Tokyo in the Spring: Activities for Your Family
Tokyo in the Spring: Activities for Your Family
Tokyo is magical in the spring! The dry, chilly, gray days of winter are replaced with comfortable temperatures and plenty of sunshine. It's a wonderful time of year to get outdoors and explore the city and its surroundings with your family, no matter how long you've lived here.
We've written before about a lot of our favorite family-friendly activities; you can check them out here. We've also added a few new ideas for ways to spend the days as they grow longer. Read more below!
More Than Just Sakura
There's a reason Japanese Cherry Blossoms get a lot of hype: They are absolutely beautiful in bloom and the prime hanami spots are some of Tokyo's most picturesque places. The Imperial Palace and Shinjuku Gyoen are famous around the world for views of the sakura and, even in a pandemic, it was hard to keep onlookers away.
But if you're family is on the hunt for a more low-key outing while still hoping to see some beautiful blooms, you do have other options! You can see tons of tulips in Chiba at Furusato Square or in Showa Kinen Park, where you can also surround yourself with baby blue eyes. The Kameido Tenjin Shrine is not far from Tokyo Skytree and hosts an awe-inspiring wisteria festival beginning in mid-April. And, of course, the Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival is a must-see.
Wan Wan Festival
If you love dogs (and even if you don't!), you cannot miss this festival at Yoyogi Park. Hundreds of Tokyo's cutest, fluffiest, well-dressed and mostly well-behaved pups will be in attendance. If you want to stock up on the latest doggy fashion, there will be tons of vendors and you can also get your hands on Japan's traditional festival fare, like kakigori. It takes place on April 9 & 10, from 10:00a to 5:00p both days and we promise: It will be seven hours of fun for the whole family!
We're always looking for ways to "go green" (you can check out some of our suggestions here!) and there's no better place for inspiration than the Earth Day Festival! Held in Yoyogi Park on April 16 and 17, all of the nonprofits and other organizations in Japan that focus on sustainability and saving the environment will be on hand. Learn about volunteer opportunities and stock up on all your favorite eco-friendly gear.
There are also several opportunities each month to join Tokyo River Friends as they clean up the banks of the Arakawa and Edogawa.
We've also shared lots of great ideas for good old-fashioned outdoor fun. Check them out here!
