Last year (2004) the first week of April was spot-on perfect. We were in Kyoto for 4 days and had the height of the sakura season, then went to Tokyo for a couple of days and again, caught it just right. I wish I could take credit for perfect planning, but in reality we set the trip based on my nieces' spring break.

In Kyoto, the Imperial Palace has plenty of cherry trees but was mobbed every day, as was the Heian Shrine. Ryoan-ji was nice around the pond, but my favorite places for sakura were the grounds of Nijo Castle (north side) and the edge of Maruyama Park along the pedestrian promenade of NeNe-no-michi.

In Tokyo, we avoided most of the big gathering places, but found a spectacular sakura display around the lake in Hama Rikyu detached garden.

JR