I had no plans to view cherry blossoms in Tokyo. Over years I visited Japan several times but never around April when cherry blossoms bloom. This time I was there in mid-February. While not exactly sunny, the day was warm and pleasant to be outside.

I headed to Shinjuku Gyoen, which is a large park in Tokyo’s Shinjuku ward. The place was a botanical garden since the late 19th century. It is known for its cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums.  But the cherry blossom viewing season goes from the end of March to the end April. I was there more than five weeks earlier. The winter garden map highlighted a number of blooming flowers. Blooming Japanese apricots were great but they didn’t draw the crowd.

 

Shinjuku Gyoen: Japanese apricot

 

Shinjuku Gyoen: Japanese apricot

 

Most of the visitors could be found around blooming sakura trees, the kanzakura variety (Prunus x kanzakura). The tree is a hybrid between Prunus campanulata and Prunus jamazakura. Its name means “cold cherry,”  however, it is cold sensitive and does not grow north of Tokyo. Kanzakura usually blooms from late February to early March. Fortunately for me, this time it started blooming a couple of weeks earlier in Tokyo.

 

 

Shinjuku Gyoen: kanzakura

 

Shinjuku Gyoen: kanzakura

 

Shinjuku Gyoen: kanzakura

 

Shinjuku Gyoen: kanzakura

 

Shinjuku Gyoen

 

Shinjuku Gyoen

 

Shinjuku Gyoen Garden was a delight to visit even in February.