Dining Amidst Sakura in Tokyo: 4 Lush Bistros with a View

At Haru Dining in Nihonbashi, enjoy international cuisine served in an inviting atmosphere where the conversation never lulls. Haru Dining offers a variety of dishes that capture the essence of French, Italian, and Japanese cooking—from organic roasted vegetables and freshly baked bread served with hearty cheese fondue, to sweet and rich pork loin grilled on an iron teppanyaki grill. The warm, wood-finished interior here makes for a comfortable gathering spot that’s a treat year-round, but most especially during the spring when the sakura are in full bloom both near the restaurants front entrance and just a short distance away at the Imperial Palace East Garden.

Dinner: 4,000 JPY / Lunch: 980 JPY

Before dining at Haru, we suggest visiting the nearby Imperial Palace East Garden, located in the center of Tokyo, which is a classic spot for hanami that commands one of the best sakura views in all of the city. Built around the ruins of the old Edo castle and its surrounding moat, this 52-acre park located adjacent to the Imperial Palace is an impressively arranged combination of stone, water, and sakura trees. Thousands of people flock to this location during each spring to take in the beauty of the cherry blossoms and the impeccably maintained grounds.

Directions from Haru Dining to the Imperial Palace East Garden

Those looking for a quiet spot to enjoy a pre- or post-hanami meal in the busy Ningyocho area should look no further than Ningyocho Bar Yu. This secluded restaurant bar, hidden away only a few short minutes from Ningyocho Station, provides a calm ambience along with a variety of epicurean delights. Their specialty, a bread stuffed liberally with thick slices of foie gras, manages to be at once decadent and familiar. Ningyocho Bar Yu serves the highest quality Iberian prosciutto and boasts over 50 varieties of wine. After enjoying the perfect pairing of food and drink, treat the eyes to a feast of cherry blossoms at Green Belt Park.

Dinner: 3,000 JPY / Lunch: 900 JPY

The tree lined walkway of Hamamachi Ryokudo is an oasis of sakura within the busy city, cutting a breathtaking swath through the Ningyocho area. Several varieties of cherry blossom trees have been cultivated over the years to create a pale pink sakura archway overhead. Lined with shops that have been in business since the Edo period, the green belt provides a charming contrast to the modern urban landscape. During the hanami season, these traditional shops host a sweet sake festival where over 2,000 cups of sweet sake, known as amazake, are handed out to visitors.

Directions from Ningyocho Bar Yu to Hamachi Ryokudo Green Belt Park

Having studied Italian cuisine at Piedmont in northwestern Italy, the chef at Ostu brings his expertise to the creation of their authentic Piedmont-style cooking. Specialties at Ostu include finanziera, a traditional delicacy that pairs well with wine, and the pasta e ceci, which is popular for its savory yet mellow flavor. Ingredients are prepared meticulously to draw out the most magnificent flavors possible. Enjoy a wide variety of dishes, freshly baked breads, and cakes in the restaurant’s delightful sunlit atmosphere. While the glass front of the restaurant allows for an excellent view of the cherry blossoms blooming just outside, those wanting a closer look should take a short walk to beautiful Yoyogi Park.

Dinner: 8,000 JPY / Lunch: 4,000 JPY

Yoyogi Park is one of the most well-known hanami spots in Tokyo. Although certainly more casual than the Imperial Palace East Garden, Yoyogi Park is considered to be equally stunning, with over 600 cherry blossom trees spread over a spacious area. The wide lawns at Yoyogi Park are perfect for picnicking, becoming packed with spring visitors of the local as well as the tourist variety. Thus the view of the sakura is rivaled only by the people-watching opportunities, with rockabilly performers and musicians coming out in full force when the weather permits.

Directions from Ostu to Yoyogi Park

Savor the very freshest ingredients at Thrush Cafe, where the chef crafts artistic French dishes that embody the changing seasons—from gorgeous vegetable crudités to fillet of beef loin, selected for its high quality marbling and cooked sous-vide to preserve its tenderness. Every dish at Thrush Cafe is masterfully prepared and served in high elegance, providing a perfect atmosphere for couples on a romantic date or celebrating a happy occasion such as an anniversary. Balcony seating allows diners to gaze upon the Japanese garden outside.

Patrons looking to commune further with nature and sakura following lunch at Thrush Cafe can head over to the peaceful Institute for Nature Study, located just a short distance away.

Dinner: 4,500 JPY / Lunch: 1,600 JPY

One of the best-kept secrets in Tokyo, the Institute for Nature Study features over 200,000 sq. meters of undisturbed nature and is perfect for those who yearn to escape the sights and sounds of the city. Within just a few moments of entering the park, it is difficult to tell that the busy streets of Tokyo lie just outside its borders. While the park doesn’t solely highlight cherry blossom trees, there are plenty of sakura to see along a variety of forests, ponds, and marshland.

Directions from Thrush Cafe to the Institute for Nature Study

Whether dining in or picnicking out, there is no shortage of excellent sakura views to be found in Japan’s capital city. When deciding just how one wants to combine the sight of hanami with the taste of spring, the best recommendations can always be found at Savor Japan.