Hidden Tokyo: A Guide to Yanesen ( Yanaka, Nezu & Sendagi )
Seasonal Highlights
Each season brings a different charm to Yanesen. From the cherry blossoms in spring to vibrant autumn foliage, the area transforms with the passing months. Stroll through its historic streets, temples, and parks to enjoy unique seasonal scenery and local traditions. Plan your visit to match the best time of year.
🌸Spring
◆ Cherry Blossoms at Yanaka Cemetery & Ueno Park
Every spring, Yanaka Cemetery’s cherry blossom avenue turns into a soft pink tunnel, perfect for peaceful walks and unforgettable photos. Just a short stroll away, Ueno Park bursts with thousands of blossoms and lively crowds, lined with food stalls and hanami (flower viewing) parties, creating a festive spring atmosphere.
📅 Best viewing: mid-March to early April (typical season)
🌸 Tips for Cherry Blossom Visitors
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Check the blossom forecast before your trip — full bloom lasts only about a week.
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Visit early morning or weekdays to avoid crowds.
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Respect hanami etiquette: don’t litter or block paths. Especially in Yanaka Cemetery, eating or drinking is not allowed, as it’s an active burial ground.
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Weather can change quickly — enjoy other spring flowers too.
Yanaka Cemetery
📍Address: 7-5-24 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 6 min walk from Nippori Station (JR/Keisei Line)
⏰Opening hours: Always open
Ueno Park
📍Address: 5-20 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 3 min walk from Ueno Station, 10 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: Always open
◆ Nezu Shrine Azalea Festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri)
In spring, following the cherry blossom season, over 3,000 azalea bushes blanket Nezu Shrine’s historic hillside garden in vivid pink, red, and white. Visitors can wander through scenic paths, take photos framed by blossoms, and enjoy one of Tokyo’s most beloved seasonal festivals.
📅 Typical festival period: early April to early May (about one month)
🌺 Tip: Visiting Nezu Shrine’s Azalea Garden
The Azalea Garden at Nezu Shrine is open only during the Azalea Festival, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Admission costs ¥500. On weekends, long lines often stretch close to Nezu Station, but even without entering, you can still enjoy stunning views of the colorful blooms. Unless you wish to stroll inside the garden itself, simply visiting the grounds offers a wonderful experience.
📍Address: 1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 5 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: Always open
🌿Summer
◆ Yanaka’s Cool Summer Festival (Hyakkoi Matsuri)
Every August, Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street transforms into a lively summer wonderland for the “Hyakkoi Matsuri,” a local event celebrating the joy of staying cool.
The highlight of the festival is the installation of giant ice pillars along the street—some with toys frozen inside for children to free using water guns. Visitors can also enjoy traditional games like dojou scooping, a festive stamp rally, and a lottery offering small prizes. Around mid-afternoon, there’s often a live ice-carving show, adding an artistic touch to the summer heat.
The festival concludes with a cheerful bon-odori dance, featuring an original song written just for this event—a moment that perfectly captures the friendly spirit of Yanaka.
📅 Usually held on the first Saturday and Sunday of August
🍧 Tips
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Stay cool with the locals: “Hyakkoi” means chilly in the local dialect. It’s all about enjoying the summer heat together—don’t be afraid to join the fun and get a little wet!
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Bring a reusable towel or fan: The event can get hot and crowded, so a small towel or handheld fan will come in handy.
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Expect crowds and come early if you want to watch the ice carving or join the bon dance.
📍Address: 3-13-1 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 5 min walk from Sendagi Station (Chiyoda Line) or Nippori Station (JR/Keisei Line)
◆ Geisai: Tokyo University of the Arts Festival
Every early September, the Geisai festival at Tokyo University of the Arts (Geidai) transforms the campus into a vibrant celebration of creativity. During the summer, first-year students work together to build elaborate mikoshi (portable shrines), which then compete in a grand parade through Ueno and nearby shopping streets. Alongside these, visitors can explore open studios, student art exhibitions, live concerts, and samba performances. The festival is a rare chance to step inside Japan’s leading art school, feel the energy of youthful creation, and experience Yanaka’s artistic spirit in full bloom.
📅 Usually held on the first or second Friday Saturday and Sunday of September
🎨 Tips
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Arrive early — The parade and mikoshi contest attract large crowds by midday.
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Bring cash — Student-run food and art stalls usually accept only cash.
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Some concerts are free, but reservations may be required — Check the official website in advance for details and schedules.
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Explore nearby Yanaka — After enjoying Geisai, take a stroll through Yanaka’s nostalgic streets and art galleries—it’s just a short walk away.
📍Address: 12-8 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 10 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line) or JR Ueno Station
⏰Opening hours: 9am-7pm
🍁Autumn
◆ Nezu Shrine Annual Grand Festival (Reitaisai)
Each September, Nezu Shrine’s Reitaisai transforms its serene grounds into a vibrant celebration of Edo-era tradition. While it’s known for its historic mikoshi (portable shrine) processions, the festival also features gongen taiko drumming and Urayasu dance, both of which are designated as important cultural performances. Visit the lantern-lit grounds where food stalls offer classic festival treats, and witness delicate kagura dance performances in the evening. The event not only strengthens community bonds but also showcases the shrine’s cultural and architectural heritage, making it a vital gathering for both worship and local festival spirit.
📅 Usually held on the third Saturday and Sunday of September
⛩ Tips
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Arrive early for the mikoshi parade — the streets around Nezu Shrine get crowded quickly, so come early for the best view and photos.
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Respect the shrine atmosphere — it’s a lively but sacred event, so please avoid blocking worshippers or crossing the procession route.
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Bring cash for food stalls — yatai sell yakitori and snacks, but most vendors don’t take cards.
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Check the schedule in advance — event times vary, so see Nezu Shrine’s website(Japanese only) before visiting.
📍Address: 1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 5 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: Always open
◆ Nezu & Sendagi Downtown Festival (Shitamachi Matsuri)
Each October, the Nezu & Sendagi Shitamachi Matsuri brings the nostalgic charm of Yanesen to life. Centered at Nezu Shrine, the festival features food stalls, a flea market, and live performances—including children’s brass bands, taiko drumming, and traditional dances. Across nine sub-venues in the neighborhood, visitors can enjoy games, rickshaw rides, and a community stamp rally with prizes. This locally rooted celebration draws residents and tourists alike, offering a vibrant taste of Tokyo’s traditional street life and deepening connections to Yanesen’s history and character.
📅 Usually held on the second or third Saturday and Sunday of October
🏮 Tips
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The atmosphere is family-friendly—children’s performances, games, and parades make it fun for all ages.
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Come hungry! You’ll find plenty of street food stalls offering yakisoba, taiyaki, and local snacks loved by residents.
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Despite being centered around Nezu Shrine, the Shitamachi Matsuri is not a religious event—it’s a cheerful community festival celebrating local life and culture.
📍Address: 1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 5 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: Always open
◆ Ginkgo Avenue at the University of Tokyo's Hongo Campus
By late November, the ginkgo-lined avenue at the University of Tokyo’s Hongo campus glows in brilliant gold, forming one of Tokyo’s most breathtaking autumn views. The ginkgo leaf, also featured in the university’s emblem, symbolizes wisdom and resilience. Though the campus lies just beyond the Yanesen area, it’s a worthwhile detour for a peaceful stroll under golden canopies.
📅 Best viewing: late November to early December (typical season)
🍁 Tips
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The avenue is located near the university’s main gate, about a 15-minute walk from Nezu Shrine.
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Visit early in the morning on weekends to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere before the crowds arrive.
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Photography is welcome, but remember that the campus is an active university — please be respectful of students and classes in session.
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If you have time, take a short detour to see Akamon (“The Red Gate”), a historic landmark dating back to the Edo period and one of the university’s most famous symbols. (Closed for seismic reinforcement work until September 2027.)
Closed for seismic reinforcement until September 2027.
📍Address: 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 10 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: Always open
❄️Winter
◆ New Year’s Visit to Nezu Shrine (hatsumode)
From January 1 to around January 3, Nezu Shrine welcomes thousands of visitors for hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year. Locals and travelers line up to offer prayers for good fortune, buy lucky charms, and enjoy a peaceful, spiritual start to the new year in a historic setting.
🎍 Tips
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Arrive early in the morning to avoid long queues—Nezu Shrine gets especially crowded on January 1.
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Before praying, purify your hands and mouth at the temizuya (water basin) following local custom.
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You can buy omamori (charms) and draw omikuji (fortune slips)—fun ways to experience Japanese New Year traditions.
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Even if you’re not religious, hatsumode offers a peaceful glimpse into Japan’s cultural spirit at the start of the year.
📍Address: 1-28-9 Nezu, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 5 min walk from Nezu Station (Chiyoda Line)
⏰Opening hours: Always open
◆ Winter Walks in Yanaka Ginza
Even in winter, Yanaka Ginza exudes a warm, nostalgic charm. Steam rises from food stalls serving freshly fried croquettes and juicy menchi-katsu, while locals shop and chat in the crisp afternoon air. The soft glow of shop lanterns and the scent of fried snacks invite you to slow down and enjoy Tokyo’s retro side—especially as the sun sets over “Yuyake Dandan.”
❄️ Tips
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Try freshly fried croquettes or menchi-katsu, local favorites that warm both hands and heart.
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Visit around 4–5 PM to catch the beautiful “Yuyake Dandan” sunset view at the top of the stairs.
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Most shops close by early evening, so come in the daytime for the full experience.
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For a true local vibe, explore weekday afternoons, when the street is lively but not too crowded.
📍Address: 3-13-1 Yanaka, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚃Access: 5 min walk from Sendagi Station (Chiyoda Line) or Nippori Station (JR/Keisei Line)