Ueno in April 2025: Highlights, Events & Festivals
As April arrives in Tokyo, the weather becomes notably warmer, and cherry blossoms reach their peak bloom across various locations. While daytime temperatures exceed 15°C and can make you break a sweat, mornings and evenings often remain cool, so it's convenient to have layered clothing. It's also a time when many people look forward to the new fiscal year, bringing a vibrant atmosphere to the city.
Ueno, one of Tokyo's premier tourist destinations, is always bustling with visitors due to its various attractions including the zoo, museums, art galleries, and shopping districts. Ueno Onshi Park features famous cherry blossom viewing spots, and in April 2025, it's expected to draw even larger crowds than usual to witness the unique cherry blossom scenery that can only be experienced during this season. The park hosts numerous cherry blossom-themed events that are popular among visitors of all ages.
In this article, we'll introduce the highlights, basic information, event schedules, and access details to these locations.
Don't Miss the "Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival" When Visiting Ueno in Spring!
Source:Taito City Official website
If you're visiting Ueno in spring, the "Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival" is an absolute must-see! The festival is held at Ueno Onshi Park from late March through early April 2025, attracting numerous domestic and international tourists annually.
The venue features various programs including:
- Ueno Sakura Festa
- Antique Market
- Japanese Lion Dance (Shishi-mai) performances
- Nighttime Cherry Blossom Light-up
The festival begins as the cherry blossoms start blooming in Ueno, so be sure to participate when you visit for cherry blossom viewing! We'll now explain the festival programs in detail.
Ueno Sakura Festival
Source:Official website
The Ueno Sakura Festival is a 10-day event (with possible extension) at Takenodai Plaza in Ueno Onshi Park, where visitors can enjoy cherry blossoms, food, and entertainment. For Spring 2025, this beloved festival promises to be more spectacular than ever!
A major highlight is the live events featuring famous artists on the special stage. The dynamic performances featuring singing and dancing are guaranteed to raise your excitement levels! The 2025 lineup is expected to draw record-breaking crowds to Ueno.
Don't miss the food section with over 50 vendors, including shops from the Ueno Shopping District. They offer perfect walking snacks like karaage (Japanese fried chicken), kebabs, french fries, and churros, as well as alcoholic beverages. I enjoyed a meat and cabbage-filled kebab with beer, basking in a pleasant buzz under the blue sky!
The event runs from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, so why not try enjoying a festival with some daytime drinks?
Festival Music and Celebration Lion Dance
Source:Official website
The festival music (matsuri-bayashi) and celebration lion dance performed at Kiyomizu Kannon-do Temple is a program particularly popular among international tourists. Festival music refers to the traditional music played at festivals, where flute and drum melodies enhance the festive atmosphere.
The highlight is watching the dancers wearing lion head costumes perform unique dances to the lively festival music. The lion dance is impressive, with performers opening the lion's large mouth and swinging its white mane in dynamic movements - I was completely captivated by their dancing. The lions approach the audience during their performance, allowing you to experience their powerful presence up close!
This is highly recommended for those who want to enjoy traditional Japanese performing arts.
Location: Takenodai Plaza, Ueno Onshi Park
Address: 5-20 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-minute walk from JK Ueno Station Park Exit
Event Period: April 2025 (10 days)
Hours: 10:00-21:00
Cherry Blossom Light-up
Source:tokyotourism-onestop.jp
In Ueno Onshi Park, you can enjoy illuminated cherry blossoms from 17:00 to 22:00. If you're visiting the festival, don't miss this enchanting light-up display that has captivated countless tourists!
The illuminated cherry blossoms present a breathtaking spectacle completely different from their daytime appearance, creating a mystical atmosphere that will leave you spellbound. My recommendation is the light-up area around Shinobazu Pond. The cherry blossoms reflected on the water's surface create a dreamlike scene, and the illumination makes the blossoms shine like decorative lights, offering a unique view you won't find at other famous cherry blossom spots.
As temperatures drop significantly in the evening, why not enjoy the cherry blossoms at a leisurely pace with friends or family while holding a warm drink?
Paper Lantern Illumination Along Cherry Blossom Trees
Along with the cherry blossom light-up, approximately 1,000 traditional paper lanterns (bonbori) are lit from 17:00 to 20:00, stretching from the fountain plaza to Hakamogoshi Square along the central pathway in Ueno Onshi Park. This creates an unmissable scene that decorates the night path and cherry tree avenue with a fantastical Japanese atmosphere that seems almost surreal.
The lanterns feature various designs and expressions that keep viewers engaged throughout their visit. The collaboration between the colorful paper lanterns and cherry blossoms is spectacular – when I first saw it, I forgot about the cold weather and spent hours walking around.
For those wanting to experience a unique nighttime cherry blossom viewing, head to Ueno at night! This special April 2025 event promises to be one of Tokyo's most memorable spring attractions for tourists.
Special April Experiences Only in Ueno
Here are three carefully selected events where you can have unique experiences in Ueno during April.
Spring Peony Festival
Source:Official website
The Spring Peony Festival is an event held at Ueno Toshogu Shrine, which began in 1980 to commemorate Japan-China friendship.
The highlight is the rich variety of peonies. More than 500 peony plants of 110 different species are planted, including Chinese peonies, American varieties, and French varieties. Additionally, bangasa (practical oil-paper umbrellas made with thick bamboo ribs and oiled Japanese paper) and tourou (traditional Southeast Asian lanterns) are displayed throughout, adding to the Japanese atmosphere.
I have visited the festival myself and was captivated by the unique beauty of peonies, with their large blooms on delicate stems. During the festival period, limited-edition items are available for purchase, including "Lucky Peony Charms" and goshuin (shrine/temple visit stamps) featuring peony designs. Since these items are only available during this season, I highly recommend getting them.
<Information>
Dates: Early April to Early May 2025
Access: 5-minute walk from JR Ueno Station, 10-minute walk from Nezu Station on the Chiyoda Line
Admission: Adults ¥1,000, Free for elementary school students and younger
Website: https://uenobotanen.com/schedule/spring/
Ameyoko Cherry Blossom Festival
Source:PR TIMES
The Ameyoko Cherry Blossom Festival, which started in 2023, is held in the Ueno Ameyoko Shopping District (commonly known as Ameyoko). Cherry blossom trees are displayed throughout Ameyoko to enhance the spring atmosphere, and digital coupons are distributed for discounted shopping in Ameyoko.
The highlight is the nighttime illumination. Only during this season can you stroll through Ameyoko while admiring the mystical cherry blossoms lit up in the darkness. I experienced this myself, enjoying a delicious drink with discount coupons while walking through the atmospheric nighttime Ameyoko, experiencing a different side of the familiar street.
Why not enjoy bar-hopping and bargain shopping while viewing the illuminated cherry blossoms in Ameyoko, an area filled with restaurants and fascinating shops?
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Dates: Mid-March to Early April 2025
Access: Immediately accessible from Ueno Station, Okachimachi Station, Ueno-Hirokoji Station, Naka-Okachimachi Station, and Keisei Ueno Station
Admission: Free
Website: https://ameyokostyle.com/magazine/ameyoko-sakura-matsuri-2024/
Tokyo Spring Festival 2025
Source:Official website
The Tokyo Spring Festival 2025 is Japan's largest classical music event, celebrating the arrival of spring in Tokyo with Ueno as its main stage. This spring music festival spans approximately 40 days and attracts many visitors annually who come to enjoy spectacular performances.
The highlight is the wide range of musical genres available, from opera at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and prestigious performances by renowned domestic and international artists at Ueno Onshi Park, to casual street performances throughout the area. It's no wonder music lovers flock to this event, as each performance features collaborations between today's most brilliant artists!
2025 promises an exciting program of performances. Come experience the arrival of spring alongside magnificent music.
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Dates: March 14 - April 20, 2025
Location: Ueno Area
Admission: Varies by venue
Website: https://www.tokyo-harusai.com/
After Enjoying Ueno's Daytime Events, Join a Local Guide for Evening Bar Hopping!
After experiencing Ueno's daytime events, why not join a local guide for an evening of bar hopping?
Ueno offers such a wide variety of dining establishments that choosing where to go might be overwhelming. That's why we recommend joining a tour led by guides who know the area intimately. They'll introduce you to famous local spots and hidden gem restaurants that only residents know about.
The All-You-Can-Drink Bar Hopping Tour in Ueno lets you enjoy drinks like a local while exploring hidden bars in Ueno's backstreets.
After meeting your guide, you'll head to Ueno's lively food stall district. At the first izakaya stop, try popular Japanese dishes like yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), oden (ingredients simmered in dashi broth), and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes with various ingredients).
For the tour finale, you can choose between enjoying drinks at a standing bar among locals or having a meal at a ramen shop. Since eating ramen after drinking is a Japanese cultural tradition, I recommend trying the ramen option. It's satisfying both physically and mentally.
The first and second establishments offer 45-minute all-you-can-drink periods. During these sessions, you can enjoy unlimited beer, sake, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages - perfect for those wanting to fully experience Japanese drinking culture.
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- Tour Area: Ueno
- Start Time: 18:00
If You're Visiting Ueno in April, Join the Festivals and Events in the Nearby Areas of "Asakusa" and "Yanesen"!
When visiting Ueno in April, why not participate in the festivals and events in the surrounding areas of "Asakusa" and "Yanesen"? Like Ueno, both areas are characterized by their retro atmosphere and are popular among tourists. They're easily accessible by train, making it possible to explore efficiently in one day.
In April, when flowers begin to bloom, there are many events where you can experience nature. Here, I'll introduce three popular events for tourists.
Sensoji Temple's Flower Festival (Asakusa)
Source:Official website
The Flower Festival at Sensoji Temple (also known as Busshoue) is an event celebrating the birth of Buddha, who founded Buddhism. On this day, memorial services are held, and flower pavilions (hanamido) decorated with colorful flowers are placed inside and in front of the main hall, as well as in front of the five-storied pagoda. Visitors pour sweet tea (amacha) over the Buddha statue enshrined in the flower pavilion to express their gratitude.
I have personally participated in the Flower Festival. It was a delightful experience to pour sweet tea over the Buddha statue, taste the sweet tea offered, and watch the Sensoji Temple kindergarten children parading with flower crowns. Celebrating Buddha's birth with many people created a festive atmosphere.
Would you like to experience this precious once-a-year celebration of Buddha's birthday at Sensoji Temple?
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Date: April 8, 2025
Access: 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Skytree Line, Ginza Line, Tsukuba Express Line, or Asakusa Line
Admission: Free
Website: https://www.senso-ji.jp/annual_event/09.html
Bunkyo Azalea Festival (Nezu)
Source:Official website
The Bunkyo Azalea Festival, one of Bunkyo's five major flower festivals, showcases approximately 3,000 azalea plants of 100 different varieties at Nezu Shrine. This traditional event, continuing since 1969, attracts many tourists annually, and serves as a perfect complement to the spring activities near Ueno.
The highlight of Nezu Shrine's azaleas is the diverse variety offering different scenery throughout the blooming period. Early April presents newly blooming flowers with fresh greenery, mid-April features peak blooming, and late April offers the last blooms. I've visited during the early festival period. The contrast between the azaleas in pink and purple hues against the fresh spring greenery was spectacular, compelling me to take countless photos. The vibrantly blooming azaleas exude such life force that just viewing them provides an energy boost.
This is highly recommended for those who want to enjoy flower viewing beyond the cherry blossoms, and can be perfectly combined with other spring events around the Ueno area in April 2025.
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Dates: April 1-30, 2025
Access: 5-minute walk from Nezu Station/Sendagi Station on Chiyoda Line, 5-minute walk from Todaimae Station on Namboku Line
Admission: 500 yen
Website: https://nedujinja.or.jp/tsutsuji/
Cherry Blossom Viewing at Yanaka Cemetery
Did you know that Yanaka Cemetery is famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot?
Yanaka Cemetery features a central road called Cherry Blossom Avenue, with numerous cherry trees planted on both sides. The cherry tree avenue extends about 250 meters, and when in full bloom, transforms into a tunnel of cherry blossoms. The sight of blossoms blooming simultaneously, nearly blocking out the sky, is truly breathtaking.
I've visited during peak bloom. The wind-scattered petals created a pink carpet on the ground, offering a unique flower-viewing experience unlike any other. This location provides an excellent alternative viewing spot when the Ueno area becomes crowded during the April 2025 season.
Yanaka Cemetery is within walking distance from Ueno Onshi Park, so you can enjoy a pleasant stroll while taking in this spring-exclusive scenery.
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Dates: Late March to Early April 2025
Access: 5-minute walk from JR/Keisei Line/Nippori-Toneri Liner Nippori Station
Admission: Free