We started by Shinobazu Pond and stopped along the way to let the boys play on some play equiptment there why we investigated the progress of the blossoms. Unfortunately there were only a few blossoms out on the trees, but that didn't stop me taking photos! As we approached Bentendo temple, which lies on an island in the middle of Shinobazu Pond, there was a path full of street food and drink stalls. We went to have a look at the temple, then on our way out we stopped for some drinks and a waffle stick! 

We continued on our way up to the main path where there are more than 100 cherry blossom trees. They were all starting to bloom, but I can imagine about now they would be in full bloom, which really is an amazing sight! 

If you ever get a chance to experience hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in Japan, I highly recommend it. Go to the nearest convenience store, pick up a picnic sheet, some drinks and snacks and find yourself a nice spot under a cherry blossom tree. You might even make some new Japanese friends sitting nearby!

Shinobazu pond

Friendly Street Cat

Cherry blossoms starting to bloom

I love the limited edition Asahi Sakura cans!

Waffle sticks

Street food stalls in Ueno Park

Incense in front of Bentendo

Sakura

I <3 Sakura

Pretty

Boys snacking on some senbei

pretty dangly things

Sensoji and Nakamise Street are a short (2 minute) walk from Asakusa station, served by the Ginza Subway Line, the Asakusa Subway Line and the Tobu railway.
Entrance to the temple is free and it is open all year round.

We were staying in a great Airbnb apartment in Ueno, walking distance from Asakusa, so I knew about a cheap, family friendly chain restaurant called Royal Host and saw that there was one located on the way between our apartment and our first sight of the day, Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. Their morning menu has everything from scrambled eggs and bacon, to pancakes, french toast and traditional Japanese breakfast sets. After we had filled up, we were ready to start our sightseeing!

Tokyo Skytree

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

Sensoji Temple, Asakusa

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa is the oldest temple in Tokyo, founded in 648. It is also one of the most popular tourist sights in Tokyo. The grounds are beautifully preserved and not only is there the main temple halls, but there is also a nice little Japanese garden with cherry blossom trees and a koi carp pond! My family loved exploring the grounds and getting some beautiful photos.

Sensoji temple is a short 5 minute walk from Asakusa Station.

Nakamise Street, Asakusa

Souvenir shopping on Nakamise Street

After visiting the temple, we walked down Nakamise Street, which is full of souvenir shops and food stalls. We stopped and got some deep fried manju (we got custard, sakura and red bean paste fillings), then continued down the street buying souvenirs. You could easily spend a couple of hours here, but I think we managed to keep it to just one.

Inside the toy store

Toy shopping at Yamashiroya in Ueno

After all the souvenir shopping for the adults, we headed back to Ueno on the subway for lunch and stopped in at Yamashiroya, a HUGE 6 floor toy shop right across from the main entrance to JR Ueno station. The kids had a great time exploring the different levels and playing with the various toys before deciding on one thing each.

Shinobazu pond, Ueno Park

Ueno Park food stalls

Ueno Park

After getting some lunch (giving us a much needed sit down and relax), we headed to Ueno Park to see if there were any cherry blossoms in bloom and wandered by the pond and over to Bentendo, a buddhist temple in the middle of the pond. The path leading to the temple is lined with street food stalls, so we got some waffle sticks and some drinks to snack on as we walked through the park. There is so much you can choose to do in Ueno Park, from visiting one of the numerous museums, to paddling a swan boat on Shinobazu pond (which we did last time we were in Tokyo).

Izakaya for dinner

Eat dinner at an Izakaya

After a little rest back at our apartment to drop off our shopping, we caught the Yamanote line train in to Shibuya to have dinner at one of the many izakayas there. Even though izakayas are more "drinking" extablishments, they are very family/child friendly and it gave my family a good introduction to Japanese food. We were seated at a sunken table and had to take our shoes off before entering the seating area. I ordered a bunch of food off a touch screen for everyone to share. You can get anything from sashimi, yakitori, edamame, salads, onion rings and chips (good for fussy kids). You can usually pick an izakaya based on the menus they will display out the front, that shows you a huge variety of food available. They are also often located on the higher floors of buildings, so it definitely pays to look up when you're wandering around Tokyo!

Shibuya bright lights

Check out the neon lights of Shibuya

The final thing I wanted to do to round off the day in Tokyo, was to show everyone the bright neon lights and bustling intersection in Shibuya. You know the one. It was fantastic because when we went in to the izakaya for dinner, the sun hadn't yet set, but by the time we came out, we got to wander the streets, look at all the crazy lights and get some photos before taking the kids back to the apartment for bed.

If you're interested in more of my past Tokyo posts, you can find them here.

The airbnb we stayed in was this one.  If you want to get $46 credit to book your Airbnb, use this link!

It's a pretty well known fact that i'm obsessed with cherry blossoms (sakura さくら in Japanese). I think it started when I was first living in Japan about 10 years ago and my mum came to visit during cherry blossom season. We followed the blossoms from Tokyo, down to Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. I was even lucky enough to have a cherry blossom tree in the backyard at my last house in Melbourne, and I was obsessed with it! Now that I'm living in Japan again, this time in Okinawa, my cherry blossom obsession has come back in full force. Last year we were lucky enough to go to Kyoto for full bloom and this past January we went in search of the Okinawa cherry blossoms at Nakijin Castle ruins. I even took a million photos of the blossoms on the few trees in my neighbourhood.

Another great part about the cherry blossom season in Japan (which is just about to start on the mainland) is all the limited edition cherry blossom items. Different beers have limited edition cans, Starbucks has a sakura latte, sakura flavoured ice creams come out as well as chocolates and other snacks! Pepsi even has a sakura flavour this year (it's not that great.... I tried it). Japan really makes the most of the short cherry blossom season!

The most awesome thing I have found this year though is the cherry blossom range of Nike shoes available! As soon as I saw them, I knew I must have them! I even bought a pair for my mum, who is equally as obsessed with Cherry blossoms as I am. At the moment i'm torn between preseving their pristine condition and wearing them constantly because I just love them!

Next week i'm off to Tokyo for a few days, and am hoping to catch the beginning of the bloom up there and take part in some hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in Ueno Park. No doubt I will also sample a decent amount of cherry blossom themed products because I just can't resist. No doubt you can expect more cherry blossom posts in the near future.