Cherry Blossom Family Photos in Tokyo – A Spring Morning at Shinjuku Gyoen

Sep 6

4 min read

Children running toward their parents during a cherry blossom family photoshoot at Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo

If you are visiting Japan with your children during spring, taking family photos under the cherry blossoms is a wonderful way to remember the trip.

This April, I photographed a family of four from Singapore on their first trip to Japan. We chose Shinjuku Gyoen, one of my favorite places in Tokyo for cherry blossom family photos.

The sakura were in full bloom, the children had plenty of space to run around, and we spent the morning exploring the garden together.

In this post, I’ll share a little from their session, along with why Shinjuku Gyoen works so well for families, the best time to photograph there, and a few tips for planning your own cherry blossom photoshoot in Tokyo.

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Getting to Know Your Family Before the Photoshoot

Family of four running together under cherry blossoms during a spring family photoshoot in Tokyo

This was the family’s first trip to Japan from Singapore.

Their son loves Marvel superheroes and had recently become interested in Japanese heroes like Ultraman. His older sister loves Japanese characters, and her current favorite is Kuromi.

I always like to learn a little about the family before a photoshoot, especially what the children are interested in. It gives us something to talk about, helps them feel comfortable with me and the camera, and makes the session more fun.

Soon, we were running around Shinjuku Gyoen and enjoying the morning together.

Family walking hand in hand beneath blooming cherry trees at Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo

Family portrait surrounded by pink and white cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen in Japan

Family of four walking together under sakura during their cherry blossom photoshoot in Tokyo

Why Shinjuku Gyoen for Cherry Blossom Family Photos?

When most people think of cherry blossoms in Tokyo, they imagine the main sakura season around late March and early April. But the blossoms usually last only about a week or two, and the timing changes every year depending on the weather. This can make planning a trip around peak bloom a little tricky.

That’s one reason I recommend Shinjuku Gyoen for cherry blossom family photos in Tokyo.

The garden has around 900 cherry trees and approximately 70 different varieties, blooming at different times from mid-February through late April. So even if your trip doesn’t match the main cherry blossom week, there is still a good chance we can find some sakura in bloom.

For families, there’s another advantage: space. Shinjuku Gyoen has large lawns and open areas, so children can run around and be themselves instead of standing still for every photo.

For this family, the timing happened to coincide with the main cherry blossoms in full bloom, giving us plenty of sakura—and plenty of space for the kids to run.

Girl standing beneath cherry blossoms by a pond at Shinjuku Gyoen during a spring family photoshoot

Father holding his daughter beneath full-bloom cherry blossoms during a family photoshoot in Tokyo

Family sitting together on a bench surrounded by cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo

The Best Time for Cherry Blossom Photos at Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen gets very crowded during peak cherry blossom season, so for family photos, I recommend starting right when the garden opens at 9:00 AM.

The first hour of the morning gives us the best chance to photograph your family with fewer people in the background.

If early mornings aren’t your thing and you prefer an afternoon session, don’t worry. There are also some lesser-known cherry blossom spots around Tokyo, and I’d be happy to suggest a quieter location for your family photos.

What to Wear for Cherry Blossom Family Photos

For cherry blossom family photos, I recommend keeping outfits simple and coordinating colors rather than wearing exactly matching clothes.

Soft blues, creams, white, beige, gray, and other neutral tones work nicely against the pale pink blossoms. Try to avoid large logos or very bold patterns that may draw attention away from your family.

Tokyo mornings can still be chilly from mid-March to early April, so light layers are useful. Comfortable shoes are also important—you will be walking around the garden, and if you have children, probably doing a little running too.

Family portrait beneath a large cherry blossom tree at Shinjuku Gyoen during their Tokyo family photoshoot

Children playing and running beneath full-bloom cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen during a Tokyo family photoshoot

Family of four sitting together under cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen during their spring trip to Japan

Planning Your Own Cherry Blossom Family Photos

If you’re thinking about taking family photos during cherry blossom season in Tokyo, I recommend planning early.

Sakura season is one of the busiest times of the year for photography in Japan, and popular dates can book up quickly. Planning ahead gives you more flexibility to choose the time and location you prefer, and also makes it easier to build the photoshoot into your Japan travel itinerary.

Of course, you don’t need to figure everything out yourself. Once you know your travel dates, we can discuss where to shoot, what kind of cherry blossom scenery you’re looking for, and what type of family photos you’d like to take.

If you’re planning a spring trip to Japan, feel free to contact us early and we can start planning your cherry blossom family photos in Tokyo together.

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