Shinjuku in April 2025: Highlights, Events & Festivals
April is the season when cherry blossoms reach their peak bloom. Throughout Tokyo, including Shinjuku, cherry blossoms can be seen everywhere, with people enjoying hanami (flower viewing). The daytime temperatures are warm, while cool breezes blow at night. It's comfortable enough to wear light clothing, and you can enjoy sightseeing in pleasant weather throughout the day.
Shinjuku stands out as one of Tokyo's most metropolitan areas. While lined with buildings and shopping facilities, it also features scattered green parks and historic shrines, making it a beloved urban oasis.
Today, we'll introduce events happening in Shinjuku in April 2025, including highlights, schedules, and access information to venues. You'll discover Shinjuku's appeal beyond just shopping.
Notable Events in Shinjuku for April 2025
Shinjuku Oktoberfest at Triangle Plaza
Oktoberfest is a food festival where you can enjoy authentic German beer and cuisine. At the event, you can taste a wide variety of beers, including rich dark beers and white beers characterized by their fruity and vibrant flavors.
Try comparing different beers while enjoying platters of sausages and cheese-laden pizzas.
On the venue's stage, German folk music is performed with accordion and guitar. With beer, delicious food, and music, you'll quickly make friends with locals.
The 2025 event information has not been announced yet. We will update as soon as new information becomes available.
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Date: April 26 - May 6, 2024
Hours: Weekdays/16:00-22:00, Weekends & Holidays/11:00-22:00 (Last order 21:30)
Venue: Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Triangle Plaza, 2-6-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Access: 2-min walk from Tocho-mae Station (Oedo Line) Exit A2, 4-min walk from Nishi-Shinjuku Station (Marunouchi Line) Exit 2
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.kanko-shinjuku.jp/event/c081/article_3930.html
Family Events at Tokyo Toy Museum
Source:Yahoo! Travel
Tokyo Toy Museum is a museum displaying wooden toys themed around "Play, Create, Meet." Its unique feature is that visitors can touch and play with the exhibits.
The museum holds monthly toy-making workshops using everyday materials like wooden keychains and fabric toys. March events include making watches from paper cups and stuffed animals from towels.
Other activities include watching balloon art demonstrations and experiencing Japanese culture through tea ceremonies. It's also a great opportunity to interact with museum staff and Japanese families. Please check the schedule for April events.
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Date: Monthly
Hours: 10:00-16:00 (Last entry 15:30)
Closed: Every Thursday
Address: Yotsuya Hiroba, 4-20 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-min walk from Yotsuya-sanchome Station (Marunouchi Line) Exit 2, 8-min walk from Akebonobashi Station (Shinjuku Line) Exit A1
Admission: Adults ¥1,300, Children (6 months - elementary school) ¥1,000
Website: https://art-play.or.jp/ttm/event/
Natural Highlights in Shinjuku for March
Cherry Blossom Viewing
Hanami (Cherry blossom viewing), where people enjoy meals and drinks under cherry blossom trees, is one of Japan's most cherished cultural traditions. Tokyo features numerous spacious parks scattered throughout the urban landscape, planted with many cherry trees. In spring, these areas are prepared as hanami venues, where many people gather to enjoy meals under the cherry trees.
Experience this cherry blossom viewing culture while embracing the spring atmosphere. You'll find the time spent under the blooming cherry blossoms to be truly luxurious.
Shinjuku Gyoen Special Spring Opening
Source:Official website
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden serves as a beloved urban oasis. Within its vast 58.3-hectare grounds, you'll find historical buildings and well-maintained gardens, along with approximately 900 cherry trees of about 70 different varieties. The scenery of lush greenery combined with cherry blossoms of varying shades is breathtakingly beautiful and soul-cleansing.
From March 25 to April 24, 2025, the garden will be open daily for a special spring viewing period. Different cherry blossom varieties bloom at different times, allowing visitors to enjoy cherry blossoms for about a month.
My recommendation is the double-flowered cherry blossoms that reach peak bloom in April. Their petals resemble cheerleading pompoms with their round shape, creating an adorably charming appearance. Please take time to escape the urban bustle and fully appreciate the cherry blossoms and nature.
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Dates: March 25 - April 24, 2025
Access: 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Shinjuku-gyoenmae Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line) or Exit E5 of Shinjuku-sanchome Station (Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line)
Admission: 500 yen (Free for junior high school students and younger)
Website: https://fng.or.jp/shinjuku/place/event
Meiji Jingu Gaien
Source:WEATHER NEWS
Around 380 cherry trees line the outer perimeter of Meiji Jingu Gaien. The area is dotted with tourist attractions such as the National Stadium and Meiji Kinenkan, making it an ideal spot for walking or jogging while viewing cherry blossoms.
I recommend viewing the cherry blossoms with the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery as a backdrop. The combination of the solemn building and vibrant cherry blossoms creates a beautiful photo opportunity.
While viewing the full bloom is wonderful, watching cherry blossom petals carpet the road is equally enchanting. Try to discover your favorite photo spots while enjoying the different atmospheres during day and night.
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Dates: Late March to early April 2025
Access: 10-minute walk from Gaienmae or Aoyama-itchome Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line), 12-minute walk from Shinanomachi or Sendagaya Station (JR Chuo-Sobu Line)
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.meijijingugaien.jp/
Yoyogi Park
Source:Google Maps
Yoyogi Park is a large park featuring an athletic field, soccer field, basketball court, and outdoor stage. The park has over 600 cherry trees, primarily concentrated around the "Cherry Garden," "Central Field" with its spacious lawn, and "Flower Round" where different seasonal flowers bloom.
Many people gather at Yoyogi Park during the cherry blossom season. You'll see people spreading sheets under cherry trees to enjoy their meals. Watching others enjoying hanami will surely lift your spirits.
Please bring your favorite food and enjoy lunch or café time under the cherry blossoms.
Note: Blue sheets for sitting can be easily purchased at Japanese 100-yen shops, so it's recommended to buy one in advance.
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Dates: Late March to early April 2025
Access: 3-minute walk from Harajuku Station (JR) or Yoyogi-koen Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line)
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/yoyogi/index.html
Few Events in Shinjuku this April! 2 Recommended Events Around Shinjuku
While there aren't many Shinjuku events in April 2025, I'll introduce two events happening in March and May. Tokyo begins to warm up around mid-March when cherry blossoms start blooming. Let's enjoy outdoor events in this comfortable weather.
Tokyo Marathon (March)
Source:ASICS
The Tokyo Marathon, where approximately 35,000 runners participate, is held every March. Runners start from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and head towards Tokyo Station, passing through Nihombashi, Asakusa, and Ginza.
The Tokyo Marathon, which runs through the heart of the city, is an extremely popular event with many runners applying through a lottery system each year.
The runners who win the highly competitive lottery spots all seem to have joyful expressions, appearing to truly enjoy running. The streets are filled with cheering spectators, transforming the entire city into a vibrant atmosphere.
Since the course passes through major tourist attractions, you might be able to watch the marathon while sightseeing. If you happen to be near the course, please join in cheering for the runners.
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Date: March 2, 2025
Access:
- Start point: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building - 1-minute walk from Tocho-mae Station on the Toei Oedo Line
- Finish point: 2-minute walk from Nijubashimae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.marathon.tokyo/
Hanazono Shrine Annual Festival (May)
Source:Shinjuku Keizai Shimbun
Hanazono Shrine is located near Shinjuku Kabukicho and Shinjuku Golden Gai. Surrounded by buildings, its red torii gate and shrine building serve as the guardian deity of Shinjuku, beloved by locals.
The Annual Festival is held at Hanazono Shrine from May 24th to 26th. This festival is celebrated to show gratitude to the shrine's guardian deity. People wearing "happi coat" (traditional festival jackets) carry golden portable shrines through Yasukuni-dori, Shinjuku-dori, and Meiji-dori streets. You'll be overwhelmed by the powerful chanting and energetic atmosphere. Join in the festival chants and help enhance the festive spirit!
Additionally, over 100 food stalls will be set up during the festival. Enjoy the Japanese festival atmosphere while savoring street food delicacies.
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Date: May 24-26, 2025
Address: 5-17-3 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Access:
- Direct access from Exit E2 of Shinjuku-sanchome Station (Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Fukutoshin Line, Toei Shinjuku Line)
- 7-minute walk from East Exit of Shinjuku Station (JR, Odakyu Line, Keio Line)
Admission: Free
Website: http://hanazono-jinja.or.jp/
For Those Visiting Shinjuku in April: Recommended Traditional Festivals in Tokyo
While not limited to Shinjuku, various traditional Japanese festivals are held throughout Tokyo. Witnessing these traditional events amidst the beautiful atmosphere of falling cherry blossoms is truly captivating. As these are seasonal events that can only be experienced during this time, we highly recommend including them in your tourist itinerary.
Kanda Myojin Spring Festival [Shinjuku Event April 2025]
Source:Official website
Kanda Myojin is a shrine established in 730 in Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. With approximately 1,300 years of history, it has long been cherished by locals as the guardian deity of Kanda. The shrine grounds enshrine deities for matchmaking, business prosperity, and warding off evil. Upon entering, you'll be enveloped in a solemn and sacred atmosphere.
The Spring Festival, held from March 29th to April 3rd, includes prayers for abundant harvests of rice and wheat, as well as children's health and academic success. Visitors can observe Shinto priests performing rituals and shrine maidens (female assistants at the shrine) dancing to traditional music.
Enjoy this traditional Japanese event while taking in the beautiful scenery of fully bloomed cherry blossoms against the red-painted main shrine building.
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Dates: March 29 - April 3, 2025
Access: 5-minute walk from Ochanomizu Station (JR Chuo Line/Sobu Line) Hijibashi Exit, or 5-minute walk from Suehirocho Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line)
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.kandamyoujin.or.jp/
Asakusa Yabusame
Source:Go Tokyo
"Kusajishi" and "Yabusame" are archery competitions where archers dressed in traditional kimono shoot arrows at targets.
In Kusajishi, archers aim at a deer-shaped target approximately 1m tall from a distance of about 20m. Yabusame is horseback archery where warriors (archers) shoot arrows at targets while riding horses at full gallop.
Yabusame was originally performed at Asakusa Shrine as a New Year's event from 1603 to 1868 and was revived by Taito Ward as a tourist attraction in 1983. You'll be amazed by the archer's precise control while shooting arrows on horseback and the dynamic spectacle of galloping horses.
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Date: April 19, 2025
Venue: Kusajishi: Yamayahori Plaza, Taito City Sumida Park / Yabusame: Special horse riding ground in Taito City Sumida Park (between Sumida River Walk and Kototoi Bridge)
Access: 11-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Tobu Skytree Line)
Admission: 3,000 yen per seat (Kusajishi viewing is free)
Website: https://www.kamigamojinja.jp/en/