You may say that you’ve already got other map apps in your phone, but this app is different. GPSmyCity app works OFFLINE, so you can navigate yourself with a route map with GPS without any Internet connection! So you don’t need to find a free wifi nor worry about your data plan any longer. I think it’s great news to travelers visiting a new place in the world.

Link: GPSmyCity: Self-Guided Walking Tours in 1500+ Cities Worldwide

By the way, some of my travel articles are published as “article apps” at GPSmyCity. Since they are apps to download, so you can read them OFFLINE on your smartphone! It means that you don’t need to look for a free WiFi to read my articles while you are traveling in Tokyo. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

GIVEAWAY Details

This Christmas, we’ll have two article apps to giveaway.

• Manga, Anime & Tokusatsu Shops in One Place, Tokyo, Japan
• The Best Things to See at Tokyo National Museum in Ueno

The giveaway dates are December 16-31.

The original blog article of Manga, Anime & Tokusatsu Shops in One Place, Tokyo, Japan is “All About Tokyo Character Street in Tokyo Station Part 3“. It’s all about manga and anime shops.

On the other hand, The Best Things to See at Tokyo National Museum in Ueno is about the national museum where you can see Japanese arts like this.

The original article is “The Best Things to See at Tokyo National Museum in Ueno” in this blog and you can read it anywhere with the article app.

If you wanted my travel article apps, this Christmas is the best chance.

Also, this giveaway is a good chance for all of you to try GPSmyCity for free.

Get my article apps from the following links FOR FREE and Happy Holidays!

• Manga, Anime & Tokusatsu Shops in One Place, Tokyo, Japan
• The Best Things to See at Tokyo National Museum in Ueno

© enginakyurt, 123RF Free Images

Article App GIVEAWAY! Christmas & Holiday Season 2024 appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.

Ghibli Museum is a dream destination for some travelers visiting Tokyo. Are you one of them?

Whichever you are a Ghibli lover or not, I know an interesting place just next to Ghibli Museum – Inokashira Park Zoo. I don’t think your travel guidebooks list it as a top place in Tokyo, but I strongly believe it deserves to see. To avoid regrets back at home, read this to learn why you should go to Inokashira Park Zoo!

A Relaxing Zoo Where Small Animals Live a Slow Life

Talking about zoos in Tokyo, everyone thinks of Ueno Zoo where the giant pandas attract so many people. Located in the middle of this big city, we can see all the star animals such as lions, tigers, elephants, gorillas, white bears, etc. Let’s say, it’s a “busy” zoo.

But Inokashira Park Zoo is very different. Located in the suburb district in Tokyo, it has more nature, wider space and less visitors than Ueno Zoo.

Much smaller than the busy entrance at Ueno Zoo, isn’t it? And you can see that it’s surrounded by tall green trees. I say that Inokashira Park Zoo is an “easygoing” zoo where everyone is slow.

The star animals are different, too. In Inokashira Park Zoo, two animals have been attracting people for years.

One of them is the guinea pig. Amazingly, there are always 150 guinea pigs living there!

Most of the 150 piggies were born in this zoo – it means we can see new born baby piggies all around the year.

Stars are small herbivorous animals here, not worldwide stars like giant pandas nor strong carnivorous animals. Do you like the atmosphere of this zoo?

Animals in the Real Japanese Nature

What makes Inokashira Park Zoo special is that we can see animals that are familiar to humans since old times in Japan.

Especially, I’m sure that it’ll be a wonderful experience for Ghibli lovers to see the animals in the real Japanese nature described in the movies.

For example, haven’t you seen this animal in “Pom Poko” directed by Isao Takahata?

The Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus) has been common animals for Japanese people since the age of folk tales. In Inokashira Park Zoo, you can see the them walking around just in front of your eyes, not in a screen.

Monkeys are familiar to humans, too.

When I visited Inokashira Park Zoo, I’m amazed that animals looked so relaxed. The environment changes everyone’s personality.

As I said, there aren’t lions and tigers in Inokashira Park Zoo. As far as I know, the strongest animal here is the fox.

Even the king of the zoo was napping.

Two Must-See Animals that We Can’t See in Ueno Zoo

Especially, I’d like to pick up two must-sees that you cannot miss.

The first is this. You may say that you saw them in “Princess Mononoke”!

They are Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus).

I once wrote that I wasn’t lucky enough to see them when I went on a trip to Karuizawa. We can’t see them in Ueno Zoo, either. But remember, we have the 100% of chance to see them in Inokashira Park Zoo!

The other must-see I want to show you is the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) who lives in the aquarium section.

Japanese giant salamanders inhabit only in Japan in the world. They live in crystal clear streams, so they are endangered species today. Japanese people often regard them as kind of “the ruler of this river” since old times.

I saw only the tail, but I wasn’t disappointed at all. It’s so precious for me to see “the ruler of the river”.

The aquarium section of Inokashira Park Zoo is full of fish and creatures in the traditional Japanese nature. If you are a Ghibli lover, I’m sure you love it so much.

A Real Fairy Tale with Japanese Squirrels

I said that there are two star animals in Inokashira Park Zoo and one of them is the guinea pig. The other is the Japanese squirrels!

What’s amazing is that, in Inokashira Park Zoo, we human beings are honored to enter the squirrels’ habitat. They are eating and running and napping freely in the very natural environment that people copied from the Japanese woods where they originally live in. (No feeding and touching.)

When we go through the double doors to the dome, we can see them without any fences!

Can you see?! We are inside the squirrels’ dome!

The squirrels aren’t afraid of humans at all, so it’s so normal for them to run around us.

Look! They ran at my feet!

What’s more, they eat nuts and vegetables when they like to just beside us.

How cute!!!

We can hear the sounds that squirrels crack the nuts all around.

You may suspect that I waited for hours to take these cute photos, but not really. I have visited Inokashira Park Zoo several times recently and I saw them eating in every visit. Your chance is so big!

Some visitors were whispering that it was like a fairy tale world. I strongly agree with them.

Not only the cuteness. Although they don’t look so different from squirrels in other countries and regions, the Japanese squirrel is an indigenous species of Japan. So, talking about the rarity of animals, they are TREASURES.

In Conclusion

Although it is not a top tourist spot in Tokyo, Inokashira Park Zoo has many things to explore. The slow and relaxing atmosphere will fit some people very well. I do love Ueno Zoo to see giant pandas, but I love Inokashira Park Zoo in a different way.

Especially, if you are a Ghibli lover, I believe Inokashira Park Zoo is a must-see.

How about reconsidering your travel schedule to visit there?

Practical Visitor Information

Opening Hours: 9:30 – 17:00

Closed on Monday (or Tuesday when Monday is a public holiday) and 29 December – 1 January

Admission Fees: 400 yen for adult, 150 yen for junior high school student (13 – 15 years old), free for children under 13, 200 yen for senior (65 – years old).

There are the zoo section and aquarium section across the street. You can enter both with one ticket.

Official Website: Inokashira Park Zoo (English)

Read about Ghibli Museum: A Trip to Ghibli Museum – Arts of Studio Ghibli, Photos & Visitor Information

How to Get to Inokashira Park Zoo

A 10 minutes walk from Kichijoji Station of JR Chuo Line or Keio Inokashira Line.

From Shinjuku

Take a JR Chuo Line train to Kichijoji. A 15 minutes ride by the rapid train.

From Shibuya

Take a Keio Inokashira Line train to Kichijoji. A 20 minutes ride by the rapid train.

From Tokyo Station

Take a JR Chuo Line train to Kichijoji. A 30 minutes ride by the rapid train.

Travel Tip – Take a bus wisely.

Although it is located just next to Ghibli Museum on the map, it would be a tough trip if you visit both on foot.

So I advise you to take a bus in some of the ways on your travel schedule. For example, It is a good idea that you go to Ghibli Museum by bus, not on foot, and return to Kichijoji Station by bus once and go to Inokashira Park Zoo.

In case you find the bus stop “Bunkaen-mae” on the return bus to Kichijoji, make sure to get off there – that’s the entrance of Inokashira Park Zoo!

Accommodation Advice

If Inokashira Park and Ghibli Museum are important to you, I strongly advise you to book a hotel in Shinjuku or Shibuya. You’ll have an easy and fast access to these places!

If I note one thing, Kabukicho area in Shinjuku is known as a dangerous place by Japanese locals (other places in Shinjuku are safe). If you mind it, booking a hotel in Shibuya will be a good and stress-free choice.

3 Reasons Why You Should Visit Inokashira Park Zoo, Tokyo appeared first on Tokyo Direct Diary.