SAKURA EXPO in Osaka
Japan’s Expo Memorial Park launches SAKURA EXPO 2026 on Mar. 20–Apr. 5 with free entry, extended hours, tea ceremonies and a food court opening Mar. 26 — a concentrated way to catch cherry blossom season. Ueno Zoo also offers free entry on Mar. 20 for its 144th anniversary, and social roundups are flagging top Tokyo cherry‑blossom spots like Ueno Park and Meguro River for weekend plans (x.com) (x.com) (x.com).
Expo ’70 Commemorative Park says its grounds host about 5,500 cherry trees across 12 cultivars, anchored by a roughly 200‑metre tunnel of about 100 trees along Higashioji Street. (expo70-park.jp) The park’s official program places a SAKURA Food Court in the Omatsuri Hiroba with an estimated 20–40 food vendors lining the plaza during the festival period. (expo70-park.jp) A lineup of street performers named on the event page includes TAKAYA, 星丸, NARI, SEI and others, and an “Acapella EXPO” will bring roughly 60 student and community groups to two stages on March 28. (expo70-park.jp) Standard opening hours are listed as 9:30–18:00 with last entry at 17:30, the park notes one scheduled closure day (March 25) and says operating hours will be extended on some festival dates. (expo70-park.jp) Organizers say the Higashioji cherry‑tree light‑up will be scheduled based on bloom timing and that final illumination dates will be announced nearer the season; the park also warns of heavy traffic around the site and requests use of public transit. (expo70-park.jp) Ueno Zoological Gardens opened on March 20, 1882 as Japan’s first modern zoo and occupies roughly 14.3–14.4 hectares within Ueno Park, details recorded on official Tokyo Zoo and reference sites. (tokyo-zoo.net) Tokyo travel guides and local roundups continue to list Ueno Park among the top 20 viewing spots and note the Meguro River’s seasonal night illuminations and cruise offerings as focal points for weekend plans. (matcha-jp.com)
