Recently, my professional life took an unexpected turn. One of the companies I work for lost a major contract, leaving many teachers, myself included, looking for new jobs. The timing couldn’t have been worse, coinciding exactly with the official opening of the Tokyo cherry blossom season at Yasukuni Shrine on March 19. I want to take photos more than teach!
Instead of scouting photo locations, I’ve spent my days updating resumes and cover letters. Job hunting at 60 requires significant effort, and honestly, it’s been cutting into my photography time. Between that and migrating articles to Tokyo Snapped, I’ll admit I’ve been a bit grumpy. With the season a week underway, I was worried I was missing the trees.
What made me check out the Kinuta Park cherry blossoms?
My wife suggested I step away from the computer for a lunch break. She knew I needed a break. We decided on Kinuta Park in Setagaya Ward. If you aren’t familiar with it, the park is a massive expanse that actually used to be a golf course.
The phrase “hidden gem” is overused in travel writing, but for Kinuta Park, it fits. Because it is located away from the main tourist hubs like Ueno or Shinjuku Gyoen, it offers a more expansive, peaceful atmosphere for photographers. The cherry blossoms here are truly fantastic.
We grabbed lunch at 7-Eleven and headed over for a picnic. Upon arrival, I was relieved to find that despite the “official” opening five days prior, the trees had hardly bloomed. The colder weather had slowed things down, meaning I hadn’t missed the peak after all.
Safety and falling trees in Setagaya
There was another reason I wanted to visit. Local news reported that two large cherry trees had recently fallen; one unfortunately pinned a woman in her 70s, resulting in minor injuries. I wanted to see if this meant any for the Kinuta Park cherry blossoms. It did.
Photographers should be aware of the yellow safety tape currently surrounding many areas. Park authorities are checking the stability of the remaining trees. While the tape is a bit of an eyesore for compositions, safety is the priority.
Meeting Rafael: A local Shiba Inu mix
While we ate, we met a local character named Rafael, a dog who practically dragged his owner over to greet us. He appeared to have some Shiba Inu blood in him. I took about a hundred photos of him and my wife; four turned out to be “keepers.” The lighting was tricky and a flash would have helped, but Adobe Lightroom is a powerful tool for recovering details in post-processing.
Current cherry blossom conditions
Based on what I saw at the park, and what I’m seeing in Facebook groups, the trees will peak in about a week. Let’s hope the weather doesn’t ruin things!
Have you seen the Kinuta Park cherry blossoms this season? Let us know your thoughts on the bloom in the comments below.
My photography gear for this shoot
- Camera body: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM
Date of Photos: 24 March 2026
