Chidorigafuchi Cherry Blossoms

Beautiful seasonal flowers at Kudanshita, Tokyo

Manish Prabhune Apr 03, 2014 - 1 min read

Cherry blossoms at its peak around Chidorigafuchi in Tokyo. If you have time and company, take a rowboat and enjoy the flowers from the water.

Yajiro Shinagawa, an ex-samurai from the Meiji-era. His stern look and the delicate flowers are a somewhat interesting combination.

Stalls beneath the sakura trees in full bloom call out for customers at the Yasukuni Shrine in the neighborhood. Food and drinks cannot miss to fully enjoy the blossoms and the party.

A couple on way back from a hard day's work find time to come to Kudanshita and enjoy the blossoms with the night-time light-up.

The tree outside the Indian embassy in Kudanshita is full in bloom and long lines of people walking by to enjoy the flowers.

The water front of Chidorigafuchi with couples in rowing boats. A stereotypical tourism poster style shot, but believe me the experience is worth it. No regrets!

A long line of rowing boats lined up at Chidorigafuchi during the cherry blossom light-up. The green color of the water is also amplified by the lights specifically directed onto the water's surface.

Cameras in action to catch the blossoms is a week long affair. It is this fleeting nature of the blossoms which gives it the importance.

The lion statue outside Yasukuni Shrine surrounded by spring festival lanterns and cherry blossoms

On the way back I took a silent byway to avoid the crowds; peaceful and pleasant—that's what the cherry blossom experience to me is all about.

During my first visit to Tokyo in 1998, I was lucky to arrive in March and stay right through April, the cherry blossom season. This first experience was not really planned. I visited the Indian embassy in Kudanshita, and that was when I saw the blossoms in its full glory at the Chidorigafuchi Gardens just outside the premises. There are many spots in Tokyo where you can enjoy the flowers, but the first time memory for me will always be this garden. Another time I made a trip in the evening and I was not disappointed. Hope you like this collection of photographs.

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Manish Prabhune @manish.prabhune

Travelling to various places and locations in Japan for over 20 years now, I want to share my experiences and also hear about destinations that I still have not been to in the land of the rising sun. Am a photography enthusiast and love to do slow shutter blue hour photography in Tokyo.