Hi there!
So…
Would the Yasukuni Shrine be a good spot to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo?!
Well, if you will be in Tokyo during cherry blossom season, then it can be!
Especially because there are other spots in the Chiyoda area in which the shrine is located that can also make for good cherry blossom viewing.
My visit to Yasukuni Shrine was at a time when all the cherry blossoms at the shrine weren’t in full bloom. (Although there is a “sample tree” for cherry blossom forecasting at the shrine, and on this day there were some statements made about it being “full bloom” in Tokyo!)
So this can give you an idea of what to expect based on when you’re thinking about going to Yasukuni Shrine during cherry blossom season.
The Yasukuni Shrine does come with some controversy though, which was highlighted more when Justin Bieber made a visit to the shrine a few years ago.
How to get to Yasukuni Shrine
There are a couple of different access points to this shrine.
So which gate you want to enter from can also depend on where you’re coming from.
If you want to include Yasukuni Shrine as a part of your cherry blossom tour in Tokyo, you might consider making the shrine your first stop of the day.
Why?!
This way, you can start your day with a nice walk alongside cherry blossom trees on your way to your actual cherry blossom spot of choice!
The walk from the nearby JR train station to Yasukuni Shrine means walking on a street lined with cherry blossom trees pretty much the whole way!
So for a day full of cherry blossoms in Tokyo, you may consider an itinerary like:
- Yasukuni Shrine
- Chidori-ga-fuchi moat (one of THE top spots for cherry blossoms)
- Kitanomaru Park (good picnic spot for cherry blossoms in the area)
- Tokyo Imperial Palace (just because it’s an important spot and it’s kind of within walking distance!)
More below about the cherry blossoms you’ll see with a trip to Yasukuni Shrine!
🗾
Ichigaya Station to Yasukuni Shrine cherry blossom walk
Ichigaya Station is a JR train station so this means that you can use a JR pass to get here if you’re coming from somewhere near another train station that’s on the same line.
I was coming from the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (another top cherry blossom spot in Tokyo), and the Sendagaya station on the same JR line can be found within a 5-10 minute walk of the Sendagaya gate of Shinjuku Gyoen. (The garden is a rather large area and has many “gates” that serve as entrances and exits.)
So once you get to Ichigaya Station, your first glimpse of cherry blossoms in the area will begin as soon as you step off the train! (Or possibly when you’re ON the train if you’re looking out the window!)
And then when you step outside the train station, you’ll see even more cherry blossoms!
And then from there, you’ll start your walk to get to Yasukuni Shrine along the road lined with cherry blossom trees!
This will be about a 10-15 minute walk.
And then you’ll know when you’re starting to get near the shrine gate.
And then…
Arrival at Yasukuni Shrine gate
And then…
You’ll see cherry blossoms with a walk around Yasukuni Shrine!
And then…
A bit more of the shrine grounds
…without cherry blossoms
And that’s a bit about cherry blossoms in Tokyo with a visit to Yasukuni Shrine!
For more cherry blossom viewing spots in Tokyo, also consider a visit to:
HAPPY YASUKUNI SHRINE CHERRY BLOSSOM VIEWING IN TOKYO!
