While Tokyo is renowned worldwide for its cherry blossoms, a quieter, lesser-known season is emerging as a must-experience for travellers, Tokyo’s “green spring.”
As the sakura petals fall, the city transforms with fresh, vibrant foliage, offering a calmer and more immersive way to experience Japan’s capital.
With around 40 per cent of Tokyo covered by forest, much of it in the western Tama region, nature is never far away, even in the heart of the city.
This seasonal shift opens the door to shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, a Japanese wellness practice known to reduce stress and reconnect visitors with nature.
For travellers seeking slower, more mindful experiences, Tokyo’s green spaces provide the perfect antidote to peak-season crowds.
Green Escapes in Central Tokyo
Even within minutes of major districts, visitors can step into serene, leafy retreats:
- Todoroki Valley (Setagaya): Tokyo’s only natural gorge (above), where a shaded trail winds through bamboo groves and alongside a gentle stream.
- Institute for Nature Study (Shirokanedai): A protected forest reserve offering a rare glimpse of untamed Tokyo, rich with seasonal greenery and birdlife.
- Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park (Hiroo): A tranquil, multi-level park with ponds, bridges, and dense tree cover, favoured by locals seeking quiet respite.
- Kiyosumi Garden & surrounds (main image): A harmonious blend of traditional landscape design and fresh spring foliage in one of Tokyo’s most creative neighbourhoods.
- Hamarikyu Gardens: Expansive lawns and seawater ponds framed by a striking skyline, where nature and the city coexist.
Forest Bathing in Tokyo’s Tama Region
For those wanting a deeper immersion, western Tokyo’s Tama region offers expansive forests, mountains and rivers, yet remains easily accessible from the city centre:
- Mount Takao (above): One of Tokyo’s most popular nature escapes, offering forested hiking trails, panoramic views and vibrant fresh greenery in spring.
- Okutama Region: A vast, mountainous area of ancient forests, clear rivers and hiking trails, perfect for true off-grid forest bathing experiences.
- Lake Okutama: A peaceful reservoir surrounded by rolling hills and dense woodland, ideal for quiet walks and nature immersion.
- Hossawa Falls (Hinohara Village): One of Tokyo’s most beautiful waterfalls, set within lush forest and accessible via a gentle walking path.
- Mitake Valley (around Mount Mitake): A scenic riverside area with walking trails, shrines and traditional inns, offering a slower, spiritual connection to nature (Mitake Gorge, below).
Late March through May offers one of the best times to explore Tokyo beyond its famous landmarks.
With fewer crowds and mild weather, visitors can experience a softer, more contemplative side of the city, one that blends urban energy with natural calm.
It’s an opportunity to slow down, explore lesser-known neighbourhoods and experience nature in a uniquely Tokyo way.
Images courtesy Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau
