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After the Blossoms: Small Concerns from Tokyo’s Top Sakura Spots

 

After the Peak at Chidorigafuchi

As Tokyo’s cherry blossom season draws to a close, I visited one of the city’s most iconic spots on April 8: Chidorigafuchi.

I had missed the peak bloom, but some blossoms still clung to the branches. Petals drifted through the air like snow—a scene known in Japanese as sakura fubuki, or “cherry blossom snowstorm.” It was a quiet reminder that the season had come to an end in Tokyo. A little sad, yet undeniably beautiful.


That said, I wasn’t there just to take in the afterglow. This year’s sakura season came with a piece of news that caught my attention.

A cherry tree at this famous spot had collapsed.

It reportedly fell in the early morning of April 2, right around peak bloom. Strong winds and rain the night before are believed to have been the direct cause. Fortunately, because it happened early in the day, no one was injured.

At the site, keep-out tape blocked off the area. A snapped trunk, uplifted ground at the base, and even a bent guardrail spoke to the force of the collapse.

The trees at Chidorigafuchi stretch out over the moat, creating that signature view—but that very beauty also puts strain on them. Looking around, I noticed many trees supported by braces or heavily pruned, suggesting their age.

The Hidden Reality Behind Sakura Trees

This year, similar incidents were reported across Japan. Fully blooming cherry trees collapsing—almost as if it had been coordinated.

One reason often cited is the aging of Somei Yoshino, the most common cherry variety. Planted en masse across Japan after World War II, many of these trees are now reaching the end of their lifespan.

Because Somei Yoshino are clones propagated from a single original tree, their growth—and aging—tends to follow a similar timeline. Some have even described them, a bit dramatically, as “time bombs” that might fail all at once. Of course, not every tree is dangerous, but the underlying structure is hard to ignore.

As ornamental trees, Somei Yoshino are also relatively vulnerable to disease and pests. Once aging leads to internal decay or hollowing, a tree may appear healthy on the outside while losing structural strength. And once that happens, restoring it to its former condition is extremely difficult.

Across Japan, there are increasing reports of old cherry-lined streets being cut down due to irreversible decay, or replaced with more disease-resistant varieties.

Sakura—currently under treatment

In response, the role of tree specialists—often called arborists—has become more important. They assess aging, internal damage, pests, and disease to manage the risk of collapse. With so many people gathering under these trees each spring, ensuring their safety has become an urgent task.

When Crowds Become the Issue: Meguro River

Cherry blossoms draw crowds. And because they do, certain challenges naturally come with that popularity.

One example this year could be seen at another of Tokyo’s famous spots, Meguro River.

Stretching about four kilometers and lined with roughly 800 Somei Yoshino trees, the river creates a tunnel of blossoms that nearly covers the narrow waterway. Combined with nighttime illuminations and the trendy atmosphere of the surrounding area, it attracts an overwhelming number of visitors each year.

At Meguro River, the typical way to enjoy the blossoms is to walk along the riverside. In reality, you move with the crowd—slowly flowing forward with everyone else. There’s little room to stop. If anything, you have to keep moving just to catch glimpses of the blossoms.

To be honest, I haven’t visited Meguro River in the past few years—the crowds have simply become too overwhelming.

This year, a new measure was introduced at Hinode Bridge. Banners were installed along the railings, effectively blocking the view. The pink signs read: “No stopping.”

The goal was to prevent people from crowding the bridge to take photos, which had caused congestion and safety concerns. Staff were also present, guiding visitors and asking for cooperation.

Ironically, this bridge had been one of the best vantage points—an ideal spot to see the blossoms stretching over the water. The decision to partially block the view has sparked mixed reactions: some say it ruins the scenery, while others see it as a necessary step for safety and crowd control.

A Small Postscript to Sakura Season

For many years, cherry blossoms have drawn people in with their quiet grandeur. Yet this year, at two of Tokyo’s most famous spots, it felt as though small signs of strain—subtle but real—had begun to show beneath the beauty.

A small footnote to this year’s sakura season.


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