Cherry Blossoms in Tama: Seiseki Sakuragaoka and Tama Center

Tama City is a quiet alternative to central Tokyo’s crowded hanami spots, and the city’s official list makes it easy to choose: in Seiseki Sakuragaoka, go to Sakuragaoka Park and the Iroha-zaka slope from Whisper of the Heart; around Tama Center, walk the roughly 3 km of cherry trees along the Kotta River or climb to the hilltop parks with a view toward Mt. Fuji. Most of these spots are at their best from late March to early April, but bloom dates change every year, so check a forecast before you go.

When to go

Tama City lists these typical peak periods (they are usual ranges, not a forecast for any specific year):

Type / spot	Typical peak
Kawazu cherry at Kotta-Kaidori Fureai Plaza Park	Late February to mid-March
Weeping cherries (Tsurumaki Nishi Park, Karakida Trail)	Mid to late March
Most Somei Yoshino spots (Kotta River, Sakuragaoka Park, Iroha-zaka)	Late March to early April
Double-flowered cherries (Nishi-Ochi-dori street)	Early April

The city also notes that the Yamazakura (mountain cherry) is Tama City’s official flower. Bloom dates for the coming spring are not known until early in the year; check the Japan Meteorological Corporation or other forecasts closer to the time.

Seiseki Sakuragaoka: blossoms with a Ghibli backdrop

Sakuragaoka Park

Tama City calls Tokyo Metropolitan Sakuragaoka Park the largest park in the city. Blossoms are concentrated around the “Ohanami-zaka” (flower-viewing slope) and near the Former Tama Seiseki Memorial Hall. Access is by bus: from Seiseki-sakuragaoka (聖蹟桜ヶ丘) Station take a bus bound for Nagayama (永山) Station to Kinenkan-mae (then about 2 minutes on foot), or from Nagayama Station take a bus bound for Seiseki-sakuragaoka to Sakuragaoka-koen Nishiguchi.

The Memorial Hall itself, built in 1930, is free to enter. GO TOKYO lists it as open 10:00–16:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays to Sundays and holidays, closed Mondays and Wednesdays (as of October 2026).

Iroha-zaka and Iroha-zaka Sakura Park

Tama City lists Iroha-zaka Street and Iroha-zaka Sakura Park as places where the blossoms recall scenes from Whisper of the Heart. This is the same slope as the classic Ghibli walk, so you can do both in one outing; see Climbing Irohazaka and the walking route.

Remember that Iroha-zaka is a residential street: keep to the side, do not block the road for photos, and keep noise down.

Tama Center: rivers and hilltops

Kotta River

Along Tama New Town Boulevard, the Kotta River is lined with cherry trees on both banks for about 3 km. Tama City gives the access as about 5 minutes on foot from Tama Center (多摩センター) Station or 8 minutes from Nagayama Station. It is a long, flat walk, which makes it the easiest choice with a stroller.

Takarano Park and Narahara Park

Tama City calls these two neighboring parks the city’s top cherry blossom spot. They share Fujimi-dori (literally “Fuji-view street”), and on clear days you can see Mt. Fuji. They are about 15 minutes on foot from Tama Center Station; the city also mentions a Tsurumaki loop bus from Tama Center to the Fujimi-dori-shita stop.

Early and late extras

• Kotta-Kaidori Fureai Plaza Park: a riverside park with early-blooming Kawazu cherries, about 18 minutes on foot from Tama Center.
• Tsurumaki Nishi Park: home to a weeping cherry that the city estimates at about 200 years old, designated a municipal natural monument. About 5 minutes on foot from Karakida (唐木田) Station (one stop from Tama Center on the Odakyu Tama Line).
• Nagayama Sakura-dori: a roughly 1.7 km tree-lined street that forms a tunnel at full bloom, within 10 minutes of Nagayama Station.

Two sample half days

	Seiseki route	Tama Center route
Start	Seiseki-sakuragaoka Station	Tama Center Station
Stops	Iroha-zaka, then bus to Sakuragaoka Park and the Memorial Hall	Kotta River, then Takarano and Narahara parks
Good for	Ghibli fans, photographers	Families, anyone combining with Puroland
Watch out for	Steep slopes; Memorial Hall closed Mon/Wed	Longer flat walking; check which bank to follow

You can combine both in one day using the Keio buses between Seiseki-sakuragaoka and Tama Center. If it rains, switch to indoor options: Rainy Day in Tama.

Hanami etiquette

• Take all rubbish home; bins can be scarce in parks.
• Follow park rules on sheets, barbecues and alcohol.
• Do not pull or shake branches for photos.
• In residential areas such as Iroha-zaka, do not block driveways or the road.

Getting there

From Shinjuku (新宿), both Seiseki-sakuragaoka and Tama Center are on the Keio Line. See Seiseki Sakuragaoka From Shinjuku and the one-day trip guide for routes and timing.