Every spring, travelers from around the world flock to Japan hoping to catch the country’s famous cherry blossoms in full bloom. And if you ask most people where to go, they’ll give you the same answer: Tokyo.
That’s where I started my trip last March before boarding an unforgettable 14-night Azamara cruise that circled the country during peak sakura season.
Tokyo’s blossoms were beautiful—but the crowds were intense. Parks were shoulder-to-shoulder with visitors, popular photo spots had lines, and it was nearly impossible to capture that dreamy cherry blossom moment without dozens of strangers in the background.
As our ship sailed around Japan over the following days, I kept thinking about those crowds. By the time the cruise was coming to an end, I was determined to give Tokyo another shot. The blossoms hadn’t fully peaked when I first arrived, so I figured I’d return at the end of the trip and finally experience the city’s famous sakura in full bloom before flying home.
The only problem? The cruise didn’t end in Tokyo.
As it turned out, that small disappointment led me to the most beautiful—and surprisingly uncrowded—cherry blossom display of my entire trip.
Where I found Japan’s most peaceful cherry blossoms
Sankeien Garden’s cherry blossoms
(Jill Schildhouse)
Our itinerary ended with an overnight stay in Yokohama, a bustling port city about 18 miles south of Tokyo (or 20 minutes by bullet train).
My original plan was simple: hop on the train back into the capital and finally see the cherry blossoms in full bloom. But after two full weeks of travel—and remembering just how packed Tokyo had been—the idea of diving back into the crowds suddenly felt exhausting.
So I changed my plan at the last minute.
Instead of rushing into Tokyo, I decided to spend the day exploring Yokohama before heading to the airport. I figured I might see a few cherry trees around the city and they would have to do.
Cherry blossoms were everywhere—and the crowds were gone
There are about 700 cherry blossom trees along the Ooka River in Yokohama.
(Jill Schildhouse)
Within minutes of leaving the cruise terminal, I realized Yokohama was positively bursting with cherry blossoms.
Rows of cherry blossoms lined walkways along the waterfront. Pink petals drifted through the air like confetti. And when I made my way into a nearby traditional Japanese Garden, Sankeien Garden, I found a couple hundred trees in peak bloom.
Sankeien Garden features nine different kinds of cherry blossom trees, numbering 250 in total, that bloom from late March.
(Jill Schildhouse)
The biggest difference from Tokyo? The crowds.
Instead of squeezing through packed paths or waiting for people to move out of the frame, I could wander slowly beneath the blossoms. Families spread picnic blankets under the trees, locals strolled through the park, and in some corners I even had stretches of pink canopy completely to myself.
It felt like the cherry blossom experience I had been hoping for all along—peaceful and photogenic.
Sometimes the best travel discoveries happen by accident
Cherry blossoms in Sankeien Garden
(Jill Schildhouse)
Looking back, I’m so glad I didn’t rush back to Tokyo.
The city absolutely deserves its reputation during cherry blossom season, but its popularity also means sharing the moment with tens of thousands of other travelers who had the exact same idea.
Just an hour away, though, I found a completely different side of sakura season—one that felt calmer, more local, and surprisingly magical.
It wasn’t the experience I planned.
But it ended up being the one I’ll remember most.