5 Mimosa flowers x sakura spots in Tokyo
Mimosa flowers are blooming in Tokyo - just in time for International Women’s Day (8 March) and also coinciding with the end of the kawazu sakura season. The mimosa is not very common in Tokyo but here is a list of some local spots where you can see the fluffy mimosa flowers together with pink cherry blossoms - definitely another bucket list item unique to Japan. Tokyo is blooming and in full spring mode now :)
Go here for my post on kawazu sakura spots.
Best viewing time (Tokyo): mid-late Feb (kawazu sakura) and late Feb-mid Mar (mimosa)
1. Kuramae Jinja 藏前神社
This small shrine delivers big in terms of mimosa fluffiness. This is my #1 mimosa spot as the red shrine details and the huge kawazu sakura tree next to it (swaying with plump fluffy blossoms) make it a dream to photograph!
📍Nearest 🚆 Kuramae Station, TAITO-KU
2. Kiba Park 木場公園
East Tokyo definitely seems to be winning the mimosa game! In Kiba Park, there is a perfect pair of mimosa tree and early blooming sakura tree next to the Midorium ミドリアム (shop/restaurants facility) - when in the park, look out for Skytree peeping out of tree tops. In addition, there is a beautiful row of sakura blossoms on Oyokogawa Promenade 大横川散歩道 which runs along south-east side of Kiba Park.
📍Nearest 🚆 Kiba Station, koto-ku
3. SHIBA Park 芝公園
Tokyo Tower and sakura - need I say more? There are two decent sized kawazu blossoms in Shiba Park (east side, near the park service centre) and two baby ones which would be gorgeous in a few years. I also spotted some ume (plum blossom) groves and a mimosa nearby, in front of Shiba Toshogu Shrine 芝東照宮.
📍Nearest 🚆 SHIBA KOEN Station, MINATO-ku
4. Yoyogi Park 代々木公園
The ever popular Yoyogi Park always deliver (it probably has at least one of every seasonal flower planted!). Look for the mimosa near the Harajuku Gate and the kawazu near the central square. Note that the mimosa tree is the smallest one on this list as parts of it broke off in 2020 :( so this is the surviving branch.
📍Nearest 🚆 HARAJUKU / YOYOGI KOEN Station, SHIBUYA-KU
5. La Cittadella, Kawasaki
Last spot on this list is a bit different - this is a shopping complex in Kawasaki (so not strictly Tokyo) that is modelled after an Italian village. It hosts an annual Mimosa Festa (6-7 March 2021, info here) with mimosa flowers decorating cafes and mimosa inspired food and events. Don’t miss the mimosa in full bloom in the central terrace area!