My favorite cherry blossom spot is Aoyama cemetery
Imagine stepping into a peaceful haven in Tokyo’s heart. A place where beautiful flowers bloom in silence. Their petals gently draped over weathered gravestones. No crowds, no noise, just you, your camera, and spring’s magic. This is Aoyama Cemetery, my favorite cherry blossom spot. Let me take you back to one unforgettable morning in 2017.
In the lead-up to the big event, I checked the weather forecast daily and made predictions. I literally counted down the hours till I photographed them. It was exciting.
The morning sky was a vast, cloudless expanse of blue, just as I’d hoped. I dressed, ate breakfast, grabbed my camera, and left.
The morning sky was a vast, cloudless expanse of blue, just as I’d hoped. I dressed, ate breakfast, grabbed my camera, and left.
On the train, I thought about the photos I’d take. I was convinced the cherry blossoms would be perfect. The day would be a complete success.
My day at Aoyama Cemetery in 2017
As I walked through the gates, my heart sank just a little. The blossoms weren’t the explosive, ‘mankai’ peak I had been obsessing over all week. My meticulously planned ‘perfect day’ seemed to evaporate. For a moment, I just stood there, camera hanging limply in my hand.
But then, I looked past the petals and truly saw the place. I saw how a single, resilient branch arched perfectly over a family tomb from the Meiji era. I noticed the profound quiet, broken only by the chirping of a bird. I realized my hunt for ‘perfection’ had been blinding me to the real beauty of the scene: the serene dance between fleeting life and enduring stone.
It was in that moment of letting go of expectations that I truly understood why this was my favorite cherry blossom spot. The day wasn’t a failure; it was a lesson. The trees looked more than ‘pretty good’—they were part of something profound. That profound beauty is woven into the very fabric of the cemetery, from its famous residents to its unique architecture.
Why this cemetery is my favorite cherry blossom spot
Some graves are simple slabs with an inscription. Others are that old mini-mausoleum type, like what you see in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. A historical foreigner’s section with mostly standard Western-style tombs is on the grounds. But there is more than that.
An architectural feast for the eyes
The older Japanese cemeteries, like Aoyama, are an architectural feast for the eyes. What can we see there?
Gorintō (五輪塔): a five-tier pagoda grave marker. Each piece represents one of the five elements. From top to bottom, they are space, wind, fire, water, and earth. This is my favorite grave.
Hōkyōintō (宝篋印塔): a type of Japanese stone pagoda frequently used as a grave marker or cenotaph.
Kasatōba (笠塔婆): a memorial or gravestone. They often have a square block placed on a rough stone base. A pyramid-like coping stone at the top suggests a roof. Above that is an ornamental jewel or bowl stone.
It doesn’t end there. You can see massive stones with stories of the interred carved on them. Buddhist statues, torii gates, and Christian icons are sprinkled throughout the cemetery. One guy even has a radar dish for his tombstone.
The dance of seasons and tradition
Then there is higan. It’s a Buddhist holiday that celebrates the spring and autumn equinoxes. People will visit their family and ancestors’ graves. During this season, there is an outburst of color in cemeteries as fresh flowers are offered.
Of course, the cherry blossoms play a role. They are here for such a short time, so they represent the circle of life of which the cemetery is a part. The way the huge trees can branch out over the graves is beautiful.
A Who’s Who of Japanese history
Last is history. Many of the cemetery’s residents have incredible stories. From Hachi the dog to Thomas Baty and General Nogi, the hero of the Russo-Japanese War, countless stories are waiting for visitors.
Ultimately, Aoyama Cemetery is more than the sum of its parts. It’s a place that rewards you for looking beyond the obvious, for finding the beauty not just in the perfect bloom, but in the quiet dance between history and the seasons. It truly is an amazing place. And that is why it will always be my favorite cherry blossom spot.
Have you been to Aoyama Cemetery (official website) to see its flowers in spring? Please tell us about your experience, if you have. Or let us know where your favorite cherry blossom spot is. Leave questions and comments below.
Photography gear for this shoot
Camera body: Pentax K-3
Lens: PENTAX-DA 18-135mmF3.5-5.6ED AL[IF] DC WR
